Rare 1870 Octagon Mansion in Virginia Hits Market at $295,000

An eight-sided Virginia mansion built in 1870 is on the market for $295,000. The Octagon Mansion in Wytheville offers six bedrooms, roughly 5,000 square feet, and original hardwood floors and millwork. It also carries a reputation tied to ghost-themed events and paranormal investigations, according to Realtor.com.

The property operated as the Octagon Mansion History Museum after curator John Cushman bought it in 2019. It hosted regular "Dinner with a Ghost" events before closing in March 2025. Before Cushman purchased it, the home sat vacant for nearly a decade.

Realtor.com Executive Editor Charlie Lankston said octagon houses had a brief run in the late 1850s and early 1860s, when some design experts argued the eight-sided layout could give homeowners more space for less money. The trend faded by the early 1900s, and many octagon homes were demolished. Lankston called the 1870 property "a unique piece of American history" because it survived more than 150 years largely intact.

The mansion has been substantially remodeled. Updates include a commercial kitchen, refreshed bathrooms, and upgraded electrical systems. Some original features remain: hardwood floors, built-ins, and detailed millwork.

A spokesperson for the most recent owners declined to say why they are selling.

The property's B-2 zoning could allow the next owner to use it as an event venue, bed-and-breakfast, or mixed-use space, according to Realtor.com. "For anyone with an interest in preservation, there aren't many opportunities like this left, particularly at a price point under $300,000," Lankston said.