Secret Virginia Podcast Episode 17: Cork Street Tavern

The Cork Street Tavern in Winchester, Virginia has a long and colorful history that many believe contributes to its bevy of active spirits. Join our host, the mercurial Morella Belle, for Season 2 of the Secret Virginia Podcast, where we explore the hidden mysteries of the Old Dominion and its neighbors.

Originally private residences, it’s rumored the ground floors became home to several businesses prior to Prohibition, including a feed store, Baptist church, and even a speakeasy. In 1932, John Hockman and William W. Warrick opened The Rustic Tavern at the location and added a log-cabin façade. Their pub was so popular it survived the Great Depression. To this day, one of the ghosts thought to linger there has been nicknamed “John” after this original owner.

Items moved by unseen hands, disembodied voices, and an unnerving feeling in the basement are just a few of the strange phenomenon reported by patrons and staff. The presence of an unknown woman, nicknamed “Emily”, has been seen and felt around the tavern. #virginia #shenandoah #winchester