Johnson/New Street Parking Garage The Johnson Street/New Street Parking Garage is located in the Beverly Historic District in Staunton. Construction of the garage was completed in September of 2001. It contains 277 public parking spaces. It was developed by the city to spur economic development. The garage provides supportive parking for the Hotel 24 South as well as the Blackfriars Playhouse. The garage has an entrance and exit on New Street as well as on Johnson Street. It is the primary start up location for the majority of our ghost tours and has been since 2008. The history of the site of the garage is quite interesting. Back in the late 1700s, a tavern once stood here called the Washington Tavern, named after General George Washington. It was a popular, lively spot where townsfolk would gather, have conversation, gamble, drink and often times fight. One such incident occurred one night during a game of cards where one gentleman broke into a raging fit, thought that he had been cheated. A large scuffle insued and the story tells that the man was actually beheaded. It is said that the body of the man and his head were both dumped in a cave entrance just behind the current Mill Street Grill Restaurant across the railroad tracks. The entrance to that cave is now sealed with a large cement wall. Just a short time after this event, many people reported seeing a headless man wandering about the tavern searching for his head. This story circulated throughout town and many, many townsfolk believed the tavern haunted and avoided it. This was one of the very first haunted stories in Staunton's history. Eventually the Virginia Hotel would replace the tavern. The hotel was built in 1847. During the American Civil War, General Thomas Stonewall Jackson used the hotel as his headquarters. It is said that very early in the war, it is here that Jackson traded in his blue U.S uniform for a confederate grey uniform. The hotel also served as headquarters for confederate General Jubal Early and Union General David Hunter during the Union occupation of Staunton in June of 1864. The hotel also served as a hospital for confederate soldiers. The hotel was demolished in October of 1930. The lot would sit empty for many years. In the 1950s, a gas station occupied the lot. We know of no haunted stories or reports of paranormal activity from the Virginia Hotel, the gas station or the current parking garage.