Entry No. 35 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: haunted restaurant
Elkridge Furnace Inn
An 1835 ironmaster's house sits on the site of Caleb Dorsey's 1751 furnace, which forged cannons and bayonets for the Revolutionary War; the restaurant now running out of the house openly invites diners to 'ask about the paranormal happenings we've observed on our watch.'
The story
Before this patch of Patapsco riverbank was serving farm-to-table plates, Caleb Dorsey set up an iron furnace here in 1751. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the operation pivoted straight into military supply, forging cannons and bayonets for Continental troops. The brick ironmaster’s house that still anchors the property was built in 1835, sitting on top of nearly a century's worth of intense, soot-heavy industrial labor.
Most fine-dining establishments brush off rumors of unexplained footsteps or flickering lights to keep high-end patrons unbothered. The team running the Elkridge Furnace Inn takes the opposite route. They openly invite diners to query the waitstaff about whatever weird, unexplainable happenings have occurred on their shift—incorporating two centuries of lingering ironworks history directly into the dinner service.
What it's like
Pulling up off Furnace Avenue feels less like arriving at a restaurant and more like pulling into an isolated 19th-century river estate. Inside the historic brick house, the vibe is polished and formal, but the servers will drop the stuffiness the moment you ask about the ghosts. Book a table with a view of the Patapsco, get your food order in, and ask your server what's been acting up in the dining rooms lately. Just confirm their current hours online before you head out.
The move: Book a riverside dinner table inside the 1835 furnace-master's house on the Patapsco, and actually ask your server about the paranormal happenings - it's part of the house patter, not a hidden secret.
- 📍 Elkridge, MD
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5730 Furnace Ave, Elkridge, MD 21075
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- National Cryptologic Museum — Trade Revolutionary War metalwork and spectral tales for cold war secrets and hands-on Enigma machines at the NSA's museum less than eight miles down the road.
- Simpsonville Mill Ruins — Continue your tour of Howard County's early industrial water mills by visiting these stone ruins along the Middle Patuxent River.
- Clark's Elioak Farm (Enchanted Forest relics) — Offset a historic ghost hunt with a trip to see salvaged 1950s storybook park structures living out their second life on a working farm.
Good to know
What is the history behind the site?
Caleb Dorsey built an iron furnace here in 1751 that produced weaponry for the Revolutionary War, and the present furnace-master's house was constructed on the grounds in 1835.
Are you really supposed to ask the servers about ghosts?
Yes—management openly encourages guests to ask the staff about the strange occurrences and paranormal incidents observed on the property.
Where is the inn located?
It sits along the Patapsco River at 5730 Furnace Ave in Elkridge, Maryland.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Facebook
last checked: 2026-07-19