Julia & Mark Brugh

Shortly after purchasing the Inn in 2015 we received a call from a couple that wanted to discuss the possibility of using a photo of the Inn for the cover of their upcoming book.  Later that week we meet with Julia and Mark Brugh to discuss their book and what photo they wished to use.  The Brugh’s were getting ready to publish their first book, which describes some of the more popular stories that they tell during their ghost tours of Sharpsburg. Well, not only did they have an amazing picture of the Inn for the cover, but the the story behind the namesake of the Inn would forever be told in their book.  Needless to say, we were both honored and humbled, as new innkeepers to have this publication partly about the Inn.  We instantly struck up not only a business relationship, but a lasting friendship with Mark and Julia.

Mark & Julia in period attire

Mark and Julia Brugh are the owners and operators of the Sharpsburg Ghost Tour and Tarot which they started in 2011.   Julia is a native of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and grew up surrounded by local folklore and Civil War legends. Julia not only grew up with this rich history of the area but developed a love of the oral history and mythology of common folk.   Since the early 80’s Mark had been studying the Civil War but started to drift away from the Battle of Antietam and began focusing on the lives of people who lived in Sharpsburg during the battle. He found it fascinating to learn more about their trials, suffering and the long-lasting effects that the battle had on the citizens of Sharpsburg.  Together they decided to turn this passion of history and story telling into their tour company.  They offer both historical tours of the town and family friendly ghost tours with a strong historical foundation.

Mark telling the saga of   Jacob Rohrbach

The tour starts at Captain Bender’s Tavern on the Main Street of Sharpsburg. After a brief introduction, Mark and Julia will lead you out and around the back streets and alleys of town stopping periodically to point out significant buildings or locations along the route.  At the half dozen stops on the tour you may hear some of these stories: The Woman in Black, The Haunted Home of Aaron Good, Charley King’s War; and of course our personal favorite – The Rohrback House Remembers.

Ghost stories around the campfire

During the month of October, Mark and Julia put together special tours and we are fortunate to have them speak at the Inn for our “Ghost Stories around the Campfire” program.  Together they put on a great program covering some of these favorites and always talking about the history of the Sharpsburg civilians.  In 2018, they added Saturday night tarot readings to their event calendar.  Julia has studied tarot since the 1980s, and knows the cards forwards, backwards, and upside down.  So before most tours, May through November, be sure to take advantage of this special offer for the best, most affordable reading of your life.

So the next time you’re planning a stay at the Jacob Rohrbach Inn, look into taking a Sharpsburg Ghost tour with Mark and Julia.  If it’s October, then take advantage of our Weekend Special. If you just can’t make it for one of their outstanding tours, you can take home a signed copy of the Civil War Ghosts of Sharpsburg that is always in stock and for sale at our store, the Antietam Mercantile Company.

Available Tours

  • Confederate Soldiers’ Passageway Ghost Tour
  • Children’s Alley Ghost Tour
  • Graveyards, Cemeteries and Soldiers Ghost Tour
  • Specialty Tours are ran in for St. Patrick’s Day and the month of October

Currently the tours run about 90 minutes long and the cost is very affordable at just $15.00 for adults, $10 for students 9-18, and for  children under 9 there is no charge.

Tarot readings are offered on Saturdays when tours are scheduled. Usually that’s almost every Saturday from May to November. Readings cost just $10 and take about 15-20 minutes.

Sharpsburg Ghost Tour and Tarot
Email: hauntedsharpsburg@gmail.com
Website: www.sharpsburgtours.net
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