4 VA Homes With Hidden Rooms Awaiting Discovery: How Much House

VIRGINIA — Hidden rooms have been built into homes, tombs, churches, and castles for more than 2,000 years. In March, researchers in Egypt uncovered a new secret passageway at the Great Pyramid that may have concealed an emperor's tomb, the Economic Times reported.

But hidden doors and secret rooms aren't limited to ancient tombs and medieval castles. Many homes on Virginia's real estate market includes secrets of their own.

In the U.S., older homes may include clandestine paths if they were part of the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people from the South find freedom north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Nowadays, people can pay to have a secret room installed in their home. Creative Home Engineering, based in Arizona, estimates that the average hidden room costs between $10,000 and $15,000.

This week, Patch is featuring several homes for sale in Virginia that feature hidden doors and secret rooms. Some of the hidden features are obvious, while others may require an eye for detail.

Fredericksburg, VA

• 3701 Fairways Court
• Price: $1,575,000
• Built in 1998

This property sits in the gated Lee's Hill community in Fredericksburg. Its luxury amenities immediately catch the eye, with custom murals, a home theater room, and a terraced backyard overlooking a pond. The property even has a private entrance for its spacious in-law suite. This home's hidden room is located upstairs, at the end of a hallway. There, a bookcase conceals one of the property's six bedrooms.

Sandston, VA

• 6712 Whitelake Drive
• Price: $879,000
• Built in 2020
  • This home has its own basketball court, an in-ground pool with a slide, and a basement with its own wet bar. The property includes a secret area, but the real estate agents didn't specify how to access it. "I dare you to find it," the listing says.

Stafford, VA

• 18 Hermitage Drive
• Price: $1,068,000
• Built in 2000This property's hidden area is ready to be customized for its new owner. Currently, the hidden unfinished area in the basement is being used as a home gym. "[The room] is a blank canvas awaiting your creative vision," the listing says. "With its discreet location, it could easily be transformed into a secret speakeasy or a private wine cellar, providing an exclusive retreat within your own home."

Henrico, VA

• 136000 Cotton Patch Court
• Price: $1,475,000
• To be built in 2023
  • This property is scheduled to be begin construction this year. The planned layout for this home includes a hidden room that will only be accessible through a secret bookcase.

Looking for something else? Search Patch real estate listings to find your dream home.