Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment in Lorton, VA

While “The Night of Terror” sounds like a roadside haunted attraction suited to Halloween, it actually refers to a series of horrific events that happened at the Lorton Prison in Fairfax County nearly a century ago. The name may be straight from the pages of a horror novel, but the events of November 15, 1917, were very real, indeed. And more than aptly named. It turns out that the rumored haunted Lorton Reformatory has a more bone-chilling history than any horror film.

This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside Virginia's Abandoned Ghost Town, Union Level

Today, the Workhouse Prison Museum offers exhibits and historical displays that recall the prison’s century-old history, both for what it was intended and how it went horribly wrong. As part of renovations to the facility, a world-class art facility was opened in 2008. The Workhouse Arts Center also features six artist studios, galleries, a theatre, the Metropolitan School of the Arts, and many other spaces dedicated to the development of artistic education, creation, and display. Visitors to the site are encouraged to interact with the resident artists and participate in the many performing arts opportunities available, including theater, film, music, and dance.

Nearby, the maximum security facility that was once part of the larger prison system is being reclaimed as “Laurel Crest,” a mixed-use development with businesses, apartments, and homes. To learn about the ongoing transformation of Laurel Crest, you can visit the Fairfax County Government website.

Were you already familiar with the Lorton Prison Reformatory? We would love to hear your thoughts on the “Lorton Prison of Terror” in the comments below!

Curious for more haunted Virginia eeriness? If some spooky fall thrills are calling your name, check out this haunted day trip in Virginia. Then add a haunted tour to your seasonal to-do list!

More to Explore

CC | December 19, 2022

What are other haunted sites in Virginia?

With so much history beneath its belt, Virginia is chock full of haunted places, including:

A growing chain restaurant that specializes in poke bowls is making its first foray into Fairfax County.

Poke Bros. said it anticipated a “large audience of hungry customers” for Monday’s grand opening of its new franchise in Lorton Marketplace. Doors opened at 9453 Lorton Market St., Suite 17, at 11 a.m.

“Most fast food options out there are the same old fried food,” Poke Bros founder Xue Gong Chen said in a press release. “We’re proud that Poke Bros gives people something that’s quick and easy for lunch or dinner but with fresh, healthy ingredients and great flavor. Good food should be easy to grab on the go.”

A traditional Hawaiian cuisine, poke originated in pre-colonial days as cut-up raw fish that was eaten with fresh seaweed and preserved with sea salt. Influenced by Japanese immigrants, the dish evolved into its present-day form around the 1970s, becoming trendy in the mainland U.S. over the past decade — to some disapproval from Hawaiians.

Poke Bros was started in 2016 by Chen and two friends who first encountered the dish during a trip to California, according to its website. They opened the first restaurant in December of that year in Columbus, Ohio, with the goal of bringing “an inexpensive and accessible product” to the Midwest.

The fast-casual chain has now expanded to 72 locations in 13 states. The Lorton franchise is just the company’s second in Virginia, joining a location in Midlothian, and its first in the immediate D.C. area.

The menu features signature bowls — such as a “Johnny Utah” with salmon, avocado, edamame, cucumber, masago, Sriracha aioli and the chain’s exclusive, soy-based OG sauce — as well as a build-your-own option with rice and salad bases. There’s also mochi ice cream.

Anchored by Amazon Fresh, Lorton Marketplace is one of three main commercial centers emerging in the area once dominated by Lorton Prison. Other dining options in the shopping center include Glory Days Grill, Chipotle, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the Japanese restaurant Tokyo One.

No information has been released about the cause of the fire at this time.

LORTON, Va. — A massive fire in Lorton Wednesday morning left a house damaged.

Just after 6:30 a.m., firefighters with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded to Silver Ann Drive, off of Telegraph Road, after receiving multiple calls about a house being on fire in the area. When crews arrived, they found the home showing heavy flames.

The fire department released photos of the blaze on their social media page which shows a massive amount of smoke and fire coming from the backside of the attached garage and porch, nearby the home's chimney.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control. There were no reports of injuries due to the fire.

No information has been released about the cause of the fire at this time.

Just after 6:30 this morning, #FairfaxsBravest responded to the 6800 block of Silver Ann Dr for multiple calls reporting a house on fire. Crews arrived with heavy fire showing. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. No reported firefighter or civilian injuries. pic.twitter.com/d0PdeWUEMN

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 13, 2024

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The Workhouse Arts Center is celebrating a decade of creative, spooky and haunted trails in Lorton, Virginia.

The 10th annual Workhouse Haunt walking experience delivers one more weekend of frights this Friday, Saturday and Sunday before closing with a grand finale on Tuesday night for Halloween.

“The haunted trail was started by our performing arts program in 2014,” director of performing arts Joseph Wallen told WTOP. “The Workhouse Arts Center is located on the site of a former part of the D.C. prison system. The buildings there are close to 100 years old. … The haunted trail started as a fundraiser for our performing arts program and it’s literally become a beast and it’s become bigger, so it covers the entire campus at this point.”

Every year, the team of artists concocts an original story behind the jump scares.

“Rather than having random folks hiding and jumping to scare you … our approach is to do it from a storytelling approach,” Wallen said. “Our back story this year is about Evelyn Revenant and her two kids — twins. In London in 1955, they happen across a curiosity shop. … It opens a portal to the underworld where all of these fantastical creatures and evil, demonic things come into our world through every copy of every board game or video game.”

Thus, this year’s theme is “Game Over,” riffing on board games from Connect Four to Twister.

“We’re asking guests to come play along with us,” Wallen said. “They’re seeing semi-familiar versions of games that we might have in our own homes. … There might be a room that has a rich uncle character [like ‘Monopoly’], there might be a room that’s a mystery game [like ‘Clue’] … there’s things that involve dice. … Our guests walk away thinking, ‘Hey, I feel like that was ‘D&D ‘ … this reminds me of that video game [‘Tetris’] with the falling blocks.”

It truly takes an army of artists to put something this expansive together.

“This year, we have about 180 folks working with us: a combination of our creative team, the designers, the builders, the scare actors, the techies and support, all of the front-of-house people, the ticket takers, the bartenders,” Wallen said. “We have about 80 people each night that make it happen. … It’s about 60 or so scare actors on any given night. The scare actors are given scenes grouped into what’s called ‘neighborhoods.'”

On Friday and Saturday, gates open at 6:30 p.m. with the final group dispatched by 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, gates open at 6:30 p.m. with the final group dispatched by 9:30 p.m. On Halloween, gates open at 6 p.m. with the final group dispatched by 8:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time online to stagger timed entries.

While you wait to be dispatched, you can enjoy a bar with live music Friday, Saturday and Halloween night in the center courtyard located between the old prison buildings.

“They can just hang out … in our large waiting area, a large tented pavilion,” Wallen said. “We’ve got live bands most nights, we also have food trucks, a bar set up with soft drinks, beer, wine, cocktails, snacks and drinks.”

Once you’re dispatched, you’ll move through the trail in groups of six to eight people.

The trail covers approximately a mile and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Tickets are $30 per person. You can also donate canned goods to the Lorton Community Action Center food bank for admission.

Find more information here.

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WTOP's Jason Fraley braves the Workhouse Haunt (Part 2)

Listen to our full conversation here.

South County High School and other Fairfax County high schools were recognized by the College Board for excellence in AP programs.

Mark Hand, Patch Staff

LORTON, VA — South County High School and 16 other Fairfax County high schools received recognition for excellence in Advanced Placement programs.

The College Board, which manages the college-level AP programs and tests, recognized South County High School on the 2023 AP School Honor Roll with a Silver distinction.

The distinction goes to schools demonstrating excellence in their AP programs with an emphasis on broad access and consistent student outcomes. AP tests are one way students can earn college credits before graduating from high school.

Silver distinction schools must have at least 50 percent of seniors taking one or more AP exams during high school, 30 percent or more scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 5 percent or more taking five or more AP exams throughout high school.

Other Fairfax County schools receiving Silver distinction on the AP School Honor Roll were West Potomac High School, Centreville High School, Fairfax High School, Hayfield Secondary School, West Springfield High School and Westfield High School.

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Schools with the highest Platinum distinction included Langley High School, McLean High School, Oakton High School, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Woodson High School. These schools have at least 80 percent of seniors taking one or more AP exams during high school, 50 percent or more scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 15 percent or more taking five or more AP exams throughout high school.

Schools with Gold distinction were Chantilly High School, Lake Braddock Secondary School and Madison High School. These schools have at least 65 percent of seniors taking one or more AP exams during high school, 35 percent or more scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 10 percent or more taking five or more AP exams throughout high school.

Below the Silver distinction, Falls Church High School and Herndon High School received Bronze distinction. These schools have at least 40 percent of seniors taking one or more AP exams during high school, 25 percent or more scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 2 percent or more taking five or more AP exams throughout high school.

AP course offerings may differ by school. Fairfax County Public Schools pays AP exam fees for the first six exams for each student, giving them a chance to earn college credit. Scores of 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam can result in college credit, but minimum scores for college credits vary by college.