Rams Head Tavern
An alluring apparition in this historic tavern may flirt with you…or throw a drink in your face
Paranormal Activity at Rams Head Tavern
- A prostitute’s apparition appears and flirts with guests
- Women report being pranked by unseen entities
- Cold gusts are encountered in strange areas
- Visitors report odd scents of floral perfume
- A Union soldier’s apparition sometimes appears
- Small items behind the bar are moved by unseen forces
- An elderly woman’s ghost is seen wandering through the building
- Spirits in the tavern write their names in wet cement
Rams Head Tavern’s History 300 Years in the Making
Exploring Annapolis, Maryland can feel like strolling through the streets of Colonial America. Bricked roadways chart paths around federal style homes and buildings, some older than the United States itself. There’s no bad place to enjoy the history of Annapolis, but the most hauntingly historic spot in town is Rams Head Tavern.
Rams Head opened in 1989, but the property has been home to pubs and boarding houses since the 1790s. In that time, the old brick foundation has collected its share of both interesting stories and intriguing spirits. These days, if you stop in at the right time, you might see the Rams Head’s phantoms reenacting the pub’s most famous tales.
Timeline of Rams Head Tavern's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Rams Head Tavern through the years
1703
The history of Rams Head Tavern begins over 300 years ago, in 1703. That year, a brewer in the ‘new world’ received a charter from Queen Anne to establish a brewery. The new business kicked off development on the plot of land in central Annapolis. But, the brewery was ultimately moved away from that location.
By the end of the century, other developers were eyeing the property. New buildings went up on the plot in the 1770s and 80s, and in 1792, the very first tavern moved in: The Crown and Dial.
1705
The Crown and Dial was the brainchild of local clockmaker William Faris. Unfortunately, it proved to be short-lived. After only two years in operation, the tavern was renamed to the Sign of the Green Tree. Through much of this era, the building functioned as both a pub and a boarding house.
Little is known about what happened on the property across the 1800s and early 1900s. It served various commercial and residential uses throughout these years. Though, it always ended up falling back into its roots as an Annapolis watering hole.
1989
Almost two hundred years after the first tavern opened on site, the modern Rams Head Tavern was born. William Muehlhauser bought the ailing pub in 1989 and turned it into a full service restaurant. The popular eatery soon expanded into neighboring buildings to meet demand.
Today, interest in the historic tavern stays high, with crowds filtering in and out of the centuries-old pub every day. But as the living come and go, the dead stick close to Rams Head Tavern, making it one of Annapolis’s most haunted places.
Is Rams Head Tavern Haunted?
The most famous ghost story of the Rams Head Tavern stems from its late 1790s era, when it was still the Sign of the Green Tree. Along with being a popular pub, the Green Tree was a known ‘entertainment venue’ in Annapolis, where men could spend an evening with a lady of the night.
During one of these raucous trysts, the pub’s walls shook and chandeliers swayed. Moments later, a bed came collapsing through the ceiling. The man survived the fall, but the prostitute he was with supposedly died instantly. Now, it’s reported that the unfortunate woman, dubbed Amy, haunts the Rams Head Tavern.
Amy’s Ghost: Perfume, Cold Spots, and a Haunted Bedpost
Amy’s ghost most often manifests at or near the bar. While most witnesses say she will simply appear and disappear, other tales suggest she can carry on conversations and flirt with men at the bar. And wherever Amy’s ghost goes, she trails a notable scent of floral perfume. Some people also report feeling sudden chills and cold gusts around the bar.
There is also a bedpost kept in the building, said to be from Amy’s fateful fall. The post is its own eerie hotspot, with Amy’s specter frequently lingering nearby.
Amy the Ghost’s Jealous Pranks on Rams Head Tavern Couples
While Amy is mostly just a flirtatious phantom around Rams Head Tavern, she can sometimes make mischief and play pranks. She will almost always choose couples to pick on, frequently focusing her activity on the women.
Amy will purportedly wait until the couple get fresh drinks, and when the woman goes to take a sip, Amy will tip the drink and spill it all over the woman’s shirt. Many people figure this is Amy’s way of dealing with anyone she considers ‘competition.’
Evidence of the Paranormal at Rams Head Tavern
Amy’s main interest is interacting with patrons around the Rams Head bar. But she also explores the workers’ areas as well. Small items around the bar sometimes go missing or end up moved to strange places, with Amy often taking the blame. Along with that, she may also go exploring in the building’s basement.
During a construction project down there, wet cement was drying on the floor. Workers left it for a moment, only to return and find Amy’s name mysteriously scrawled in it.
Most Haunted Annapolis Bar?
Though Amy is the best known ghost at Rams Head Tavern, there may be a few other specters keeping her company. The apparition of an elderly woman sometimes appears around the bar and restaurant. But, unlike Amy, this mysterious woman doesn’t have a detailed backstory to go with her.
Additionally, there are ongoing reports of a man appearing in a Union uniform from the Civil War. While his tell-tale outfit is easy to spot, the spiritual soldier is also identified by the matching Union cap he wears low, always hiding his eyes.
Visit the Haunted Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis
It takes more than just time to make a haunting. It takes an intriguing story, an unfortunate soul, and a historic setting to truly curate a legend. And there are few historic settings with more soul or more good stories than Rams Head Tavern. Under one name or another, the pub has been a fixture of Annapolis for centuries.
The perfect familiar place for a ghost to call home. Over time, the tale of Amy’s ghost has become a popular piece of Maryland lore. Plenty of people visit Rams Head today just to hear her story, see the mysterious bed post, and possibly encounter her specter. There’s no guarantee you’ll get a chance to flirt with a phantom when you visit the tavern. But if you’re lucky, you might feel an ice cold breeze drift by. Or, if you’re unlucky, you’ll feel the icy chill of your drink spilling all over you, courtesy of Amy, the jealous ghost of Rams Head Tavern.
