Self-Guided Visit
Film Screening
Catch an independent, foreign, or classic film at this 1932 National Register theater. The projection booth — where paranormal reports are concentrated — overlooks the main auditorium.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Theater / Performance Venue
Grandin Theatre
A 1932 Roanoke neighborhood movie house where two children reportedly died in the projection room — and staff still hear a crying infant inside.
1310 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Movie ticket prices vary by screening; see grandintheatre.com for current schedule and pricing
Access
Wheelchair OK
Single-level accessible theater with lobby and main floor
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1932 · Art Deco Cinema Architecture · National Register of Historic Places · Roanoke Neighborhood History
The Grandin Theatre opened in 1932 and was designed as a neighborhood venue serving the residential Grandin Village area of Roanoke. The single-screen theater features original art deco architectural elements and has operated with only brief interruptions across its nine decades.
The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction that reflects its architectural integrity and its role as one of the few surviving neighborhood movie houses of its era in western Virginia. Unlike many contemporaries that were subdivided into multiplexes or converted to other uses, the Grandin has maintained its original configuration.
After a period of closure that left the building temporarily unoccupied, the theater was revived and returned to operation under community-supported management. Today it screens independent, foreign, and children's films, and hosts live music events. The 540-345-6377 phone line and grandintheatre.com website serve as the primary public contact channels.
Sources
- https://www.visitroanokeva.com/listings/grandin-theatre/5867/
- https://www.grandintheatre.com/
- https://vahistorymuseum.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/the-ghosts-of-roanoke/
Disembodied infant cryingChild apparitionFace at projection boothEVP activity
According to the History Museum of Western Virginia, a homeless family sheltered in the Grandin Theatre during one of the building's closed periods. Two children from the family died inside, reportedly in the projection room on the upper level of the auditorium.
In the years since, staff have described hearing what sounds like an infant crying within the building when no children are present. Visitors have reported seeing a small boy standing in the auditorium who vanishes when approached. The most unnerving accounts involve a face — described as peering down at the audience — observed at the projection booth window.
L.B. Taylor Jr. included the Grandin Theatre in 'Haunted Roanoke' (The History Press, 2011), his survey of western Virginia paranormal sites, lending the accounts a measure of regional documentation. EVP investigations conducted at the site have been referenced in connection with the reported activity, though no formal investigation results have been publicly released.
Media Appearances
- Haunted Roanoke by L.B. Taylor Jr. (book, 2011)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grandin Theatre family-friendly?
Active movie house programming for all ages. Paranormal history is discussed but not dramatized; suitable for older children with parental discretion. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Grandin Theatre?
Movie ticket prices vary by screening; see grandintheatre.com for current schedule and pricing
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Grandin Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Grandin Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Single-level accessible theater with lobby and main floor.