Author: Brandon Goins
From our state parks to our historic homes, North Carolina holds a wealth of spooky stories of the paranormal. Here in the Old North State you may hear a knock from inside the walls of the Governor's Mansion or meet a mysterious stranger on a Grandfather Mountain trail. These are some of the creepiest stories of folklore from across the state. Want more? Check out Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem, our blog dedicated to the eeriest stories from North Carolina history. This is a follow up to our list of Eight Folktales, Legends, and Mysteries from North Carolina’s History.
1. Teach’s Hole
Edward Teach, or more widely known as Blackbeard, was killed in a battle with the Royal Navy in 1718. Lieutenant Robert Maynard had Teach beheaded and his body thrown overboard. Blackbeard's head was then suspended from the bowsprit of Maynard's ship for good measure. Blackbeard's head was returned to Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia for a bounty of one hundred pounds sterling. Legends from the Outer Banks suggest that Blackbeard still walks the beaches of North Carolina. The stories claim that Teach can be seen wandering around the Ocracoke Island cove looking for his severed head. Alleged sightings vary from orbs of light to Teach's appearance in full spectral form.
2. The Great Dismal Swamp
Despite its name possibly suggesting the opposite, The Great Dismal Swamp is a pleasant place to visit. In addition to its beautiful scenery and wildlife presence, Dismal Swamp State Park possesses a wealth of history. The once dangerous and untamed land played host to the Underground Railroad, an exploration by George Washington, and even communities of escaped enslaved people. "Dangerous and untamed" being key words here, stories have survived telling tales of visitors who were lost to the swamp. The swamp is large, can be difficult to navigate, and is home to many dangerous animals. There are reports of visitors hearing noises, seeing strange lights, and more extreme cases of encounters with spirits whose lives were claimed by the swamp.
3. Roanoke Island Ghost Deer
Most who call North Carolina home know the story of the vanishing Roanoke Colony. The settlement of approximately 100 ran short of food shortly after it was established in 1587. Governor of the colony, John White, returned to England to bring back more supplies. Conveniently England went to war with Spain at the time of his arrival, delaying White's trip back to Roanoke for three years. When he finally returned there was no trace of the people he'd left behind, including his granddaughter, Virginia Dare. Dare is famously the first English child born in the "New World." All of this is commonly retold because it's eerie enough, but a more obscure aspect of the legend is the Ghost Deer of Roanoke. A popular appearance of the ghost deer is "The White Doe, or the Fate of Virginia Dare," a poem written in 1901 by Sallie Southall Cotten. Cotten's poem tells a story where Dare survived into adulthood. She was admired by native people and English settlers alike for her beauty. One jealous sorcerer transformed her into a white doe to spite her lover, a noble named Okisko. Okisko shot her with an arrow, killing her. Some retellings of this legend say the ghost of the white deer can still be spotted at Roanoke.
5. 4. The Ghost Hiker of Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain State Park is one of North Carolina's most visited. Gorgeous views, majestic wildlife, and daunting hiking trails attract guests to the park year-round. Halloween is a perfect time to visit whether you’re in search of brisk air, auburn leaves, or, well, paranormal encounters. One frequently encountered ghost is that of a lone hiker. An older man with a long beard can be spotted carrying a walking stick and hiking silently at dusk. The apparition is harmless. Hikers have even attempted to engage with the man over the years to no avail. The man reportedly has never acknowledged anyone who has seen him. The spirit seems content eternally hiking the 12 miles of trails through the park alone.
Bonus: The Biltmore Estate
A place as old and expensive as the Biltmore Estate is bound to have some spirits wandering around. George Vanderbilt died unexpectedly from complications from an appendectomy and is said to haunt the grounds. His widow, Edith can allegedly be heard talking to him in the library to this day. The legend is that in the years after her husband’s death, Edith spent much of her time there in the library talking to him. Which is funny because it’s scary. Their daughter, Cornelia, was eccentric as well and I haven’t even gotten to the part where I mention the headless ghost cat. Cornelia left the estate in the care of her estranged husband, preferring a bohemian lifestyle for herself. If you ask some, they’d say she just wanted nothing to do with the place.
NCPedia and North Carolina Ghosts, a collection of tales and folklore that were helpful in putting together this list. Please respect each site’s rules and closing schedules as they are in place for the safety of all visitors.
All images courtesy of NC Archives.