If you live in North Carolina, and want to do something different for Halloween this year, you could visit a number of haunted places right here in our state. For those who live outside North Carolina, and cannot make the trip this Halloween season, feel free to visit anytime throughout the year. Please be advised that these places do require the landowner’s permission to visit.
Asheville, home of the Biltmore Estate and many legendary ghosts, is first on our list of haunted places. After George W. Vanderbilt died from complications of an appendicitis, his wife missed him terribly.
Is is said that she would go into the estate’s library and sit in front of the marble fireplace, talking to George. She knew that he was not really there, yet talking to his spirit calmed her. She can still be heard talking quietly to George in the library.
Many areas of the Biltmore Estate and its grounds are said to be haunted. Another area where strange events have happened is the pool area. Laughing and splashing can be heard here at night. Voices of swimmers can be heard as they echo throughout the rooms and hallways on the second floor of the mansion.
After having been to the Biltmore House on an evening tour, I can definitely say that I do remember that section of the estate. It was dimly lit and I could remember getting a creepy feeling as we passed through the noticeably cooler area. I did not hear any splashing or laughter. Many other mysterious happenings have been reported about the Biltmore House, including a headless orange cat that roams the grounds.
During the 1970s, Clyde Erwin High school was built. Before construction began, part of the remaining Old Country Home Graveyard had to be dug up from the site and moved across the road. The remains were placed in unmarked graves with only wooden crosses marking them. It is said that the ghosts of those disturbed with the move still haunt the school.
Another school in North Carolina that is said to have restless spirits is Appalachian State University. Inhabitants of the East Hall dormitories have reported sightings of a ghostly girl dressed in white, lights that come on and go off by themselves, and sounds of footsteps in the hallways when no one is there. Some have reported feeling something brush up against them as they walk in the hallways, even when they were alone in the hall.
Anyone who has ever heard of the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights can come and see them for yourself if you are visiting North Carolina.
North West Middle School in Charlotte is said to be haunted by a little girl who was ran over and killed in front of the school in the 1950’s. The girl lived near the school and would run there to hide from her mean, drunk, abusive father.
One night in a drunken rage her Father began beating her. She was running to the school to hide when a car struck and killed her. Students and staff have reported hearing banging on pipes and desks, along with ghostly sightings of a young girl in the auditorium.
A dormitory house on the campus of Guildford College in Greensboro, Hobbs House, is said to be haunted by Mary Hobbs. The dorm used to be a home owned by Mary’s parents. One night when she was a child, Mary had a slumber party in the attic of the house. Some neighborhood boys took rocks wrapped in newspaper, set them on fire, and threw them through the window in the attic setting the house on fire. Mary perished in the fire and is now said to be heard roaming the hallways searching for her room.
Highway 21 North takes you towards the mountains of North Carolina and to Sparta. A small community at the foot of the mountain called Thurmond is another haunted place in the state I call home. In Thurmond there is a road to the left just before you start up the mountain, this is known as Gravity Hill.
The hill got its name, many years ago, from a tragic event that happened there. A young woman was driving up the hill with her three sons when the car stalled. The three boys got out of the car and planned to push the car up over the hill so their Mom could “jump start” it as it rolled down the other side. They were near the top of the hill when the oldest boy slipped and fell. His fall made the car too heavy for his siblings to support so the car rolled back down the hill, killing all of them.
When you start up this long hill, stop about half way up. You can leave your car running, or turn it off. Your car will roll uphill and stop near the top! Where your car stops is said to be the spot in which the boys were killed.
I have lived within a thirty mile radius of Gravity Hill all of my life and have never gave this a try. I may have to take my husband and go check it out one weekend soon. If I do I will let you know how it goes!
North Carolina has many more haunted places that you can look up online.
