North Carolina is rich with history, and it is one of the birthplaces of the United States. This means that there are plenty of ghost stories to go along with this history. There are hauntings all over North Carolina from each chapter of the state’s history, and they are all available and accessible to the public!
If you’re a roadtripping kind of person, you can easily make a fun roadtrip out of these locations and make a complete circle! This is meant to be a quick list. Each one of these places warrant their own full blog post!
Trivette Clinic – Hamptonville, NC
The Trivette Clinic is located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Dr. William Amos Trivette built the clinic in 1932 after relocating to take care of his aging parents. The clinic was a full-service hospital until 1939. After Dr. Trivette passed away at the age of 50 in 1938 from pneumonia, his wife, Lorah Gwendolyn Trivette, decided to close the clinic and sell it. The clinic became a supper club, as well as an alcohol detox clinic; a rather ironic combination. The Trivette Clinic then became a nursing home in the 1950s and later became a private residence in the early 1960s.
It is believed that the Trivette Clinic is believed to be haunted by over 70 ghosts. Some of the most commonly reported activity includes a little girl named Emily who haunts a wardrobe on the second floor. She has been known to open and close the wardrobe door. A young girl, named Majesty, haunts the basement. She even has a ball to play with! There is reportedly another child spirit by the name of Jimmy. Two nurses named Helen and Polly are also believed to be haunting the clinic, never clocking out from work.
There are also reports that flashlights will turn on by themselves as well as a male entity haunting the operating room named Philip. His presence was confirmed by a former employee of the nursing home. Apparitions have also been seen in the windows.
Henry River Mill Village – Hickory, NC
Henry River Mill Village opened in 1905 as a cotton yarn manufacturer. The area had 35 company houses for employees and their families and even had a company store, a two-story boarding house, and a bridge. You may recognize Henry River Mill Village as the filming location for District 12 in “The Hunger Games” movie franchise. While prosperous and bustling in the beginning, Henry River Mill Village would suffer the same fate as other boomtowns. The mill shut down in 1973. Even though people moved away, there were many that remained until the early 2000s. Today, Henry River Mill Village is a historic site, as well as a haunted hot spot. It seems that the folks who lived in this community don’t want to leave.
Brookstown Inn – Winston-Salem, NC
The Brookstown Inn is located in the Old Salem district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It began as an old cotton mill in 1837. So, many of the employees were women who actually lived in the mill. According to legend, two women got into a fight, and it took a turn for the worst. Tragically, one of them was killed after she was pushed down the elevator shaft. That woman, named Sally, is reported to haunt the Inn, specifically the fourth floor at night, and as a full-bodied apparition. At night, reports of the screams of a woman are heard. While you may not be able to have an investigation at the Brookstown Inn, you can still book a room for the night.
Person’s Ordinary – Littleton, NC
Person’s Ordinary was built in 1739 was built on one of the main stagecoach routes running from Hillsborough to Halifax. It is called by Person’s Ordinary as it was owned by Thomas Person, a prominent political leader of the time. An Ordinary was a place for “ordinary” men to sleep, as the wealthy and connected traveled with letters of introduction and stayed at manor houses during their travels. On the second floor, there is a bloodstain in one of the bedrooms. This was one of the only places I have witnessed a REM-Pod go off by itself in a room where the nearest person was at least six feet away. People have reported seeing faces in windows as well as candle-like flickering when no one is in the building.
Lydia’s Bridge – Greensboro, NC
I’ve heard a few different stories in relation to Lydia’s Bridge over the years since I’ve moved here. This is your classic hitchhiking ghost story. But in this case, I actually know people who have encountered this phenomenon. Lydia’s Bridge is actually not a bridge. It’s located just south of Jamestown, NC, but instead it’s a culvert for railroad tracks. The story goes like this; on a rainy night at an old underpass, drivers will see a woman in a white evening dress. She will flag the driver down, hoping for a ride. Then, she will get into the backseat, tell the driver her address, and then she will disappear upon arrival. There have been variations of this story over the years, including a name change to Mary. You can dive deeper into this legend with the book, “Looking for Lydia.”
Battleship North Carolina – Wilmington, NC
This location is something special. Also known as the USS North Carolina, the Battleship North Carolina is a favorite among ghost hunters. When I went with my team, we dressed up in period clothing and had quite an active investigation. The Battleship North Carolina has quite a history with World War II, and there seem to be sailors still on the ship…unable to leave. Or, maybe they don’t want to leave? We heard strange noises throughout the ship like tables were being dragged in the mess hall area. What was also interesting was that overnight, the activity was pretty dull. But then, it started to pick up around 4am-7am, around the time the sailors would have been waking up.
Cabelands Cemetery & Eno River – Durham, NC
This location is near where I live, and it’s probably one of the most active places I’ve been to. This little cemetery is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention while you’re on the hiking trail. While there are only 12 markers, it’s believed there are actually 51 people buried here. The nearby Cabe homestead is also a hotbed of activity. My team and I did an extensive investigation in the area right before COVID-19 hit, and funny enough, we kept getting responses from a spirit that was obsessed with geese. They just kept saying, “Goose. Geese. Goose” repeatedly. Others who have visited this spot have also reported seeing shadow figures and feeling the presence of multiple people. We also heard phantom voices, and strange feelings around the Eno River.
Heritage Square – Fayetteville, NC
We spent about a month at the Sandford House in Heritage Square in October 2019. We spent about a month at this location and encountered quite a bit of activity. The whole property has something going on, but the Sandford House is truly a marvel. It was the headquarters for Sherman’s men when he was coming through Fayetteville for his infamous march. There is a chip on the mantle from a bullet that was shot from the inside! During the 1930s-1950s, the house was home to numerous families, especially women who were displaced by World War II and looking for work. The second floor is one of the most active spots with the spirit of a young boy named David.
Asheville, NC
I have to tell you, there are a ton of haunted hot spots in Asheville, NC. I’m pretty sure this town has more haunted hot spots per capita than most cities around the country. Asheville was incorporated in 1797, there is a ton of history in the area, which makes its haunted status unsurprising. The Biltmore House might be one of the most notable haunted places in the area, as well as The Grove Park Inn. From Riverside Cemetery to Helen’s Bridge, plus an array of ghost tours around the area, you won’t have a problem quenching your thirst for spookiness in Asheville!
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Buxton, NC
The Outer Banks is a rich source of paranormal hauntings, especially those that are pirate-centric. Did you know the ghost of Blackbeard has been seen and heard around the Outer Banks? It’s crazy that such a famous part of history is just a drive away from me. I was especially drawn to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse because there have been sightings of a ghost kitty around the area! The shoals that extend offshore of Cape Hatteras has been known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic” because there have been so many shipwrecks.
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