The Tar Heel State boasts plenty of ghostly tales, from friendly apparitions to outright ghost activity. Explore some of its most haunted locations through a guided tour or solo expeditions to uncover these creepy phenomena.
Reports have surfaced of unexplained footsteps, an orb in the shape of a pineapple and what sounds like female screams near Bennett. Dubbed as Satan’s Tramping Ground, this location near Bennett may be where Satan manifests and causes mayhem on Earth.
Mordecai House
Mordecai House has long been considered haunted. Built by Joel Lane – known as “Father of Raleigh” znc nzmdc for Moses Mordecai who married into Joel Lane’s family and eventually lived there as well.
People visiting the house reported witnessing strange things, such as an invisible piano playing unattended or photos falling off of the wall. Some visitors even claimed they saw a woman dressed in period attire walking around the home. Could it be Mary?
Mary Willis Mordecai Turk’s spirit, who lived from 1858 to 1937, frequently appears at the Mordecai House as an apparition. It is said she plays piano in the downstairs drawing room. Visitors have reported hearing its sound followed by seeing an apparition dressed in 19th century gray clothing sitting at the piano. This ghost is by far one of its most active tenants!
Raleigh’s Old City Hall
The Capitol Building at Fayetteville Street boasts many ghost stories dating back 179 years. According to its Historian, incidents related to staff members or security staff at the capitol that remain unexplained has occurred numerous times; all members of staff would like to find out the reason behind some of these occurrences.”
Security staff have reported hearing creaky stairs and hearing footsteps on hardwood staircases on upper levels of buildings. Spirits sometimes use elevators; occasionally the doors will open or shut themselves or it may move up and down without anyone pressing buttons in it.
One can detect an old cigar scent wafting down the hallway, as well as voices arguing upstairs in old meeting rooms. Some Raleigh political figures remain at work there even after death, continuing their lives here in their capitol city.
The Old Raleigh Inn
At the heart of any historic town you will discover one of its most charming and captivating buildings. The Old Raleigh Inn is no exception; its undeniable beauty embodies history, longevity, and legacy. Under protective coverings guests can see beautiful L-beams carved and sturdy in corners of most significant rooms as well as charming scarf joints where beams interweave on its second-story porch.
In 1892, the tobacco-rich Duke family constructed a grand hotel in the woods north of James Road. Comprised of four stories high with turrets and balconies and verandas for guests to use on four levels, visitors proclaimed it one of the most beautiful hotels they had ever seen; Graceful gazebos enhanced springs for added beauty; orchestras performed regularly; dancers filled its grand ballroom.
Hotel Raleigh Springs enjoyed a successful ten year run before water tables decreased and springs dried up, prompting Memphians to find other sources of clean drinking water rather than traveling all the way to Raleigh Springs for their cures.
