The former Davis Hospital in Statesville is one of North Carolina’s premier haunted locations, where paranormal enthusiasts report experiencing malevolence around its pediatric ward and elsewhere in the facility.
Raleigh offers several spine-tingling experiences in its woods and farms, from haunted houses to thrilling hayrides that will surely give you chills this Halloween.
Haunted Duke Mansion
If you enjoy ghost stories or just old homes, be sure to visit this beautiful historic inn near Charlotte. Many consider it one of the most haunted houses in North Carolina; employees have reported unnerving experiences here such as doors opening and closing by themselves, radios turning on and off by themselves, and seeing figures in bathrooms.
This mansion was constructed in 1915 by Zebulon Taylor and later expanded by James Buchanan Duke (of Duke University and Duke Energy fame), becoming now an historic inn offering events as well as 20 beautifully designed rooms for guests to stay.
Shirley Jackson famously used this house as one of her sources of inspiration when writing The Haunting of Hill House. Its striking exterior echoes that of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England where Lord Marlborough resided; today it serves as a popular tourist attraction.
The Nell Cropsey House
Nell Cropsey House in Elizabeth City, North Carolina is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman who vanished on November 11th 1901 after just becoming engaged to Jim Wilcox.
Ollie heard a noise coming from the back yard that night and assumed it was her father chasing after someone who had stolen some of his pigs.
Ollie went back into the house to check, only to discover her sister had vanished without trace. Searching in vain, Ollie eventually ran outside screaming to the neighbors “Somebody stole my pigs!”
Mrs. Cropsey found her daughter’s body floating in Pasquotank River over two months later. Police suspected Jim Wilcox for her disappearance, though he maintained that he didn’t kill her. Over time he became unpopular within his community and eventually killed himself; according to W.O. Saunders he told him before passing that he hadn’t committed the murder of Nell Cropsey.
The Roanoke Island Inn
North Carolina, with its mountainous terrain in the west and marshes to its east, is renowned for being a hotbed of paranormal tales. Therefore, we’ve compiled our state’s most haunted spots – hotels and houses as well as lighthouses, trails and more!
Roanoke Island Inn, situated in Manteo’s historic downtown area, is an inviting bed and breakfast offering water views. Boasting eight rooms including two family suites and an idyllic backyard garden featuring a koi pond, each room at The Roanoke Island Inn features unique decor while all offer free wifi, parking, 24-hour front desk service and shared kitchen amenities.
Comic World will host an all-ages haunted house that is kid-friendly with no gore (though there may be jump scares). There will also be costume contests, food, face painting and fun activities like face painting! Plus Coastal Concessions’ food truck will be on site selling treats. Admission to this event is completely free!
The USS North Carolina
Save Our Ship campaign helped rescue the USS North Carolina (BB-55) from being scrapped during World War II by purchasing, dredging and towing it from Bayonne, New Jersey to Wilmington where she currently sits in her namesake state’s harbor.
North Carolina earned 15 battle stars during her service, as she became the first battleship to screen aircraft carriers during Pacific campaigns during 1943 and 1944, helping prevent enemy forces from attacking carrier task forces with large guns.
Onboard the USS North Carolina is haunted by one ghostly figure from its history – a young man killed during a torpedo attack who is said to move furniture and open and close doors in the halls. Other apparitions have also been seen throughout its corridors, including Lydia who haunts her former home aboard ship as an invisible ghost and can often be heard laughing or sobbing when passing by.
