8 Horribly Creepy Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In North Carolina

Hello goblins, ghouls, ghosts, and vampires — it might not be the official time to adorn your Halloween costume (just yet) but in the meantime, it’s fun to think of all things spooky. It’s no surprise North Carolina is a very haunted state. From haunted hotels, beasts that drain the blood from animals, wandering souls hitching a ride home, underwater ghost towns and dancing with the devil at night… the best way to get in the Halloween spirit is to scare the beejesus out of yourself with these eight horribly creepy activities.

Flickr / Opus 2008

One of the first North Carolina urban legends many learn is that of the Devil's Tramping Ground, a patch of barren land where nothing will grow or flourish. Rumor has it this is where the Devil rises from the underworld, burning the ground he walks on while plotting his evils. Of course, an outrageous story like this has also attracted some non-believers who dared to spend the night in the Devil's Tramping Ground. Seeing that it's public land, you can too.

Read all about the Devil's Tramping Ground here.

Youtube / JoshG.TV

If you grew up in the Triad area (like I did) it's likely on a late, autumn night, you and some friends would pile in the car and head towards Payne Road (actually Edwards Road to explore the myths, legends, and hauntings for yourself. Rumors have long swirled around just why this road is so terrifyingly haunted. Between a demented man murdering his entire family, a lone driver dying in a fire after a wreck, or plantation owner Edward Payne murdering all of his slaves while his family watched... no one can quite pinpoint just where the stories originated or what is true. The energy here is palpable, eerie, and very dark.

Read all about Payne Road here.

You can also learn more by watching this YouTube video:

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Flickr / Mike Carrick

Asheville's Chicken Alley is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Dr. Jamie Smith, an Asheville doctor who was murdered after getting caught between a bar fight. The bar, located on Chicken Alley, has now closed but Smith's spirit still lingers. His quintessential cane can still be heard tapping down the alley on a dark night.

Read all about Chicken Alley here.

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Wikimedia / J G Keith

The legend of Tom Dula, who was (possibly) wrongly accused of murdering his lover Laura Foster (after getting caught in a love triangle with her cousin) is so famous it even inspired its very own ballad. Today, Old Wilkes County Jail, where Dula spent his last days, is haunted by Dula — and the energy of an array of multiple interesting inmates. While today it is no longer in operation, it's open for tours.

Read all about Old Wilkes County Jail

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Youtube / The Beast of Bladenboro

From a chupacabra-like beast that has terrorized a small town, draining the blood from livestock; a monster fish with a cute name; a siren murdering hikers along the French Broad River, and even a dream that led to a man's execution... North Carolina is full of fascinating urban legends and we've compiled some of the best in this list.

Learn more about one famous legend in this YouTube video:

Flickr / woodleywonderworks

Did you know North Carolina has its very own road to nowhere? Located deep in the Great Smoky Mountains this six-mile road dead-ends after the tunnel. A literal metaphor for displaced residents and broken promises, there is a haunting history, including an underwater ghost town not far away.

Read all about The Road to Nowhere here.

Yelp / gene s

Sure, there's haunted hotels and haunted roads... but a haunted restaurant? The Country Squire Restaurant Winery and Vintage Inn located in Kenansville is so haunted — even paranormal investigators have spent the night here to investigate. Between the former owner still taking a management position from the afterlife to two separate deaths that have occurred here, you might be treated to more than a delicious steak during your visit.Read all about The Country Squire here.

Flickr / Jim Dollar

Ocracoke might be famous for its Blackbeard history, but there's more than just Ol' Edward Teach's spirit still hanging out amongst the waves. As the most isolated place in the state, Ocracoke could very well be the most haunted. Old Inns with strange secrets, a 'large bearded figure' chasing someone on a leisurely stroll through Springer's Point Nature Preserve, and 81 cemeteries on this small stretch of land... yeah, there's a lot going on here in terms of the afterlife crossing over into ours.

Read all about the Devil's Tramping Ground here.

Super creepy and just in time for Halloween! Which ones have you done, and are there any haunted spots you’d add to the list?

Something even scarier… visiting somewhere haunted and not even realizing JUST how haunted it is. That could’ve possibly happened to you at these eight little-known haunted places in North Carolina.