The Real Life Haunted House In North Carolina That Will Send You Running For The Hills
Are you spooked easily, or do you actually enjoy the adrenaline rush from seeing or hearing something paranormal? There are many places in North Carolina you can go if you wish to spot a ghost (here’s a list of eight places), and there is one house, in particular, that is about as haunted as a place gets. It’s located in a city park in the heart of Raleigh, and if you take a tour of this real life haunted house, there’s a good chance it’ll send you running for the hills.
The Mordecai House, located in Mordecai Historic Park, was built in 1785 on a large plantation that is now mostly comprised of the City of Raleigh.
The old residence was built by Joel Lane for his son Henry, and the original plantation property was approximately 5,000 acres.
During the Civil War, the plantation on which Mordecai House sat was the site of many fights and it's believed that a great deal of soldiers on both sides of the battle died here on the property. But those wandering lost souls of wounded soldiers who died on the battlefield aren't all that are thought to haunt this park and the Mordecai House.
Both staff members and those who have taken the tour of the haunted home have heard — and seen — the ghostly apparition of one of Henry Lane's daughters playing the piano, wearing attire appropriate for the period.
Of course, it doesn't help that upon taking the tour, you encounter a number of headless mannequins posing in period clothing in several of the rooms. But rest assured, THOSE are real, and simply there to model clothing. But weird things do happen in the various rooms of the haunted home.
The photo below depicts three descendants of Henry Lane, sisters who reportedly refuse to leave the property, even though they passed away long, long ago. (It's a lovely house and we don't blame them!) They've been blamed, along with other descendants of the Lane family, for wreaking havoc during some tours being conducted in the home.
People, from staff to visitors, report that during the tour at one point, when the guide pointed at historic images depicting the home's previous owners, the photo would suddenly fall off the wall, or even fly across the room as soon as the name of the person in the photo was spoken.
Other creepy reports say footsteps are frequently heard where no one is walking, like on the stairs or in one of the upstairs rooms after hours when only one or two staff members remain in the house.
The Mordecai House is located at 1 Mimosa St., Raleigh, NC 27604. Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (The last tour begins at 3:00 p.m.) Tours last approximately 50 minutes and cost $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $3 for youth, children age 6 and under are free. Tours are not offered if a school group is on site.
If you’re traveling to Raleigh during the week just for this tour, we suggest you call ahead to check tour availability (919-996-4364). Learn Tickets are sold in the Visitors Center at the north end of Mordecai Historic Park. Learn more on the official website of the City of Raleigh Parks and Rec.
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
