The Stories Behind These 9 Haunted Bridges In South Carolina Will Keep You Up At Night
Bridges all over the world seem to attract paranormal activity and South Carolina is no different. Perhaps it’s because bridges are often the scene of tragic events and those events leave an “impression” behind – trapping a spirit there for eternity. Here are nine haunted bridges in South Carolina where it’s widely believed such spirits are trapped. These stories are tragic and seeing or hearing one of the ghosts trapped at these bridges will surely keep you up at night.
South Carolina has more than one "Cry Baby Bridge." Located next to the new "replacement" bridge, this Cry Baby Bridge is no longer open to vehicular traffic. But it IS open to ghosts! People have reported seeing a woman wearing a white dressing gown on this bridge. But when they try to help her, she vanishes. Poof!
2. Congaree River Bridge (a.k.a. Gervais St Bridge) - Columbia
This bridge in Columbia has been haunted for decades by a girl who hitches a ride. But, after she gets in your car she disappears before you get to her destination.
The ghostly legend surrounding this rail overpass bridge in Gaffney is that a woman carrying a basket has been spotted here or several occasions. But if approached, she vanishes into thin air. Have you seen the basket lady?
Creepy stuff happens on this spot of Ghost Creek Road. As the story goes, a newlywed groom was killed here on the night of his wedding. People report seeing a white mist of an apparition in the trees by the bridge and, so the story goes, if you turn your car off and circle it three times, it won't start again. Although that doesn't sound like something you should test out - especially in the dark!
According to hauntedplaces.org, the Poinsett Bridge is haunted by the ghost of a slave who was hanged here. Reportedly, his screams are so creepy they'll send you running for your car - AND THEN - you'll find that your car won't start.
On this section of Old Bluff Road near Congaree National Park all sorts of weird things happen, including cars stalling out for no reason on this bridge.
One of the dumping grounds for the Gaffney Strangler Lee Roy Martin, this bridge is the sight of a ghostly haunting from one of the victims of the heinous crime. Reports say if you walk over the bridge after dark you'll hear her moaning and crying for help from below the bridge.
The legend has it that in 1979 "Booger Jim" was hanged by his angry wife from this bridge with jumper cables. If you visit the bridge at night and say his name three times you'll hear him answer but since his throat was injured by the hanging you won't be able to understand what he's saying. Given the circumstances, you may not want to hang around to try to figure it out.
This bridge is said to be haunted for a couple of reasons. Legend has it that a woman tossed her crying baby off this bridge in the mid 1900s and if you listen closely you can hear the baby crying. Some people report seeing an apparition of the mother looking for her baby. Also, if you put your car in neutral it will appear to roll uphill. Some say it's the spirit of the angry baby pushing the car off the bridge. But it's just an optical illusion called a "gravity hill." Read more about that here.
Have you visited any of these haunted bridges in South Carolina? Or do you know of others? We’d love to know in our comments!
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.
