With the return of the fall season each year, there also arrives the fun of pulling out Halloween decorations, planning parties, trick or treat activities, visits to pumpkin patches, partaking in pumpkin spice treats galore, and the list goes on and on. But let's not forget seeking out a few locales in the state that have some true hair-raising potential.
There are many haunts that most South Carolinians have already heard of so we dug deep and tried to find a few that aren't quite so mainstream - and then we compiled a road trip (a short one) that you can get through in one single day or evening.
Ready? So are we!! Here's an interactive map you can use for navigation. Fire it up, and let's get moving. The trip starts in Spartanburg.
1. Oakwood Cemetery (a.k.a. Hell's Gate) - Spartanburg
Hell's Gate just may be the absolutely most haunted graveyard in the entire state. Orbs, apparitions, children speaking and laughing... it's all seen and heard here. If you want to dive right in to where the most activity takes place, then head to the back of the cemetery to an older section where the head stones are more make shift the the graves are not as formally marked. Good luck... and we seriously recommend you do not go alone.
2. Pinckneyville
Few people know there's an old, old ghost town standing near to what is now Jonesville. Today, Jonesville, proper, has a population just under 1,000 residents. And the nearby ghost town of Pinckneyville has exactly... 0 ...residents. That is, unless you count the two residents with a lifelong feud that each carried to the grave. Among the graves still found in the ghost town of Pinckneyville is the one that sits at the base of this large tree. The two men that fought so hard against one another lived across the street from each other. And when the first one passed away, reportedly out of spite he had his bones placed/buried right under this tree in his front yard and right across the street from his rival so he could always keep an eye on his no-good neighbor. It's said the rivalry still exists between the two, even though they lived and died in the early 1800s. See for yourself with a visit to this tree, but be on the lookout for no trespass signs. They occasionally pop up on or near the site of old Pinckneyville. Learn more about it and that big feud, here.
3. John D. Long Lake. Let's face it. Sometimes, the boogeyman is real. We'd be remiss if we didn't include a stop at John D. Long Lake oh this haunted day trip.
As most South Carolinians remember, in October of 1994, South Carolina resident (and mother) Susan Smith laid claim to police that her vehicle had been carjacked - with her two young sons inside. As the country looked on, it was eventually revealed that Smith had allowed her car to roll right into John D Long Lake — with the children inside! By placing the lake on our road trip of haunted places, we are not suggesting the young boys haunt the area. But since the murders happened here in the height of the fall season, it's only befitting to stop at this hauntingly heartbreaking spot to pay respects. You may feel some weird vibes and you'll undoubtedly be overcome with saddness. If you do get a sense of anything paranormal happening, please reach out to us.
4. Chester County Historical Society - Chester
It wasn't too long ago that an employee here went on record on a television interview confirming the haunts that regularly take place in this ancient locale in Chester. Now billed as the Chester County Historical Society, this structures is also home to a very old jail. And if you thought that could be where most of the haunts take place, then you'd be correct! From a big hairy, very tall man to a jailbird who calls himself Billy (yes, this ghost talks), and even more weird phenomenon, this old building is a hotbed of paranormal activity. The historical society does open for special paranormal investigators to have the place to themselves - if you meet their criteria. But if you're not a pro and just want to check the place out, then you're in luck... It's open for tours on Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment on Saturday. Learn more here.
Ever been to any of these spots capable of evoking an uneasy feeling deep down in your gut? What are you waiting for? It's only a few more weekends until Halloween is over. But you should know this road trip will work any time of year, not just in the fall season, right?
For more seasonal fun here in South Carolina, check out the legend (or is it just lore?) of the Ghost Dog that chases people along a five-mile stretch of road. And if that doesn't make you run for the hills, then get ready for the interesting tale of South Carolina's Boo Hags.
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