What's an adventure in South Carolina without a haunting? South Carolina's most visited state park, Hunting Island, isn't devoid of ghostly hauntings. In fact, many people have reported being visited by ghosts, or seeing apparitions at this park especially in the campground and along the sandy beach in front of the campground and lighthouse. Here's all you need to know if you want to brave a stay at a haunted campground in South Carolina:
Hunting Island State Park was created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
However, the popular lighthouse on the island was first lit in 1875.
And in fact, it was deactivated in 1933 - at about the time the state park was constructed. Did all the construction stir up some of the activity here?
According to stories and/or first-hand accounts there are several hauntings surrounding the lighthouse and its park, including the campground.
One involves a lightkeeper who tried, but failed, to save a young boy from drowning. A child's laughter is sometimes heard along the beach here - in the absence of any children, of course.
In addition, apparitions of the lightkeeper searching for the boy have been reported along the beach in front of the lighthouse.
Another legend involves a distraught lightkeeper's daughter who jumped from the top of the light and died.
Still more stories about this incident claim she landed on the second stair leading into the structure. People have used devices to measure paranormal activity at this set of stairs and have found mixed results, some showing positive signs of activity.
Another first-hand account is from a woman staying in the campground who reports there was a knock on her camper door late one night, but she found no one there when she answered.
Others report hearing the ghost of a former lightkeeper banging on the door of the light, as if he's locked out and trying to get in.
Hunting Island State Park is one of those places in South Carolina you'd expect to be haunted. The property and the state park are absolutely stunning. But with such an extensive history there is no doubt about the possibilities of encountering a ghost here.
Have you heard of other hauntings at this popular park and campground outside of Beaufort? And now that you know it's haunted, will you spend the night here? If you'd like to, here's the Hunting Island State Park webpage with more information.
If you love hauntings, you'll love this haunted road trip through South Carolina ghost towns.
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