North Carolina Urban Legends
1. The Devil’s Tramping Ground (Chatham County)
Located in Bear Creek, North Carolina, The Devil’s Tramping Ground is a mysterious, barren circle shrouded in legend. Folklore claims the Devil paces the clearing at night, contemplating the world’s evils, and that objects left there disappear by morning. Visitors report eerie sensations, while animals refuse to enter. Some believe the site is an alien landing zone, has unusually salty soil, or was once sacred to Indigenous people. Camping is allowed with reservations, but tents must be set up outside the circle, and fires are prohibited.
Location: 3229-4026 State Rd 1100, Bennett, NC 27208
2. The Beast of Bladenboro
In 1953–54, the small town of Bladenboro, North Carolina, was terrorized by a mysterious, blood-draining creature. Described as a large, dark-furred feline with piercing eyes, the Beast allegedly killed livestock and even attacked a woman, though she escaped unharmed. Witnesses reported hearing eerie, human-like screams before the creature suddenly vanished. Theories ranged from a wildcat or panther to a rabid dog, but its true identity was never confirmed. Today, the legend lives on through Bladenboro’s annual Beast of Bladenboro Festival.
3. The Brown Mountain Lights (Burke County)
For centuries, mysterious lights have appeared near Brown Mountain in Burke County, North Carolina. Described as glowing orbs or fiery streaks, the lights have been witnessed by Native Americans, settlers, and even Civil War soldiers. Theories range from ball lightning and ghost lights to UFOs, but no definitive explanation exists. Scientists have studied the phenomenon, with early surveys attributing the lights to train or car headlights. The best viewing spots include Brown Mountain Overlook and Wisemans View, where they are most visible on clear nights.
4. The Maco Light (Brunswick County)
From the late 1800s until 1977, a mysterious light resembling a railroad lantern appeared along the tracks in Brunswick County, North Carolina. According to legend, it was the ghost of Joe Baldwin, a brakeman who was decapitated in a train accident in 1867 and forever roamed the tracks searching for his head. Explanations ranged from marsh gas and light refraction to ball lightning, but no definitive cause was found. The phenomenon gained national attention, even appearing in a 1957 Life magazine article, and remains a well-known ghost story today.
5. Lydia’s Bridge (Jamestown)
According to legend, Lydia was a young woman returning from a dance when her date lost control of their car, crashing into a bridge. She died in the accident, but her spirit is said to linger. Travelers near the bridge in Jamestown, North Carolina, have reported seeing a woman in a white dress hitchhiking, only for her to vanish when they stopped. Though the true story remains a mystery, Lydia’s Bridge endures as one of North Carolina’s most famous ghost tales.
6. The Phantom Choir of Roan Mountain
For centuries, hikers and locals near Roan Mountain, on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, have reported hearing eerie, disembodied voices drifting through the mist. Described as a ghostly choir singing in unearthly harmony, the sounds have no known source. Some believe they are the voices of long-lost spirits, while others suggest wind patterns or natural acoustics as an explanation. Despite scientific skepticism, the Phantom Choir of Roan Mountain remains one of the region’s most haunting mysteries.
- Photo by Getty Images ↩︎
- Photo by Getty Images ↩︎
- Photo by Getty Images ↩︎
- Photo by Getty Images ↩︎
- Photo by Getty Images ↩︎