North Carolina is known as the “First State of Flight” because it was here that the Wright brothers sent the first powered airplane into the air. Now, the North Carolina Department of Tourism is promoting the state as the “First State of Spooks” with a campaign that highlights sites with paranormal elements around the state — including an eight-part podcast and North Carolina Haunted Trails, a list of places full of paranormal history and legend organized by region. Many of these sites offer planners the option to book a tour or party venue, bringing a mysterious element to events held in the state.
North Carolina haunted tours are divided into three categories: Mountain Mysteries, Paranormal Foothills, and Terror Coast, representing each of North Carolina’s major regions. Mountain Mysteries includes venues with event spaces, such as the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, which is famous for the haunting of the “Pink Lady,” a woman in a blush-colored gown who allegedly fell to her death from the balcony of room 545 in the 1920s. Guests have reported experiencing flickering lights, cold spots, and poltergeists during their stay at the inn. Visitors with some free time who want to get outdoors can check out the area’s mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, which are said to be white balls of light that appear in the evening around the low ridge of Brown Mountain in the Pisgah National Forest. There are many paranormal theories about the origin of these lights, although scientist George R. Mansfield essentially confirmed in 1922 that the lights are reflections of light from cars, trains, and brush fires.
“The timing may be reminiscent of ‘Halloween,’ but the spirit of ‘Fright First’ is rooted in ancient stories, not costumes and props,” said Witt Tuttle, executive director of the North Carolina Department of Tourism, in a prepared statement. “The legend of the aurora over Brown Mountain near Morganton dates back centuries, and other stories have been around for decades. It would take more than a little skepticism for me to dismiss these claims, even if they can’t be confirmed.”
Planners and participants who want to learn more about North Carolina’s spooky sites can enrich their trips by listening to the “First in Fright” podcast, which features firsthand accounts from local storytellers and people who have experienced paranormal activity at some of the trail’s haunted stops. You can access the free podcast at ncfirstinfright.com or through Apple, Spotify and other major streaming platforms.
“Stories are a starting point for anyone interested in ghosts,” Tuttle said. “Podcasts bring these mysteries to life while letting listeners decide what to believe and what not to believe.”
Other North Carolina Haunted Trail locations that cater to event planners include the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, the Duke Mansion in Charlotte and the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, among others.
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