Ghost Tours Throughout Appalachia

Image by Morgan Nuzzo

Allure of Ghosts

Just like a steep roller coaster or a scary movie, the shared emotion around the thought of ghosts is one of thrill. Many people enjoy the exciting feeling they get when something eerie takes place.

Ghost tours are associated with history. They are offered in places where mysterious deaths have occurred in history or where paranormal activity is at peak.

Some attend ghost tours because they genuinely believe in ghosts, while others may want a good scare. Whatever the reason, ghost tours have been and continue to be a favorite activity around the world.

Ghost Tours Throughout Appalachia

Appalachia is filled with history and culture, and because of that, there are many ghost tours worth mentioning.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

If you are traveling through West Virginia during the Halloween season, you’ll want to stop in Harpers Ferry for a ghost tour. Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry is not only the oldest ghost tour in the United States, but has also been ranked by Trip Advisor as the #1 Ghost Tour in America.

You have probably heard of the historical figure, John Brown. An abolitionist, who believed in stopping the institution of slavery, Brown was eventually convicted of treason and hanged.

There are stories of Brown’s spirit being present around the streets of Harper’s Ferry still to this day.

Read more about Harpers Ferry here.

 

Abingdon, Virginia

Abingdon is a historical town in Washington County, Virginia.

Appalachian GhostWalks offers a tour called Abingdon Ghost Walk. This is where the famous Tavern Restaurant lies and where you might run into the “Tavern Tart” on tour.

The Abingdon Tavern is one of the oldest, most haunted buildings in all of Abingdon. Dating back to 1779, the Tavern has had many uses since, including an inn for stagecoach travelers, a post office, hospital, restaurant, and bank.

The Tavern Tart was murdered inside the tavern and haunts the building today. There are stories of the Lady peering out of the windows, watching men. She is known for being a jealous spirit, so beware ladies. She may be watching your man!

To plan a ghost tour at Abingdon Ghost Walk, visit the Appalachian GhostWalks tickets page for more information.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Asheville Ghost Tours is a well-known ghost tour agency that has won the National Geographic Certificate of Excellence Award for Best Outdoor Adventures three years in a row.

On this tour, you’ll learn about Pink Lady, a ghost who haunts Grove Park Inn in Asheville. She is a woman who fell five stories off of the Inn’s balcony to her death. Her spirit remains, and there have been reports of her spirit lurking around in a pink mist. Hence the name, Pink Lady.

Unlike the Tavern Tart, the Pink Lady is a kind spirit. Why not meet her yourself? Be sure to check out Asheville Ghost Tours.

Image by Elisa.rolle

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa is home to Drish House, the most haunted house in the state of Alabama.

Haunted Tuscaloosa Tours offers a tour of the historic Drish House, formally a plantation house where there have been several ghost sightings and hauntings.

John and Sarah Drish lived in the house. John died, leaving Sarah a widow. Rumor has it that Sarah was full of grief and requested that when she died, she wanted to be treated the same way as when her husband died. She saved the candles used at John’s funeral in hopes they could be used at her own one day.

After Sarah’s death, reports started coming in of the house on fire. No fire ever burned, despite all the reports. Some say this is her spirit seeking revenge that her husband’s candles were not burned as requested at her funeral.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is located in Hamilton County, Tennessee and is full of haunted history. Over the years, Chattanooga has had its fair share of haunted historic homes and sites and mysterious murders.

Chattanooga Ghost Tours has been ranked by USA Today and Trip Advisor in the “Top 10” for ghost tours.

Having so many haunted areas around Chattanooga, the town offers a variety of ghost tours with the most popular being the Murder and Mayhem tour. On this tour, you will make a pit stop at what the company calls the “most actively haunted location we ever explored.”

No matter where your journey through Appalachia takes you, be on the lookout for historically haunted places. Who knows, you may meet one of these famous spirits along the way.

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