Spooky season is upon us here in Asheville, North Carolina. Fall leaves hit the rich earth of the Blue Ridge Mountains and herald the turning of the season. And one of the best parts about fall in Asheville is Halloween and the haunted lore that can be found all around. Check out the best spooky stories and spots in Asheville, NC.
Top 10 Haunted Spots in Asheville
1. Helen's Bridge
The pleasing aesthetic of an Asheville bridge obscures its spooky history. Helen's Bridge, constructed in 1909 to give access to the nearby Zealandia Mansion, is also the site of a disturbing suicide. According to local legends, a woman named Helen lived near the mansion with her daughter before the daughter passed away in a devastating fire. Distraught over her child's death, Helen reportedly hung herself from the bridge, and her ghost is said to appear when her name is called.
2. The Jackson Building
Known to many as Asheville's first skyscraper, the Jackson Building is an architectural marvel of its time. Built in 1924, it was the tallest building in all of North Carolina and oversaw plenty of events in its time, including the stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression. Due to its significance, many local and regional businessmen were housed in the Jackson Building, some of whom were there to see the market crash and are said to have committed suicide over their financial situations by jumping from the top of the skyscraper.
3. The Haunting of the Battery Park Hotel
Another architectural gem of downtown Asheville, the Battery Park Hotel, originally constructed in 1886 on the site of an old civil war battery, was once the prime spot for vacationing in the city. Indeed, it saw plenty of high profile visitors such as members of the Rockefeller family and even George Vanderbilt. While it was once a hot spot for famous temporary tenants, it's also where one of Asheville's most infamous murders took place. In 1936, Helen Clevenger was just 19 when she stayed with her uncle at the Battery Park Hotel when she was murdered. Investigators identified a suspect who was later executed, but some believe the wrong person was accused and that Helen's killer was allowed to roam free. It's believed that Helen haunts the hotel looking for answers into her own death.
4. The Pink Lady at the Omni Grove Park Inn
Built in 1913 at the behest of the same mind behind the Grove Arcade, Omni Park Grove Inn has become an iconic staple of Asheville lodging, relaxation and food. It has been visited by many former presidents, including former presidents Barack Obama and George H. W. Bush, and has been featured in a Cormac McCarthy novel. It's safe to say the Grove Park has a storied history but some of it has a hint of a haunting. Legend has it that a woman, later known as The Pinky Lady, who fell to her death shortly after the inn was built in the 1920s can be spotted roaming the halls shrouded in a pink mist, hence the name.
5. Highland Hospital
The main building of the Highland Hospital is no longer standing, but rumors remain. Founded in 1904 as a mental institution, Highland Hospital had a reputation for catering to a wealthy clientele, including Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald. According to the UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives, "the hospital aimed to achieve 'brain health' in patients through a combination of diet, exercise and revolutionary treatments, including electroshock, insulin and horse serum injections." In 1948, Zelda Fitzgerald and several others were killed in a fire at the hospital which, according to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, began in the kitchen and spread to the other hospital floors via a dumbwaiter.
6. Riverside Cemetery
In an obscure neighborhood of North Asheville lies Riverside Cemetery. This cemetery was the location for one of the country's last Civil War battles and has turned into the final resting place for some notable historical figures. Along with several soldiers, authors Thomas Wolfe and William Sydney Porter are both buried here. Reports say visitors have heard gunshots, cannon fire and even spotted Confederate soldiers marching around.
7. Biltmore Estate
Every season, visitors from all over the country flock to Biltmore, America's largest private home to experience the Estate's grand architecture, elaborate grounds and winery. Built in 1895, the former owners George and Edith Vanderbilt are said to haunt their house. Visitors say they can sometimes hear Edith calling for her husband in the Biltmore Library, and guests have also claimed to hear laughter coming from the home's indoor pool.
8. Craggy Prison
Built in 1924 in the Woodfin neighborhood of Asheville, Craggy Prison earned its name for its location to the nearby Craggy Bridge. According to Asheville Terrors, most inmates were not convicted of particularly heinous crimes, and the prison was shut down in 1989 after the state constructed a new facility. Though it has been more than 40 years since it had a living tenant, some say the grounds remain haunted, and the dilapidated structure still remain although the facility is closed to the public and trespassing is strictly prohibited.
9. The Forestry Compound
Located not too far from Biltmore lies the next spooky site on our list. The Forestry Compound, also known as the Shiloh Forestry Compound, was built in 1898 and was the original site of the Biltmore forestry school before its abandonment in 1913. After its abandonment, one of the buildings on the compound developed a rather colorful reputation as "The Whorehouse," where various men met up with sex workers. According to local legend, it's said that one of the women was murdered by a client, and her spirit is said to haunt the compound along with other victims who were allegedly hanged on the property. Witnesses have reported seeing lights turning themselves off and on in random windows and reported a very cold atmosphere inside the building, despite high temperatures outside. One visitor alleged that they saw a noose hanging from a rafter in the building, and another said they saw a downstairs toilet full of blood. Please note, this building is closed to the public and trespassing is strictly prohibited.
10. Basilica of St. Lawrence
One of Asheville's most recognizable landmarks, the Basilica of St. Lawrence, has long been a place of worship for Asheville residents, living and not. Designed by a Spanish architect who died before the building was completed and was interred within the basilica's walls, the building was finished in 1905 and was elevated to basilica status by the Pope in 1993. Visitors to the basilica have reported cold spots in the building and have even alleged to have seen the architect himself, along with a priest who died in the church, as well as the architect's wife and child.
Check out these other ways to enjoy the spooky season in Asheville:
