Find your next spooky adventure in the haunted hollars of McDowell County, N.C.
There is a reason North Carolina is "First in Fright" — with places like McDowell County nestled in the eerily quiet shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, magic and mystery lurk in the valleys, forests and streams. As a small community in the heart of Southern Appalachia, folklore and spooky happenings are just a part of its living history.
The Brown Mountain Lights of Brown Mountain and the Linville Gorge fascinate visitors year-round. These lights are referred to as "ghost lights" — a unique paranormal or para-natural phenomenon displayed as visible balls of light dancing along wind stream patterns or above the tree line. The origins of the Brown Mountain Lights are said to come from early Indigenous folklore, as well as anecdotal experiences of early pioneers traversing the region. Contrasting this, geologists like Ed Speer and other skeptics have much simpler, para-natural or environmental explanations for the famous lights. Regardless of your understanding or belief in the phenomenon, the Brown Mountain Lights make for a notable overnight adventure in the region. While locals have very strong and varying opinions about the "best time" to see the lights, the overall theme to their advice is to visit after recent precipitation and during drastic temperature changes, making fall a common time to witness the Brown Mountain Lights.
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Want to learn more about the Brown Mountain Lights? Check out the documentary by Small Town Monsters, tune into various regional podcasts, researcher Joshua P. Warren's page on the subject, or explore The Blue Ridge Mystery: Brown Mountain Lights.
The Linville Gorge, known as "The Grand Canyon of the East," is a wild and isolated terrain that offers strenuous hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and fishing for native trout. Stretches of virgin forest, rare and endangered species, and an assortment of wild game and nongame species can be found there. It is located in the Pisgah National Forest near Linville Falls. Sightings dating back to the late 1800s of "ghost lights" and Brown Mountain lights floating along the trails, and shadowy figures just off the trail, fill countless folklore books. This is not an everyday adventure; visitors are encouraged to stick to the known trails and locations so they do not become another "Legend of Linville."
Chestoa View: Tragedy on the Parkway
This stunning overlook is the scene of tragic and unsettling history. During the day, visitors can enjoy sweeping landscape views of mountains and wilderness at Chestoa View. At night, paranormal enthusiasts sometimes report a heavy, somber atmosphere or unexplainable sensations of being watched near the stone steps. Shrieks have been heard in the nearby trees; however, no one can determine if they are paranormal or "Carolina Big Cat" phenomena.
Locals have legends of "The Witch of Nebo"; however, these relatively new tales stem from the long tradition of Appalachian Granny witchcraft found along the Blue Ridge states. Nikki Chester of Nebo bears the torch of traditional Appalachian beliefs and spirituality in the foothills community. Recently featured in Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, Chester provides spiritual guidance and perspectives on whole-body wellness while connecting spiritually with a region full of nature and magic. Visitors can find "Nikki’s Nourished by Nature" teas and wellness products in various stores around Marion and Old Fort, N.C., as well as the local Marion Tailgate Market on weekends.
Additionally, travelers can explore a history of high strangeness and unusual endings in "Ghosts of McDowell County" by Rena M. Harp and Patti Smith Holda. Holda, recently retired from McDowell County Library, helped acquire a rich collection of ghost stories and folklore for the area. Visitors can stop by the library and explore the "Local History Room" with the Local History Room manager for recommendations on spooky places to read about or explore.
For the month of October, McDowell County Historical Society hosts multiple paranormal and ghost-hunting events in the county. Along with an investigation at the Haunted Depot Cafe, visitors can buy tickets to learn how to investigate the paranormal with P2 (Pisgah Paranormal). More information on those events can be found through this link.
For fans of true crime and unsolved mysteries, Marion serves up multiple historic instances of "whodunit" and egregious mystery. The area is mentioned briefly in Cathy Pickens' "True Crime Stories of Western North Carolina," and the city is known for its appearance on an episode of "Cold Case Files." The disappearances and eventual discoveries of Jeremiah Pittman, Wally Wise, and Zilphia Lowery were featured on a 2017 episode of A&E’s series.
While many people may be familiar with the recent rise in cryptozoological, or unknown biological creature, sightings in McDowell County, they may not know that Marion, N.C., is home of the largest Bigfoot Festival in North Carolina. With tens of thousands of attendees, the WNC Bigfoot Festival celebrates the quest for knowledge and curious fascination about the large, bipedal animal possibly lurking in the woods.
For the adventurous at heart, multiple Bigfoot sightings have been reported near the forests of Lake James State Park, so booking a stay at the Comfort Inn or nearby accommodations can help visitors wake up ready for a Sasquatch adventure. There have also been reports of large bipedal creatures in the woods outside Little Switzerland, and nearby Spruce Pine, which has its own unique UFO history. Local Bigfoot researchers Bigfoot 911 are a resource for local Sasquatch information, and Flavors on Main can help outfit a team during an overnight Bigfoot expedition.
The Scottish and Irish settler history of the foothills sets a firm foundation for the mythology of "The Green Man" hidden within the beautiful but mysterious forests. In modern pagan beliefs, the Green Man has often been used as a representation of the Horned God, a syncretic deity that incorporates aspects of the Celtic Cernunnos and the Greek Pan. Modern skeptics attribute these legends and folklore to the emotional and spiritual impact of being immersed in nature, as well as a phenomenon known as "pareidolia" (a psychological phenomenon that causes people to see patterns in a random stimulus, often leading to people assigning human characteristics to objects, like seeing a face in a pattern of leaves or animals in clouds). The dense overgrowth and invasive kudzu throughout the region may be the explanation of "The Green Man" in McDowell County, N.C.
As seen in Planet Weird’s "Hellier" series, the traditions of The Green Man are kept alive in the foothills through art, culture and written works, which can be explored at the McDowell Arts Council Association. Legends of The Green Man luring unsuspecting travelers to remote wilderness areas, experiencing fae encounters, witnessing UFO-type events or becoming lost in the mountains still appear in local paintings, wood carvings and sculpture. While visitors are not encouraged to wander unawares in the woods, the county features a growing collection of hiking, mountain biking and waterfall trails. Recommended spots include Curtis Creek and the new Gateway Trail System to fully experience the eerie but calm woods.
This small, independent bookstore is a boutique bookstore and coffee shop in Marion’s downtown social district that offers a curated selection of new, preloved and special-edition books, as well as coffee, espresso drinks and gifts. This "third place" hosts events ranging from paranormal and culture to SNAIL MAIL Society events, where visitors can write real, physical letters to strangers. Guests can stop in for one of the "Brown Mountain Lights" lattes and check the seasonal menu for a variety of Bigfoot and cryptid-themed specials. Bigfoot Books & Brews also hosts regular alt and paranormal events that appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts, and visitors are encouraged to check the shop's Facebook page for announcements.
Tom's Creek Falls is accessible year-round, located south of the Blue Parkway at Milepost 316/Hwy. 221 South, and a few miles north of Marion, N.C.
From Marion, follow U.S. Hwy. 221 North approximately 7 miles, turn left at Huskins Branch Road at Woodlawn Motel, go 1.3 miles and park on the right at the parking area and information kiosk. The trailhead begins at the lot, crossing a small bridge. Gentle falls in a picturesque area make this one ideal for younger children. The falls' height is approximately 100 feet. In 2019, an alleged Dogman sighting occurred near the old mill structures next to Toms Creek Falls. Dogman is a large, bipedal cryptid. Though researchers debate whether this monster is related to Bigfoot or a wholly supernatural being, Dogman tends to be elusive in sightings and rare. Visitors are encouraged to explore the falls and bring a camera.
The official sponsor of the WNC Bigfoot Festival, Flavors on Main General Store is a one-stop shop for Bigfoot, seasonings and fishing adventures. The entire upstairs of this two-story boutique is devoted to fishing, and each year visitors head to the wall of Bigfoot T-shirts.
Point Lookout Trail: Look out over Old Fort's early innovations and tragedies
Point Lookout is a scenic, easy, rolling trail that takes visitors to a grand view of the Buncombe and McDowell wilderness. As hikers ascend the trail, they pass by many of Old Fort's early accomplishments in railroad construction. Several of the tunnels built along this route utilized indentured and prisoner labor, and construction typically included large blast explosions. One tunnel creation resulted in the loss of more than 15 workers.
Travelers looking for more ways to explore the haunts and hollars of this mountain town can use the "Haunted Hollars" digital guide. This guide includes top paranormal and cryptid spots in the county, along with a map to help start wild and unusual adventures.
