You are driving down a dark, winding road stretching over fifteen miles. Woods stay consistent on each side of this lonely mountain highway just north of Walhalla. It begins to rain as you grip the steering wheel tightly. Loneliness begins to kick in just as you go around the bend and see what resembles a person in a black raincoat in the distance, just standing.
As you lock eyes with the stranger, you notice he is rather pale, appearing lost. Do you pick the man up or keep going? This is a question many have been plagued with when they have encountered the alleged ghost of aviator Larry Stevens, who crashed in the 1950s in this region after leaving the Greenville, South Carolina, airport. Many believe the hitchhiker is Stevens, who appears on rainy and foggy nights, desperately trying to flag down passing motorists.
The ghostly spirit seems to have one destination in mind when approached by people brave enough to drive this stretch of Highway 107 in Oconee County, near Moody Spring. Debris from Steven’s plane crash was found scattered abroad, but his body was never recovered.
The Walhalla Hitchhiker is one of the most renowned paranormal stories in South Carolina, continuing to captivate the imagination of many who visit this area. Several other wrecks have occurred here. Is the apparition Larry Stevens or another poor soul who lost their life and is now forever trapped, still looking for help?
Written By: Israel Petty
Image: John G. Clark Jr.
