I had the pleasure of visiting these grounds in late 2017. It is a beautiful place forever linked to tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds and his family. Unfortunately, Mr. Reynolds wouldn’t enjoy the scenic landscape for long. He succumbed to cancer the year after the gardens were built, in 1918. His beloved wife, Katharine, would pass just six years later, in 1924.
Today, Reynolda is now owned by Wake Forest University, but the beautiful gardens are said to be the home to the “lady in white,” who is seen walking along the trails and wetlands. Sometimes, the apparition is seen on horseback, while at other times, she’s not wearing her signature white; however, a strange mist and cold always accompany her.
Many have wondered who this mysterious lady is. Could it be Katharine still watching the place she had adored so many years ago?
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image By: VisitNC
