Cherokee, North Carolina, is no stranger to legends and lore. One road, Big Cove Road, is said to be home to a ghostly man who will appear in the seat next to you.
According to Michael Rivers in his book Appalachia Mountain Folklore on page 32, the tale dates to the early 1920s and is known among the older generation, who try to avoid this twelve-mile road in the evenings.
An older gentleman was known to walk this road for many years, and he walked everywhere he went. One day in the winter of 1920, the man supposedly died, and people thought his spirit was finally at rest. That is, until he appeared inside vehicles that dared to travel Big Cove Road at night.
One person stated in the book that he smelled the aroma of fresh, wet mountain dirt in the summer. He glanced over to see the man sitting beside him. His spirit did not speak. He just looked ahead and nodded often. Then he just vanished into thin air, leaving a wet seat behind.
The fear of seeing a spirit appear in their vehicles is enough to keep people at home even today.
(Note) Different variations of the story exist.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
