Revered for its emerald waters and abundant recreational opportunities, South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee was rich in history before the dam was built in 1973. Before the lake was created, the area was called Jocassee Valley. Cherokee legend states, “The first part of the name ‘Jocassee Gorges’ comes from tragic, star-crossed lovers. Jocassee was a beautiful…
Legend of Becky Cotton
We are led to believe that Lavinia Fisher was the first female serial killer widely recognized in the United States. While Mrs. Fisher, who died by hanging on February 18, 1820, for highway robbery, not murder, could have certainly been a female serial killer, was she the first? If looks could kill, Becky Cotton from…
The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, located at 122 E. Bay Street, is a Charleston landmark built in 1771 as a commercial exchange and customs house. During the American Revolution, tea confiscated by the British was stored here. After the British captured the city in 1780, it was a barracks, and the basement served as…
The Rose Hill Plantation
Built between 1828 and 1832, the beautiful Rose Hill Plantation is a historic site in Union County, South Carolina. Nestled along the Tyger River. Rose Hill Plantation served as the South Carolina Governor’s mansion during William Henry Gist’s (1807-1874) time in office from 1858 through 1860. The home offers insight into the upcountry cotton plantation…
The Legend of Drunken Jack
Often, pirates are associated with large amounts of rum. Just ask Johnny Depp or watch any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. South Carolina also has a favorite, liquored-up pirate that is said to haunt Murrells Inlet. Never mind what you do with a drunken sailor- what would you do with a drunken pirate?…
The Mysterious Atalaya Castle of Murrells Inlet
Atalaya Castle, situated in Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, is renowned for its distinctive Spanish-Moorish architecture. This beautiful structure is also rumored to be haunted. Some claim to experience eerie feelings, strange noises, and even the sensation of being watched. Some believe the spirit of Anna Hyatt Huntington, who lived there with her husband,…
Lizardmania Ran Wild On S.C. in 1988
The Lizard Man has been a part of South Carolina Folklore since he first burst onto the scene in the summer of 1988, devouring car parts, chasing unsuspecting motorists on a dark, lonely stretch of road in Scape Ore Swamp, preying on local livestock while becoming a national media darling that lit the airwaves on…
The Ghostly Legend of Alice Flagg
Alice Flagg is a famous South Carolina ghost story. Her final burial spot has been a topic of debate for years. In contrast, others claim she is buried 17 miles away in Murrells Inlet. Some believe that she still walks underneath the oak trees to this day and reportedly pulls at rings worn by others,…
Here Comes the Brides: All Dressed in Death
Georgetown is the third-oldest city in South Carolina, and it is also a perfect blend of history and a wealth of paranormal activity. Two cemeteries on Broad Street are said to be haunted by two best friends, Pauline Moses and Eliza Munnerlyn, who were set to wed their best friends on the same day. The…
The Lucas Bay Light
The Lucas Bay Light on Gilbert Road in Horry County is a popular ghostly tale in South Carolina. Legend says that the light is a lantern of a ghostly Civil War-era woman walking, searching for her child who was swept away by a flood many years ago. It states that she only appears at night,…