One of the most enduring urban legends of the Appalachian Trail is the story of Ottie Cline Powell, in Lexington, Virginia. Powell was only four years old when, on November 9, 1890, he walked from his one-room school near the Powell farm into the forest near Bluff Mountain to collect fallen branches for kindling for…
The Phantom Hiker of the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Mountains harbor countless ghost stories, from the phantom hiker of Grandfather Mountain to mysterious figures glimpsed along misty ridges. But few encounters are as chilling as the one that happened on a foggy May evening in 1972. The Appalachian Trail was proposed in 1921 and constructed throughout the 1920s and the 1930s. In…
Surry’s Witch
Many believe the first known person to have been accused of witchcraft lived in the present-day Northeastern United States, and that is not true. Actually, Joan Wright, or “Jane,” was the first known person to be legally accused. She is also referred to as “Surry’s Witch” and lived in Elizabeth City (Surry County) in the…
The Legend of the Richmond Vampire
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, is home to a famous urban legend. For years, people have traveled to the mausoleum of W.W. Pool, hoping the Richmond Vampire would make an appearance. The legend of the Richmond Vampire dates back to at least the 1920s, and there are different origins of why W.W. Pool was dubbed…
The Headless Hobo of Bristol
The Headless Hobo is a ghostly tale in Bristol, Tennessee, and Virginia that has been passed down through generations. The Great Depression hit every family extremely hard, but areas of Appalachia were hit the hardest, which meant living without, and in some cases, starving to death. It was indeed a time when people had to…
Emma still cries at this Virginia Train Station
It seems that every train station has some ghostly tale attached to it. The Bristol train station in Virginia was built in 1856, and the structure survived the Civil War and was rebuilt stronger than ever. William Tompkins, known as “Big Will,” was a frequent visitor to the 72 brothels across the city. His wife,…
The Ghostly Light and Bell of Galax
Many years ago, a family of African-American’s lived in a cabin near Galax, Virginia. Reportedly, a black man was murdered within this cabin, and soon after, travelers along this road late at night could see a bright light moving around in the hollow. This area developed a reputation for being haunted. Other times, a little…
The Legends and Ghostly Tales of Old House Woods
Old House Woods in Mathews County, Virginia, located in the community of Diggs, is renowned for its intriguing legends and ghostly tales. Perhaps it’s because of the Chesapeake Bay, but through the years, this place has earned a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in that state. Locals claim to have seen…
The Ghostly Dog of Old Pipers Gap Turnpike
This appears to be an older ghost story from Galax, Virginia, that has been lost through the years. The legend states that a turn in the Old Pipers Gap Turnpike, near where the road crosses the creek, is haunted by a ghostly dog. Near the turn in the road sits a graveyard, and this patch…
The Vehicle and the Ghostly Pedestrian Accident in Galax
Roy’s Diamond Center, located at 108 S. Main Street in Galax, Virginia, was formerly the Blue Ridge Lines bus station. The site is tied to another ghostly legend. On a foggy night many years ago, a woman stepped from a bus for a cigarette, but she tripped over luggage and stumbled into the street, and…