Tales of the Tar Heel Undead

Spanning from a mansion on the coast to a bridge in the mountains, North Carolina has a rich tradition of ghost stories, legends and supernatural tales.

<b>Chapel Hill - Shot By Cupid's Arrow</b>

Many people are haunted by the memory of their college sweetheart, but few lovers take the form of a ghost inhabiting the place of their past romantic rendezvous.

Legend has it that Peter Dromgoole attended UNC-Chapel Hill in 1831 and fell hard for a girl named Fanny.

She was drop-dead gorgeous, literally - her devoted lover Peter died defending her honor when he took a bullet in a duel with a jealous man attempting to court Fanny.

The shoot-out took place just outside Chapel Hill at Piney Prospect near Gimghoul Castle, the spot of Fanny and Peter's frequent secret meetings.

In a state of panic, Peter's murderer dug a shallow grave, threw him in, pulled a bloodstained rock over the mound and never spoke of the deadly battle.

Oblivious to Peter's death, Fanny waited in vain for his return to Piney Prospect and eventually died of a broken heart.

But death didn't part this inseparable couple, who is said to still lurk on the rocks of Piney Prospect in hopes of one last romantic encounter.

<b>Charlotte - Creepy Cadaver</b>

The ghost of Louise - which is said to haunt Chambers Hall at Founders College in Charlotte - wasn't exactly dying to get into medical school. But legend says that's where she ended up.

Grave-robbing medical students stole Louise's body to use as a cadaver.

Louise is rumored to eternally walk the halls of Chambers Hall, trapped in a state of unrest after being removed from her resting place.

<b>Greensboro - Eternally Late</b>

Since 1923, the spirit of Lydia has been trying to hitch a ride home from the U.S. 70 underpass in Greensboro.

Seen waving frantically on the side of the highway in a white gown, it is said that Lydia's ghost has enticed several drivers into offering her a ride.

According to legend, the young hitchhiker asks to be taken to an address in High Point, saying she is anxious to get home from a dance in Raleigh.

But when the driver approaches the driveway, the girl vanishes.

Inquiries surrounding the ghostly appearance often lead drivers to the door of the Lydia's supposed home, and the occupants give visitors an explanation that sounds chillingly familiar.

Lydia died in a car crash at the U.S. 70 underpass many years ago, returning from a dance in Raleigh.

<b>Asheville - Bridge Over Car Trouble</b>

Tragedy often sparks a domino effect in the lives of the people it involves.

According to legend, when the Zalandia Castle in Asheville caught fire, a local woman named Helen lost her only child. Following the deadly blaze, it is said that Helen hung herself from a nearby bridge after leaving in a state of grief.

Daring visitors can attempt to conjure up Helen's spirit only on Halloween.

But brave souls beware - it is said that visitors who contact the ghost become stranded on the mountain when the spirit of Helen wreaks havoc on their cars, keeping them from fleeing the haunted scene.

<b>Raleigh - Forever his Forest</b>

William Poole is the first ghostly environmentalist in Raleigh.

Legend has it that Poole and his phantom white horse blaze through his 75-acre woodland property stretching from the east side of the old capital building in Raleigh to New Bern Avenue, keeping watch over the forested area.

Poole used to ride his horse on his estate each evening until Union soldiers confiscated the horse during the Civil War.

His attachment to the land influenced Poole to include its preservation in his will - not a tree was to be removed.

Shortly after his death, legend has it, Poole was reunited with his horse. The two were often spotted guarding his land.

In the 1920s, the land was sold to loggers who attempted to strip the property of trees. Ironically, each tree cut down was deemed worthless, rotting from the inside out, leaving "Poole's Woods" abandoned for the phantom horse and rider.

<b>Wilmington - Prisoner's Last Request</b>

According to historians and local experts, Wilmington not only attracts beachgoers, but ghosts as well.

In 1792, the first public federal execution took place in Wilmington at the old gallows downtown. Many executions followed in the same place, and in 1860, William Price built a home there - a decision he would later regret.

Within the first few of days of living in its new home, the Price family experienced supernatural activities - beginning with hearing loud footsteps on the stairs.

Price would investigate the situation only to find that no one was there.

According to family documents, the family smelled pipe smoke in the home, but Price didn't allow smoking inside. They also smelled banana bread baking and yams cooking when there was no one in the kitchen.

Local historians believe these scents were the last requests of the prisoners before their executions.

Price's niece once said a cloud filled her mirror, making her unable to see her face. She turned her head only to discover that nobody was behind her. Suddenly she felt fingertips in her hair, and she turned around. But once again, no one was there.

Families and businesses have lived in the house after the Price family and have experienced similar occurrences.

Recently, the building was occupied by the local chamber of commerce, and while a reporter was there on a routine visit, he heard the footsteps. The reporter went to the stairs only to find no one there, so he took a series of pictures.

The last photograph had a silhouette of a man on the stairs, but the reporter had not seen anyone on the steps earlier.

Now the building is the office of an architect firm. The workers turn on all of the lights at night while they work, because they feel uncomfortable in the building when it is completely dark.