Are you gearing up for a spook-tacular Halloween on the Crystal Coast? Whether you're interested in reading up on haunted lore or want an eerie experience of your own, Carteret County has something for you!
We teamed up with Claire Jones of Crystal Coast Ghost to catch us up on the most haunted buildings, sites, and stories in the area — you know we had to ask about Blackbeard hailing from Beaufort! Below are Carteret County's most infamous haunts and spirits you need to know about.
TOP 3 HAUNTED PLACES ON THE CRYSTAL COAST:
The Webb Library | Morehead City
Built in 1929 by Earl Webb Sr., this building was originally a doctor's office on the first floor and a garment company on the top floor. Experiences within the Webb Library from past employees, Port City Paranormal and No Quarter Paranormal include books being taken off of the shelves, hearing children laughing, and other unexplained phenomena. You can watch No Quarter Paranomal's overnight experience inside the Webb Library on their YouTube channel HERE.
Fort Macon | Atlantic Beach
This impeccably restored pre-Civil War fort is said to be haunted by Civil War soldiers, including Confederate soldiers who keep watch for approaching Union soldiers. Other reports state that the ghosts are former prisoners. It has been said that soldiers can be seen strolling outside the fort and items moving within several rooms inside the fort. There are also sounds of footsteps, gunfire, and men speaking in low voices.
Octagon House | Cedar Point
With a rich history, there are multiple documented spirits. One being of a young girl who has been seen riding horseback in the marshes by the Emerald Isle bridge. For the entire story, tune into our episode of Coffee with MC with Claire Jones on Friday, October 18th on our Facebook page HERE.
Clyde Phillips Seafood Market | Swansboro
Mr. Phillips claims the spirit of longtime resident, Billy Carter, still walks around the market. Crystal Coast Ghost's SOS After Dark Haunted Pub Crawl (linked below) goes into more detail on this local haunt!
TOP 3 INFAMOUS GHOSTS ON THE CRYSTAL COAST:
Grey Man of Hatteras
A legend that comes to us from the 1800's. A gentleman's fiance left on horseback to check on her family before a storm, and worried about her safety, he also went to check on her and never returned.
Now, it is said that the Grey Man of Hatteras can be spotted before a storm as a warning to residents to take caution. He was spotted in Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach prior to Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and Hurricane Florence in 2018!
Blackbeard
Blackbeard took up residence for sometime in Beaufort. His spirit infamously haunts parts of Beaufort and the waters of the Crystal Coast. The most well-known areas he is said to appear is his residence, The Hammock House. Check out the Beaufort Ghost Walk (linked below) to hear more about Blackbeard's curse and the hidden riches that are said to be hidden on our local shores.
The Rum Keg Girl
Inside Beaufort's Old Burying Grounds, you may have noticed one tombstone in particular surrounded by toys, stuffed animals, flowers, and other small tokens of affection. Lying here to rest is the little girl buried in a keg of rum who fell ill and passed away while on passage from England. Ultimately, the Sloo family (you may recognize the plaqued Sloo House at 209 Front Street!) decided to use this keg of rum as her casket and it is buried there today at the Old Burying Grounds. Reportedly, there have been sightings of a little girl running between the graves at night and trinkets from her grave being moved around that could not have been caused by the wind.
Looking for your own hair-raising experience this October? Check these out (if you dare) —
- Beaufort Ghost Walk — Hear supernatural stories of ghost ships, haunted houses, the ghosts of the Civil War, and the history of the Beaufort area, including the legends of the infamous pirate Blackbeard! CLICK HERE to book your tour.
- Escape Rooms — Try to escape from the infamous Blackbeard's pirate ship in this escape room for all ages. CLICK HERE to book.
- Crystal Coast Ghost — Embark on a journey through time as your guide takes you on historical ghost tours, peeling back the layers of the past to reveal the chilling tales that continue to haunt our world. CLICK HERE to book.
Do you have any Crystal Coast paranormal experiences? We'd love to know about them! Email your story to mktg@marycheathamking.com for a chance to be featured with your own ghost story.