Top Ten Most Haunted Places in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, boasts a rich past, from an early American gold rush to pivotal roles in the American Revolution and the post-Civil War era. Yet, beneath the veneer of prosperity, Charlotte houses a shadowy side with restless spirits unwilling to depart.Â
Join us as we journey through Charlotte’s dark past and share the unsettling stories that continue to haunt its vibrant streets. When you’re ready to see some of these locations in person, book a ghost tour with Queen City Ghosts!
1) Founders Hall
Before it was a vibrant shopping and dining center, Founders Hall served as a sanctum of knowledge for medical scholars – the backdrop for its spooky tales. It’s said that a group of aspiring physicians ventured into a moonlit cemetery with the intention of securing a cadaver for their studies – an audacious act with unforeseen consequences.
Louise’s spirit now haunts Founders Hall, traversing the halls and crying out into the night. Visitors have witnessed her tormented figure wandering the building, only to disappear when security personnel search for her.
2) Old Settlers Cemetery
Old Settlers’ Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in North Carolina and the first city-owned cemetery in Charlotte. It holds the graves of many of Charlotte’s prominent early settlers, including Thomas Polk, considered the founding father of the city. It also has the remains of Charles Polk, known as Devil Charlie.
Devil Charlie gained this nickname after a violent incident in which he shot his wife, Polly Polk, while she held their infant son. His spirit is said to haunt Charlotte, and he is associated with various mischievous incidents in the city. One terrifying encounter involved Dr. Mark Shuckler, who experienced a strange event in the cemetery. He heard ghostly laughter and felt a presence he believed may be linked to Devil Charlie.
3) Bootlegger house
This two-story wooden house was originally in an area known as “Little Brooklyn,” a predominantly African-American area home to blue-collar workers. In the 1920s, the house was secretly a bootlegger’s hideout. A concealed door in the foyer stored illicit alcohol, accessible only to those who knew the secret password.Â
The haunting of this house began after it was moved to the Fourth Ward in the 1970s when most of Little Brooklyn was demolished to make way for new government buildings. The inexplicable occurrences started with wet footsteps on the uncarpeted stairway, followed by strange incidents, such as the bathroom faucet turning on at 3 a.m. for five consecutive nights.Â
Other eerie incidents included a chair balanced on two legs without any support, a mysteriously lit kitchen blowtorch that was immediately discarded, and the sighting of a figure resembling a man in a raincoat and hat, which vanished upon closer inspection. When challenged with a question, a large copper pot fell from its rack, suggesting a mischievous presence in the house. Despite these spooky occurrences, the homeowners, Michael, and his partner, cherish their historic home.
4) The Haunted Duke Mansion
Over the years, the Duke Mansion passed through different hands, each dedicated to preserving its historic essence. However, this centenarian mansion carries more than just memories of yesteryear. Here, history lessons come with the ghostly legend of Jon Avery.Â
Jon, an intellectual with a profound love for books and poetry, moved into the mansion in the late 1920s with his ailing wife, Anastasia. In Anastasia’s tortured state, he experienced profound loneliness and sought solace by posting a “room for rent” ad. This decision led to the arrival of Maggie, a young, aspiring writer who quickly formed a deep bond with Jon.Â
However, Maggie would soon realize that Jon would never leave his ailing wife for her. To spare herself heartache, she departed from the mansion, agreeing to meet Jon once more at midnight exactly one year later, dead or alive. On the fateful night, Maggie stood outside the mansion. A bolt of lightning revealed Jon’s spectral figure at the window. Jon appeared in formal attire and spoke the words, “Dead or alive.”Â
Maggie learned later that Jon had passed away days before their midnight rendezvous. He had honored their agreement, bridging the realms of the living and the departed. To this day, the Duke Mansion bears witness to the ghostly presence of Jon Avery.
5) Charlotte Fire Department, Station 4
The Charlotte Fire Department Station 4 is a two-story Victorian fire station with a unique history. From 1927 until the 1970s, the station housed on-duty officers who lived and slept above the fire trucks on the ground floor. One early morning in 1934, tragedy struck when Pruitt Black, a firefighter on a double shift, reached for the pole during a call and fell through the opening, resulting in a skull fracture that killed him.Â
That same week, another firefighter, Jose Westnedge, perished in a separate accident when he was crushed between the fire truck and a tree while responding to a call. The fire station moved to a new location in 1972. The building was sold, but the devastation of those two incidents remained as various occupants reported strange experiences.
A Ghostly Exit
In 1997, Mike Lakoff moved his company into the building, which had been vacant for some years. During a renovation, the unexplained activity intensified. Mike smelled cigar smoke and had direct encounters with what he believed to be the ghost of Pruitt Black.
Mike witnessed a man dressed in a bright yellow parka and followed him, only to see the figure walk through a wall in the area where an original exit to the outside had been in 1934. On another occasion, while working with an electrician, he was spooked when he saw a man dressed in cotton trousers and suspenders walking towards him before disappearing into the room that used to be the old barracks, where the brass pole was located.Â
Mike, working downstairs, saw the same man walk out of the old fire station’s door. This apparition turned out to be Pruitt Black, a kind and religious man known for smoking cigars to relax after fire station callouts. His spirit, it seems, still resides at the old fire station.
6) Tryon House Apts
Tryon House Apartments has a history marred by a tragic event. In 1940, a massive fire erupted in the building due to a malfunctioning boiler in the basement. The building had no sprinklers or fire alarms at the time, and it ultimately claimed the lives of six residents. Some residents were trapped in their apartments, while others had to jump from their windows to escape, sustaining severe injuries upon landing.Â
Today, the Tryon House Apartments carry a tragic history, with reported hauntings spawned from the events of that horrific night. Many residents have shared spine-chilling experiences in the building. Some claim to have heard the sorrowful sounds of someone crying and banging against walls in unoccupied apartments. Another resident was spooked when something repeatedly banged on their door during the night, yet no one was ever there.
The most disturbing account came from a woman who initially claimed to be psychic and said she could communicate with the dead. She quickly moved out, stating that the walls of her apartment were bleeding. This woman would go on to be institutionalized.
7) McGlohon Theatre
The McGlohon Theatre was originally the First Baptist Church of Charlotte. For over 70 years, the building was a place of worship for the citizens of the town. The building’s conversion into a theater has retained some signs of its former life, such as the domed tower in the main auditorium and the beautiful stained-glass windows on the side walls.Â
The area surrounding the McGlohon Theatre, known as Spirit Square, has gained a reputation for being haunted. It is sometimes referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle” of Charlotte. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported in this vicinity.
Spirit Square
Many performers and stage crew members have described unearthly experiences within the atmospheric auditorium. Some reports mention the sound of hymns of old church songs being sung by a young voice, likely that of a girl, but only when the theater is empty.Â
Nellie McCourt, a former security guard, claimed that objects moved around on the stage, and she heard the creepy laughter of unseen children in various parts of the building. She also claimed that soda cans would sometimes mysteriously fall onto security staff walking across the stage. Of course, these are but a fraction of the unexplained activity that rivals the performances within the theater’s walls. Just ask the numerous paranormal investigators who have ventured through this lively theater… for the dead.
8) Dunhill Hotel
This ten-story luxury hotel was constructed just before the Great Depression and was one of the tallest buildings in the city at the time. Over the years, it has accommodated some famous guests, including Elvis Presley and Paul McCartney. During the Great Depression, the hotel witnessed a high number of suicides, with many individuals jumping from its upper floors, including half of the hotel reserved for permanent guests.Â
The hotel changed ownership several times, even going by the name “James Lee Motor Lodge” in the 1980s before closing down in 1981. The building remained largely uninhabited until a $6 million redevelopment project began in 1987, resulting in the opening of the New Dunhill Hotel.
A Gruesome Discovery
During the redevelopment process in February 1988, a construction laborer found a human skeleton in several pieces. Forensic experts determined the bones belonged to an elderly Caucasian man, approximately 5’8″ tall, who likely walked with a limp. This man, who became known as “Dusty,” is believed to be the source of the hotel’s hauntings.
Hotel staff have encountered a variety of chilling, unexplained activity attributed to Dusty, including chairs moving on their own, shampoo bottles being rearranged, and blinds opening and closing by themselves. Some guests have reported the uneasy feeling of someone pulling them by the ankles as well as seeing unsightly figures at the foot of their beds.
Room 906 is particularly renowned for its otherworldly activity, making it one of the most haunted rooms in the hotel. Dusty is seemingly right at home at the Dunhill Hotel, and the staff has embraced his presence as a friendly addition to the hotel’s history.
9) Ri Ra Irish Pub
The Rà Rá Pub in Uptown Charlotte has a rich history, including various incarnations, such as a textile factory, bank, and pharmacy. The pub’s current owners put great effort into creating an authentic Irish bar, including importing actual bars from Ireland. The Victorian bar in the center of the pub was restored from the officer’s mess in the Phoenix Park barracks in Dublin. The bar also features a statue of St. Patrick from the mid-1800s.
Several staff members have reported various ghostly experiences. Some have heard the distinct sounds of sewing machines operating in the basement. One particularly interesting ghostly presence is that of a little girl. Described as having white gloves, blue eyes, curls, and a Victorian-style dress, she is believed to be responsible for repeatedly scratching letters of the alphabet in chalk on a brick wall in an alcove above the host’s stand just inside the front door. Despite efforts to remove or cover the letters, they continue to reappear.
With a series of unexplained events and ghostly encounters, even the most skeptical staff members have become convinced that they share the pub with otherworldly spirits. The Rà Rá Pub in Charlotte holds not only a rich historical charm that mingles with the otherworldly.
10) Kennedy’s Premium Bar & Grill
Kennedy’s Premium Bar & Grill is much more than a popular local watering hole. This old farmhouse turned drinking spot has an eerie secret—it’s reportedly haunted!
Employees and patrons alike have experienced a myriad of inexplicable phenomena within these rustic walls. Doors, with a mind of their own, open and close when no living hand is near. The radio switches on and off as if guided by unseen forces. Figures, shadowy and enigmatic, have been glimpsed in the bathrooms long after the last drink has been served and the patrons have departed.
Local paranormal investigators have taken a keen interest in this historic establishment, and their findings are spine-tingling. Teams have captured EVPs around the dining room and bathroom. One in particular was that of a woman sighing. They’ve deemed Kennedy’s Premium Bar & Grill one of Charlotte’s most haunted locations, and some even claim it could be one of the most haunted spots in all of North Carolina.
Haunted Charlotte
Don’t miss your chance to uncover the secrets beneath Charlotte’s bustling streets. Join US Ghost Adventures for an unforgettable tour of the city’s most haunted sites. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, our expert guides will lead you through the hidden history and spine-tingling tales of Charlotte.
Sources:
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article41925969.html
https://usghostadventures.com/charlotte/old-settlers-cemetery/
https://www.strangecarolinas.com/2017/10/the-haunted-fire-station-charlotte-nc.html
https://www.blumenthalarts.org/news/detail/hauntedblumenthal
https://queencityghosts.com/the-haunted-dunhill-hotel/
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article267787247.html
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/restaurant-near-uptown-may-be-haunted/275-373934971
https://www.northcarolinahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/the-duke-mansion.html
