The Smoky Mountain Haunted Forest is a must-visit attraction for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts exploring the Great Smoky Mountains. This eerie trail offers a spine-chilling experience, with various themed scenes and costumed actors ready to send shivers down your spine. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the Smoky Mountain Haunted Forest promises an unforgettable adventure into the realm of the supernatural.
Haunted Trails and Attractions in the Smoky Mountains
1. Smoky Mountain Haunted Forest
- Located in Sevierville, Tennessee
- Offers a haunted trail with themed scenes and costumed actors
- Open from late September to early November
- Ticket prices range from $20 to $30 per person, depending on the day and time of visit
2. Haunted Cades Cove
- Known for its abandoned cabins, churches, and cemeteries
- Visitors have reported strange occurrences and sightings, especially at dusk
- Free admission, but visitors are advised to be respectful of the historical site
3. Elkmont Ghost Town
- A former logging community and country club community
- Features 19 preserved buildings, including the Wonderland Hotel
- Visitors have reported strange noises and feelings of being watched
- Free admission, but part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
4. The Greenbriar Restaurant
- Located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Known for its haunted history, particularly the ghost of Lydia
- Visitors have reported sightings of Lydia and other paranormal activity
- Open for dining, with prices ranging from $20 to $50 per meal
5. Wheatlands Plantation
- A historic plantation with a mass grave of Cherokee warriors
- Known for its haunted history, including reports of bloodstains and ghostly apparitions
- Currently closed for tours, but its history and legends are well-documented
Ghost Stories and Legends of the Smoky Mountains
1. Spearfinger
- A Cherokee legend about a female creature with a sharp finger and stone-like skin
- Said to stalk Chilhowee Mountain and eat the livers of her victims
- Used to scare children into behaving
2. Wampus Cat
- A half-bear, half-cat creature from Appalachian folklore
- Said to roam the mountains and forests
3. Lucy of Roaring Fork
- A ghost story about a young woman who died in a cabin fire
- Said to haunt the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Visitors have reported sightings of Lucy and other paranormal activity
Additional Information
- The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 150 documented cemeteries, many of which are said to be haunted.
- The park offers various books and stories about ghost stories and haunted places, including “Into the Mist: Mishaps and Misdeeds, Misfortune and Mayhem in Great Smoky Mountains National Park” and “Mountain Ghost Stories and Curious Tales of Western North Carolina”.
- Visitors are advised to be respectful of the historical sites and cemeteries, especially if they plan to visit at night or during the Halloween season.
References:
– Gossamer Gear. (2021). Enjoy Spooky Season With These Smoky Mountain Haunts. Retrieved from https://www.gossamergear.com/blogs/our-blog/spooky-smoky-mountains
– Cabins USA. (n.d.). Top 10 Haunted Places in the Smoky Mountains. Retrieved from https://www.cabinsusa.com/smoky-mountains-blog/post/17/top-10-haunted-places-in-the-smoky-mountains.php
– Pigeon Forge. (2020). 9 Smoky Mountain Legends, Spooky Stories & Haunted Places. Retrieved from https://www.pigeonforge.com/smoky-mountain-legends/
– Patriot Getaways. (n.d.). Smoky Mountain Ghost Stories. Retrieved from https://patriotgetaways.com/blog/smoky-mountain-ghost-stories/
– Smoky Mountain National Park. (2022). 4 Places to Visit in the Smoky Mountains That Might Be Haunted. Retrieved from https://smokymountainnationalpark.com/blog/haunted-places-to-visit-in-the-smoky-mountains/