Most Haunted Places in South Carolina
If you love scary movies or the rush of adrenaline that comes with spooky and abandoned places, perhaps you’d love to experience that in your own home state or on vacation. South Carolina has a surprising number of these spots for its size. Next time you have the urge, don’t head to the movie theater, go to one of these spots. Here are the top 5 most haunted places in South Carolina.
Salem Black River Church (Mayesville, SC)
Salem Black River Church is said to have been built around 1846. It is haunted by a priest from the 1900s whose entire family died from the plague. Left lonely as the only living member, he began to curse God. He started satanic seances and began to cause problems for the church itself. The old shack behind the church belongs to him, and some have said that they have seen a silhouette standing in the window. In the graveyard, low talking and whispers are commonly heard. Cold spots are common, the temperature drops in various spots, cell phone batteries suddenly drop, orbs of light, and the feeling that someone is watching you. Some individuals even claim that they have seen the priest himself walking through the graveyard. Other rumored ghosts are a little boy who is sobbing by the gate to the graveyard. His cries can be heard throughout. If you’re brave enough to visit, be prepared to experience all of the above. Your cell phone will be of no help to you and you may want to wear a couple of extra layers.
Oakwood Cemetery (Spartanburg, SC)
Oakwood Cemetery (commonly known as ‘Hell’s Gate’) is the final resting place for many, and it has been since the late 1800s, but it is also one of the most haunted places in South Carolina. If you visit after dark, you may see the strange lights and mysterious mist that appears as others have before you. Individuals have also said they’ve heard the laughter of small children as they’ve walked through the graveyard. And if that doesn’t make the hair stand on your arms, perhaps the strange happenings on your cell phone will. While some cell phone batteries drain entirely (not exactly something you want in a spooky cemetery), others report that their cell phone will ring when there’s no incoming call. What’s more is that some can even “answer” these calls AND get a busy tone on the other line!
The Abandoned Mansion (Santee, SC)
Trevor Marron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via flickr / Cropped
One of the most terrifying things about the Abandoned Mansion is how little that is known about it. No one is sure when this location was built or when it was abandoned. In fact, there are no government records at all regarding this house. Its existence is entirely off of the map. It is known only as “The Abandoned Mansion,” and while it may otherwise appear to be a pretty house in need of some upkeep, that isn’t all that’s to the story. It’s often reported that the lights are seen flickering in the upstairs windows as people have passed by. For a house that’s abandoned, that’s eerie indeed.
South Carolina Insane Asylum (Columbia, SC)
In 1821, before mental and psychiatric help was common in the United States, South Carolina founded their South Carolina Mental Asylum to treat the mentally ill in their state. The spot is now abandoned, and many refer to it as “Bull Street.” In addition to being used as a hospital, the spot was also used as a prison camp for enemy soldiers during the Civil War. The Asylum grew rapidly. By 1951, it housed around 5,000 individuals, which means there were barely enough beds for everyone. Old pictures of the hospital reveal that the old wings are still crammed with these beds as well as other equipment and tools. It’s unclear whether lobotomies and forced sterilizations were indeed performed within its walls, but even if the quality of mental healthcare was closer to what individuals receive today it doesn’t mean that some of the patients haven’t stuck around beyond death. In fact, some visitors who have received permission to visit this abandoned location say there are “unexplained cold spots, strange noises, and disembodied voices.” Spooky.
Baynard Plantation Ruins (Hilton Head, SC)
While you may be out relaxing, golfing or enjoying the beach while in Hilton Head, you won’t want to miss visiting the Baynard Plantation Ruins if you love something spooky. The site was originally built around 1793 and it is now registered on the National Register of Historic Sites. Here’s a quick history: Captain Jack Stoney built the plantation home as part of Braddock’s Point Plantation. Since his family was its first residents, it’s still commonly referred to as the Stoney-Baynard ruins. The Baynard family came to occupy the home in 1837, but it’s unclear how that transition came about. Either it was won in a late-night poker game bet or the Stoney family declared bankruptcy and the Baynard family acquired the property from the bank. When William Baynard, a successful cotton planter, passed away after living in the home for 9 years, the plantation was used by Union forces to house their soldiers during the Civil War. When the Civil War ended, they burned the home to the ground.
You may be wondering what’s left for you to see and what’s so “haunted” about the Baynard Plantation if it’s been burned to the ground. The ruins consist of the plantation home and the slave quarters. You’ll see a corner wall and the foundation for the outbuildings. There are informational signs for those visitors wishing to read more about the two families who lived in the plantation prior to the Union forces utilizing it. In terms of whether or not it’s haunted, that’s for you to find out. Visitors have reported the sighting of several ghosts—in fact—the ghost of William Baynard himself! He is said to wander the plantation ruins after dark in the path of his entire funeral procession, which is only slightly morbid. His ghost is also said to inhabit the Baynard Mausoleum and Zion cemetery where he is buried. If you’re looking for a site of significance right around the corner from the sunny beaches of Hilton Head, this is an incredible spot that you can’t miss.
South Carolina has enough haunted places for you to do an entirely self-created ghost tour. Next time you’re looking for a fun and spooky activity, skip the movie theater. Do you own haunted road trip by mapping all of these spots! Hit the road with your best friends, family or kids if they’re brave. You’ll get to see graveyards, hospitals, churches, and a blast from the past. Who knows…maybe you’ll even spot a ghost?! There have certainly been numerous spotted in these spots previously. Don’t forget to document your experience and take plenty of pictures. But remember, don’t rely on your phone because the battery might suddenly drain if you entire one of these spots. Enjoy your trip and report back – you can join the “many” who have spotted the eerie elements in the most haunted places in South Carolina!
