The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. For the next 100 years,the mansion was owned by members of the Winston family. Site of Consolation Church and Cemetery, Greenville. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. Apparitions have been seen, and captured on film by paranormal society investigations; orbs have been reported as well. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. It is named for a woman who lived in the area in the late 1800s or early 1900s and was thought to be a witch. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. 15. This is not just a collection of ghost stories, but a true history of how the city became so haunted -- which means we also include local sites of death, unsolved murders, strange crimes, gambling parlors, vice districts and more plagued the city in days gone by. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. Properly called Jackson Ford Bridge, there are currently plans to demolish the bridge due to vandalism and decay making for a safety hazard. The hospital closed for good in 1957 and the building was later used for a variety of purposes, including Dorsey Yarbrough's National School of Music. This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. ", The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton is widely known as the site of hauntings by the spirit of Henry Wells, who was once incarcerated in a jail cell on the second floor. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. Completely inundated, this abandoned town exists in a watery grave. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. The Forks of Cypress Plantation in Florence was one of the most beautiful antebellum mansions in the state, built by the Jackson family who is buried on the plantation grounds. The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. Following the deaths of John Drish and his wife Sarah, the home was used as a school from 1906 to 1925 and was used as an auto parts warehouse for several years. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. All rights reserved (About Us). 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. The historic courthouse is used for events and education art displays. It is now a concert venue. 1890s commissary that served the mining families still stands but the vine-covered building is said the be the site of miners killed at the site. I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. It is now a concert venue. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. 10. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. Supposedly you can still hear what sounds like the body swaying on the second floor. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. (Picture: The Boyaux fortification at the Blakeley battleground). It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. Click hereto see more photos. The face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. He may flush the toilet as well. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. 33.7 miles from Decatur, TX A former gambling parlour in 1910, the Bull Ring is located in the historic district of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. The swings sometimes can be seen swinging by themselves, and the sounds of laughter Urban legend tells of a man who was hit by a car and killed while walking across this bridge. According to legend, the site is haunted by spirits of numerous people hung from the limbs of the tree in its 200- to 300-year history. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. Most cemeteries are closed at night. In Huntsville, the Maple Hill Cemetery is also known as the Dead Children's Playground. Built in 1842, the old Coosa County Jail, known as the Old Rock Jail, is the oldest surviving stone jail in Alabama. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. At least two, possibly . Kids and adults will enjoy exploring various hands-on exhibits, including a gallery of bees, turtles, alligators and snakes, a recreated Alabama cave, insect galleries, a 15,000-gallon aquarium, and more. On Feb. 4, a fellow student spilled cleaning fluid onto the open stove and the kitchen caught fire. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. If you agree to give him a ride, witnesses Alabama is fond of getting into Hell it seems. If you want to suggest another tale, email kkazek@al.com or comment below. The hangings were carried out inside the jail, and the spirits of those men reportedly never left. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. This site was visited with permission. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. People report hearing strange noises and seeing apparitions at the site. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. It once consisted of 25 buildings constructed in the 1870s or 1880. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. It is no longer standing. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. Now, join us for our award-winning tours of Decatur as we journey back in time to uncover the "other side" of the city's history and reveal not only the scandals and sins that haunt Decatur, but the many ghosts that linger here as well! The Haunted Decatur Tours run either 3 or 4 hours in length -- depending on the tour - and travel by bus to various locations throughout the city. 16) You Can Search for Gold in Several Public Places Gold mining and treasure hunting locations in Alabama start in Chilton County and continue northeast to the Georgia State line. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Either way, the photos are intriguing. The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm. At least one of the buildings at Robinson's Switch has the shape of a depot and another long building appears to have been a railroad warehouse. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Although the spot where the Dallas Mill was is now open field, legend has it was once haunted by a man who died while working there. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. ", StrangeUSA.comsays ghosts of inmates can be heard: "Legend has it that their screams can be heard as they were being burned to death, and you can hear the laugher of the guards that stood by watching.". Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. The ca. When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. Today, only its stone foundations remain. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. . Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, AL) 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 254-2025 In the years following the Civil War, Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces became the mecca of pig iron needed for thousands of steel products around the country. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. Her ghost is said to look down from the upstairs window. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. When filming was completed, the owners of the property on Jackson Lake Island near Millbrook told director Tim Burton to leave the sets rather than bulldoze them. the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, was near collapse when this photo was taken in the 1930s. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. 9. Stories of figures haunting cemeteries, ghostly marching soldiers, and mysterious music playing in empty abandoned buildings are told in every corner of our state. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." See the last slide for links to more photos of abandoned sites in Alabama. Employees claim they've heard disembodied footsteps and voices. Copper Center - Tonseno Lodge - A man was killed in the hotel, and now he's haunting it. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as. The once flourishing Eastern Bank of Alabama at 201 Broad Street in Eufaula, was abandoned and in bad shape when this photo was taken in 1935. Melton also writes that Hall married Mary E. Scruggs of Lawrence County, Tennessee in 1859 where they resided until his death on May 28, 1880. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. (Source: Judyanne Waters via FindaGrave.com), Grave of Norman Staples and Ghost Ship, Bladon Springs. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. In the absence of documented fact, people are free to claim their own version of history and never is that more Reported sightings of paranormal activity at this cemetery include a fiery orb that floats through the air. That might be a first. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Legend says if you stop by the cemetery gate and put your car in neutral, the Lady in White will push you away from the spot where she was killed so youll be safe. At the site of Mount Vernon Arsenal, founded in 1828, more than 30 historic buildings are rotting where they stand, including those that housed, at differing times, Geronimo, a Civil War militia,Dr. Walter Reedand African American mental patients when it was the Mount Vernon Asylum for the Colored Insane, later known as Searcy Hospital. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. Battleship Island, Japan. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. Love Alabama? This is one of the outbuildings at the site. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. However, the family cemetery remains. For decades, even before the great ship's arrival in Mobile Bay in 1965 when she was established as a tourist attraction, people have reported hearing strange noises and seeing shadowy figures below decks. The home was featured in the late Katherine Tucker Windham's book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey., The skeletal facade ofan abandoned jail lurks in the woods in the community of Townley in Walker County, near Carbon Hill. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Best Restaurants in Decatur, AL - The RailYard, Two Fish & A Toad, The Moody Crab, Simp McGhee's, Brick Deli, Francesco's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Bank Street Grill, Hard Dock, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Sushi Sumo The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. One version of the story claims Molly was the ghost of a woman who had lost an infant who dealt with the tragedy by hugging local children. 2. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. The 1833 Old State Bank of Alabama in Decatur as it was getting a coat of paint in 1934 after it had been abandoned for decades.