Paranormal Places and Haunted Stories of the Outer Banks

Discover the supernatural side of the Outer Banks, from Kill Devil Hills and The Black Pelican Restaurant to eerie lighthouse legends.

By Outer Banks Visitors Bureau on Sep. 05, 2024

The names Graveyard of the Atlantic, Kill Devil Hills, and Ghosts of The Lost Colony immediately give the OBX a mysterious character. Across the Outer Banks, history remains alive through memorable events and places that invite a closer—and cautious—look. Bring your family of ghouls & goblins and explore things to do on the OBX this Halloween.

Six Stories of Outer Banks Lore

1. How Kill Devil Hills Got Its Name

Visitors frequently wonder where the name Kill Devil Hills originated. Several explanations remain part of Outer Banks tradition.

One account blames pirates who once lived along these shores. According to the legend, a group of buccaneers spent a night on the towering dunes, drinking moonshine so potent that it was said to be capable of killing the devil. Another version points to William Byrd of Virginia, who wrote in the 1700s that much of the region’s rum came from New England and was so poor and unhealthy that people appropriately called it Kill Devil.

A third story connects the name to an old rum brand. The liquor supposedly washed onto these dunes as the sole surviving cargo from an unidentified shipwreck.

2. The Black Pelican Restaurant in Kitty Hawk

The Black Pelican Restaurant once served as the #6 Station, one of seven lifesaving stations positioned along the coast. Its crew helped rescue mariners lost at sea and sailors stranded on the shoals.

In July of 1884, the station was led by Captain James Hobbs, who was reputed to have a short temper. After growing tired of insults from his surfman, T.L. Daniels, the Captain shot him. T.L. was allegedly buried at sea without witnesses, and Captain Hobbs was never tried for murder. The story continues with reports that T.L. still wanders through the restaurant.

3. The Seven Sisters of Nags Head

Today, The Seven Sisters refers to an area near milepost 14 in Nags Head. Its name is tied to a story from the end of the Civil War, when a slaveowner released seven slaves so they could return to their homeland.

The seven women, who were sisters, disappeared the following day after a powerful storm struck the area. When the weather passed, seven large sand dunes were left behind.

4. Roanoke Island Inn and Pioneer Theatre in Manteo

Descendants of the original 1860 family still own the Roanoke Island Inn. Former owner and Manteo Postmaster Roscoe Jones reportedly became deeply distressed after losing his position as Postmaster. He withdrew into the Roanoke Inn for several months and died soon afterward.

According to local accounts, a figure dressed in a postal uniform continues to enter and leave the Inn. Visitors have also described moving window blinds, radios switching on and off, and footsteps crossing the creaking floorboards.

Nearby, Pioneer Theatre is a single-screen family theater known for inexpensive tickets and snacks. Local stories say the former owner insisted that movie-goers show consideration by silencing their cell phones. Numerous visitors have reported a “force” or “spirit” knocking phones from their hands when they use them inside the theatre.

5. The White Doe of The Lost Colony

Roanoke Island was the site of the first attempted English settlement in the New World, which vanished completely and became America's first unsolved mystery. Virginia Dare, the firstborn English child in the new colony, had disappeared by the year 1590.

One legend claims Virginia lived among the natives. A witch doctor fell in love with her and wanted to marry her, but after she refused, he cast a spell that transformed her into a ghostly white doe. The apparition is said to remain visible today. Downtown Manteo's White Doe Inn Bed & Breakfast continues to embrace this lore.

6. Haunted Lighthouses and Other Apparitions

Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced Body) was abandoned twelve years after its original build in 1847 because of an inadequate foundation. A replacement lighthouse was built in 1859, then blown up in 1861 by retreating Confederate troops who feared the Union would use it for navigation.

The gate keeper's cottage, a white building on the lighthouse grounds, is believed to retain a spirit. Every day at 4:00 PM on the dot, a loud knock can be heard from behind its large brick fireplace. The identity of whatever—or whoever—is behind the sound remains unknown.

The Gray Ghost is said to appear along the shoreline before a severe storm or hurricane. This mysterious “gray” man reportedly died in the 1900s after a sudden summer storm struck the beach. He is described as a misty apparition who has sometimes appeared on pier cams, walked silently along the coast, or wandered around the lighthouses.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is associated with the Ghost Cat. Every account describes a black and white cat weighing just over 15 pounds. The Ghost Cat may brush against visitors’ legs and permit them to pet him, but anyone who tries to pick him up will see him disappear magically.

Spooktacular Events Worth Experiencing

The Elizabethan Gardens celebrates family traditions with its newest fall event, A Night of 1587 Pumpkins. In Manteo, Pumpkin Patch Saturdays takes place every Saturday in October. At Island Farm, visitors can ride a hayride to the farm’s pumpkin patch and choose a pumpkin to bring home.

The scares continue with OBX Ghost Tours, where a guide leads guests by lantern through downtown Manteo while sharing the stories that help make the Outer Banks one of the most haunted beaches in America.

Dare to Scare 5K and Wicked Woods

For those who do not find running frightening enough, runners and walkers can take part in The Annual Dare to Scare 5K & Sweet Treat Fun Run at the Dare County Center. The 5K begins at Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) in Wanchese and follows the Marshall and Gussie Collins Walkway to the Dare County Center in Manteo.

The route crosses scenic, winding woodlands and follows the marsh on Roanoke Island. Participants are invited to wear their Halloween best for the opportunity to win a prize.

A short distance from the Dare County Center, Wicked Woods offers another haunted trail experience. Past scare zones have included Slaughter Swamp, a self-guided woodland walk, and Mr. Jingles Playhouse, a maze without lights. Monsters wait around the turns to provide an unexpectedly effective scare.

Author

Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

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