During this month of all things spooky, our monthly feature on historical sites in Mississippi will take you on a ghostly tour of the state’s most haunted and eerie historic sites. The Magnolia State is steeped in legend and lore throughout its history and is blessed with a multitude of historical locations that hold significance in the history of our state, but Mississippi also has its fair share of historical sites that haunt with spooky and eerie apparitions and spirits.
Enjoy this October with a look into our haunted history and have a ghoulish good time by visiting or learning more about some of the specters and restless souls that call these historic sites home.
Haunted Mansions
Mississippi is home to plenty of antebellum mansions where several lost and lonely spirits still reside. It seems that times of tragedy and loss often lead to phantoms of the other realm to forever walk among these grounds. The McRaven home in Vicksburg is known as the most haunted house in the state and even the third most haunted house in the country. During the Civil War, the McRaven home was used as a Confederate hospital. Throughout the home’s history, many of the residents of the mansion have met their untimely demise within the walls, and one owner was even murdered on the McRaven grounds. His spirit and visions of soldiers are said to still roam these halls and grounds today.
The Longfellow House in Pascagoula is home to its own local haunts. Legend has it that a slave was beaten to the brink of death but then was released to die a slow, painful death alone in the nearby woods. Due to the brutality that his owners rent upon the slave, his tortured spirit is bound to the home and grounds. His paranormal presence is filled with anger and ire and employees have unfortunately been victims of his wrath as they have been slapped and even pushed by the ghost.
The Waverly Mansion in West Point seems to be host to many ghosts. The apparition of a little girl roams the halls in search of her mother, calling out for her in a small, lonely voice. There have been occurrences when visitors have felt a ghostly presence in the upstairs bedroom and even seen an indent in the bed as if the little girl has settled in for a nap.
Haunted Hotels
If you really want to get an up-close experience with things that go bump in the night, you’re in for a treat as you can spend the night in many a haunted inn or hotel in Mississippi. The Dunleith Historic Inn in Natchez was built in 1856 on the original location of the Routhland Estate which was destroyed after being struck by lightning and burning to the ground. The hotel has seen its share of tragedy. The halls are haunted by the lonesome sounds of a harp being played by a female spirit that is believed to be the daughter of one of the home’s original owners.
Monmouth Historic Inn in Natchez was built in 1818 and became the home of General John A. Quitman. It seems the general did not leave the premises upon his demise. He has been seen roaming the mansion in full uniform, even entering the rooms of sleeping guests and waking them up in the middle of the night. So don’t check in here if you’re looking for a peaceful night of sleep.
The Cedar Grove Inn is considered to be the most haunted hotel in the state. John Alexander Klein built the home for his bride-to-be Elizabeth Barley Day, but it would not become the home of their dreams. Tragedy would shadow the hallowed homes of this majestic house. Construction on the home started in 1840, but the Kleins’ dream home would be turned into a Union hospital during the Civil War. A cannonball can still be seen embedded in one of the walls of the inn. The Klein family would face immeasurable heartache and tragedy as they lost two infants, a daughter to natural causes in her upstairs bedroom, and a son who was shot by a loaded gun that he dropped on the back stairs of the home. Guests have encountered the smell of pipe tobacco in one of John Klein’s favorite haunts, the Gentleman’s Parlor. His wife, Elizabeth, still wanders the house weeping for the loss of her dear children. Other paranormal activity that has been observed has included the sounds of footsteps and the giggling and crying of children. Wounded soldiers have also been known to wander the home and the grounds.
If you spend the night in the Linden Bed and Breakfast in Natchez, be prepared for an unsettling evening of disturbing experiences and haunted dreams. Built in the 1700s, the inn is one of the oldest accommodations in the state and contains a wealth of haunted happenings. Visions of a ghostly horse-drawn carriage have been seen on the grounds. Be prepared to be startled by visits from a spirited gentleman in a top hat who likes to frequent many of the bedrooms, tapping his cane to awaken sleeping guests. The most ghastly apparition to be reported at the Linden Bed and Breakfast has been the horrifying specter of a woman jumping to her death off the roof of the inn, but she eerily vanishes into thin air before hitting the ground.
Ghostly Haunts
The King’s Tavern in Natchez offers spirits of all kinds and not just limited to those on the menu. It is the city’s oldest building, and there are quite a few visitors that aren’t so dearly departed. There’s quite a host of ghosts with many a sordid tale to tell. Madeline was the mistress of the original owner of the tavern, Richard King. The affair was cut short as she mysteriously went missing. According to local lore, King’s wife killed her husband’s lover. In the 1930s, three bodies in a mummified condition were found behind the tavern’s fireplace — two men and one woman. The woman was found with a bejeweled dagger which is the likely murder weapon is believed to be Madeline. Other ghostly happenings at the tavern include the cries of a phantom baby, eerie apparitions and visions in mirrors throughout the building, and even a very unwelcome bedfellow that often shows up as an empty bed in the chambers emits the warmth of an unseen spirit.
Stuckey’s Bridge located near Meridian is still a favorite hangout for several spirits. In the 1800s, the Dalton Gang, the infamous and brutal train-robbing group, passed through the area. Stuckey, one of the members of the gang, decided to stay along the Chunky River and built an inn there. At twilight, Stuckey would walk along the bridge waving a lantern, calling weary travelers to his inn to rest for the night, but his intentions were less than honorable. When guests drifted off to sleep, Stuckey would creep into their rooms, murdering them in their beds and stealing their belongings. He would then dump their lifeless bodies into the Chunky River. After killing more than 20 victims, Stuckey was caught by the local sheriff and was hung from the rafters of the bridge. Hanging above the choppy waters for five days, the noose was cut and Stuckey’s body fell into the river, but he was not gone for good. Stuckey is still “hanging” around the area. Visions of a ghostly light swinging in the air have been seen the apparition of Stuckey’s lifeless body swaying as well in the wind from the rafters of the bridge. Visitors should beware if they dare to visit here because Stuckey is still an angry spirit and has been known to push people who have ventured here, trying to dump them into his watery grave.
Gathering Grounds for Ghouls
Considered the most haunted cemetery in the country, the Historic Franklin Cemetery, now known as the Garden of Hope Cemetery, in Gautier is not for the faint of heart. Instead of sleeping peacefully, several spirits often bring mischief and mayhem whenever they can. Beware of a ghastly girl dripping blood who loves to run in front of cars, scaring drivers and making them believe that they have hit someone. The eerie silence in the air is broken by the insane laughing of Bloody Sarah as she reigns terror on motorists who cross her path. You might make the acquaintance of a charming apparition in the form of a friendly little girl named Cheryl Anne who lost her life at a very young age, but be on the lookout for the spirit of her evil father Hal who is believed to have killed her, her siblings, and mother. If you’re looking for a fright, keep watch for the spirit of a man who climbs out of his resting place to steal flowers and adornments from other graves, then returns to his own grave with his newfound treasure.
The Witch of Yazoo’s Grave at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City still brings a chill to all who dare to visit. According to local legend, fishermen on the Yazoo River were lured and tortured by an old woman who lived among the murky waters. She was chased into the swampy surroundings by the local sheriff, and she sank into a pool of quicksand but not before she released her wrath upon the town. The witch cackled her revenge that she would return to the city in 20 years to burn the town to the ground. Most citizens did not believe her threat at the time but were terrified when exactly 20 years later in 1904 a fire broke out in the town, destroying over 300 of the buildings in the city. The next day, citizens were alarmed when they ventured to her gravesite. The large chain that was locked around her grave to keep her from returning was broken in two. Strange occurrences still happen to this day at her grave. After a new gravestone was erected, it mysteriously fell and broke in half, and the chain around the witch’s grave has to be repaired constantly. It is believed that if the chains are gone, the witch will return to exact her revenge on the town. For that reason, the chain is always repaired, but it continues to be broken soon after.
As All Hallow’s Eve draws near and spirits are rumored to cross the veil between this world and the next, beware of spirits and spooks that are sure to give you a fright. Legend, lore, and paranormal sightings always bring a colorful page to the haunted history of our state. Have a happy and safe Halloween but watch out for ghostly spirits that you just might encounter when an eerie breeze blows through the Spanish moss hanging among the magnolia trees.
