Is Pisgah National Forest Haunted?

The state of North Carolina is one of the thirteen original colonies. Located on the east coast of the United States it is well noted for its beauty and temperate climate. And also for its forests. Notably, the Pisgah National Forest is one of the most famous for outdoor enthusiasts.

 

Whether you are by the sea enjoying the sunset or trekking through the mountain regions there are sights you will never forget.

 

Western North Carolina with its Blue Ridge Mountains is a land of mystery with the Pisgah National Forest being known as one of the most haunted regions in the nation. In times long past the Cherokee and the Catawba battled fiercely with each other over the ownership of these mountains.

 

 

Hauntings in Pisgah National Forest

 

The white settlers were becoming more and more prominent within these lands cutting off trails and hunting lands the Indians had used for centuries. In the 1800s the woodlands of these hills were still a hunter’s dream.

 

It was the day of the full moon on a chilly October morning when a local farmer living in the foothills of the Pisgah Mountain range gathered his hunting dogs and headed for the top of the ridge known as Pisgah Ledge.

 

It was well known for an abundance of wildlife. After a full day of running his dogs, he had nothing to show for his efforts and returned home empty-handed.

 

 

The farmer visited his brother the next day and told him about his hunting trip. Together they made plans to hunt along the banks of the French Broad River for raccoon and possibly a deer to help feed their families.

 

Packing their guns and other necessities for the hunt they rose early on that October morning and journeyed some miles away to camp along the waters of the French Broad River. The first day of hunting brought joy to both men for the game was plentiful and they had more meat than they had dreamed possible.

 

It was decided the men would hunt that night for a few raccoons to add to their bounty and then make their way back home. Again, the hunt was successful and the two men returned to their camp before midnight.

 

By the light of their campfire they ate and reveled in the tales of their hunt. They had planned to leave by the first light of dawn and return home. In the wee hours of the morning the two men were awakened shivering beneath their blankets; their fire cold and dead.

 

 

An unsettling silence filled the air around them. There was not the sound of a single frog, nor the usual sounds of the rushing waters of the French Broad River.

 

The hunting dogs cowered together shivering by the trunk of a large Ash tree. In the light of the moon, the two men saw a red wolf on the bank of the river across from them watching their every move.

 

They saw the pack horses nervously twitching and pulling on their tether. Reaching for their guns they pulled them closer readying themselves for something they could not see.

 

The red wolf suddenly pricked his ears and looked downriver.

 

Without a sound, he disappeared into the woods leaving the men to try and discover what he had seen. They suspected there may be a bear in the area drawn by the smell of their cooking, but their fear was unfounded.

 

Within seconds they found themselves surrounded by the Catawba and Cherokee battling to the death. They fired their weapons trying to keep the Indians away from them.

 

It was not to be! The battle raged all around them as the blood flowed and men fell. Screams of pain and anguish filled the air.

 

The battle rushed through their camp nearly trampling them. A tomahawk was swung wildly missing a Catawba but striking the farmer.

 

He screamed and fell back against a fallen tree. Reaching for the wound he found no blood and his clothing was still intact.

 

They saw each and every warrior’s face that came close to them finally realizing the warriors were not seeing them. The two men suddenly realized they could see their dogs and their horses through the bodies of the warriors.

 

It was a ghostly battle to the death and they were trapped in the middle of the battle. The two farmers grabbed the guns and horses fleeing from their camp.

 

An hour had passed since they left the camp by the French Broad and they stopped to catch their breath. There was no one chasing them and everything appeared to be normal again.

 

 

For many years to come, they told the tale of the ghostly battle between the Cherokee and the Catawba Indians with few that believed them. Those close to the farmer had seen the evidence.

 

There remained a red mark on his skin next to his shoulder in the shape of a tomahawk blade until his death at the age of 76. Who can explain the lights that roam through the forest by the banks of the French Broad River?

For up to date park service information click here:

 

Pisgah National Forest

Linville Gorge Wilderness Area

Wilson Creek Wilderness Area

About the Author:

 

BESTSELLING PARANORMAL THRILLER AUTHOR MICHEAL RIVERS won 1st Place Runner up at The Paranormal Awards 2014 and has won Supernatural Book of the Year 2012. His books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List several times and have hit #1 in Supernatural. He is a recognized authority as a paranormal investigator with over thirty years of experience and provides his readers with some of his experiences woven into his paranormal thrillers. He is the lead investigator for the Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers. His boxer Delilah affectionately known as DeeDee accompanies him occasionally on investigations.

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