North Carolina claims to be the home of many things. From one of the first attempts to colonize America via the Lost Colony in the late 1500s to the Wright Brothers attempts at air transportation in the 20th century, North Carolina boasts a rich historical background. However, a person traveling to North Carolina may also be interested in visiting some of the states renowned haunted destinations.

Asheville. Located in the western North Carolina, Asheville is home to the infamous Biltmore Estate. Biltmore was constructed in the late 1800s for George Vanderbilt and is considered one of the largest homes in the United States.

Many people have reported seeing George Vanderbilts ghost in his beloved house. His favorite haunts seem to be the billiard and sitting rooms.

The pool room has also been the focus point of supernatural occurrences. Although the area is empty, some visitors have claimed hearing laughter and the sounds of swimming in the vicinity.

Not far from the Biltmore Estate is the Grove Park Inn. The sounds of laughter and talking from unoccupied rooms as well as cold spots, especially near room 545, are a frequent occurrence at the inn. The sightings of a lady wandering the inn are of particular interest. The lady, dressed in pink, is thought to be Zelda, the wife of famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Outer Banks. The Outer Banks, located on North Carolinas famed Atlantic coast shoreline, is not only a favorite tourist destination but also home to a number of apparitional sightings.

In 1812, a ship wrecked off the coast near present day Cape Hatteras Light House. The ghost of a woman who drowned during the shipwreck can be seen wandering the shores at night. Some people have also claimed to have heard screaming and shouting coming from the nearby waters.

Raleigh. Raleigh is one of North Carolinas largest cities and also the states capital. A number of ghostly encounters have been reported from various locations throughout the city.

A person traveling near the Old Bridge may hear the sounds of children in the vicinity. Legend has it that if a person crosses the bridge around midnight, his or her car will inexplicably cut off. The vehicle will refuse to start until after the childrens voices have faded. Afterwards, not only will be the vehicle start, but the childrens handprints will appear on the outside.

The Old Field House and Spring Hill House is located at the Raleigh campus of North Carolina State University. Unexplained footsteps have been reported in the Old Field House as well as shadowy figures that travel between rooms. People at Spring Hill House have noted the activation of motion detectors although there is no one in the vicinity.

Brown Mountain. Located in the Morganton, North Carolina area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Brown Mountain is known for the infamous Brown Mountain Lights. First reported by German engineer Gerard Wil de Brahm in 1771, the lights appear at different intervals and seem to move along the ridge of the uninhabited mountain. The lights seem to disappear when someone tries to climb the mountain.

Legend tells of a war between the Cherokee and Catawba Indian tribes hundreds of years ago. One explanation of the lights is that they are the female members of the tribe, searching endlessly for their husbands. Another legend tells of a mans never ending search for his daughter who is lost in the woods.

Wilmington. Wilmington is another North Carolina city that has seen its share of hauntings. The Bellamy Mansion and Old Maco Station are two of the more popular destinations.

The Bellamy Mansion was constructed in the mid 1800s for Dr. John Bellamy, his wife Eliza and their numerous children. The house is located in Wilmingtons historic district and showcases its exquisite architecture. There have been numerous sightings of various apparitions throughout the mansion. Reports of an elderly couple looking out of the second floor windows and a number of children watching from the corners of the home may prove that the Bellamys never left their beloved home.

The Old Maco Station is located near the railroad that runs through Wilmington. Legend tells that Joe Baldwin, a conductor on the railway, was struck by a train and killed in 1867. To this day, people claim to see a figure of a man swinging a lantern from his hand, hailing the incoming trains. Could it be that after 138 years, Joe Baldwin is still conducting the trains into and out of the station?