This Creepy Asylum In North Carolina Is Still Standing And Still Disturbing
OnlyInYourState Staff
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While one could easily be scared by ghosts, paranormal activity, witches…what have you, I’d like to believe that hands down, life is sometimes spookier than the unknown. Asylums in North Carolina have long been viewed in a negative light, and for the most part, would you really want to spend a night or weekend in one? While mental health is important, and many are able to benefit from treatment and even a temporary stay, some patients never leave. The story of Broughton Hospital in North Carolina is especially creepy.
From confining the mentally deranged and criminally insane to housing people who have committed some of the most horrific crimes…there’s a good reason asylums have such a scary and (crazy) bad rep. North Carolina is home to one that is considered extremely haunted, although no paranormal investigation has been done at this time. Wondering where?
During the 1920s the patient-to-physician ratio was 300-to-1 and increased to 500-to-1 by the '30s. The increase in those who needed mental help, and those who were able to serve them, led to desolate and abandoned environments for patients. Broughton has always been a 'behind closed doors' type of place, where those who have worked here are too scared to come forward about the events they've witnessed, except for a few.
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Her book is filled with bone-chilling stories. In an interview with Love To Know, she was asked about her scariest personal occurrence. Her answer?
"When I was in Bates Building all by myself one night. I had never had a fear of being there alone prior to that night. I was sitting at the conference room table looking over my time sheet and writing down my upcoming vacation days. All of a sudden, a woman's voice spoke in my right ear and called my name in a loud whisper, "Margaret!" It scared me so bad that it felt like an iron rod was shoved up my spine into the base of my skull. (I am sure that was my blood pressure shooting up.) I slowly rose from my seat and, almost as if in a daze, walked over to the desk, replaced the time book, and left the conference room. As I walked down the hallway to exit the building, I held my breath and kept looking behind me. At the door, I could not get my key in fast enough; it didn't want to go in! Finally, I got the lock turned, and out the door I went. I never went into that building alone again. It was an event I will never forget, ever."
While it can be hard to really research what truly goes on here, this YouTube video also gives you insights into the horror and history (plus some chills):
Pretty spooky if you ask me! Do you have any personal connections with Broughton Hospital in North Carolina or stories you want to share?
If a haunted, active asylum isn’t enough, the abandoned Stonewall Jackson Boys School is filled with a dark and eerie past. To see some creepy places up close, take a road trip to some of these abandoned places in North Carolina.
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More to Explore
Abandoned Places in North Carolina
What are the scariest places in North Carolina?
The scariest places in North Carolina include:
- Cry Baby Lane. There was once an orphanage nearby that burned down with children inside and their screams are said to still be heard here.
- The Devil’s Tramping Ground. There is a circular patch of ground 40 feet in diameter where nothing grows and the land is always bare.
- Payne Road. Now named Edward’s Road, this area was the site of several violent atrocities and locals have reported all kinds of paranormal activity.
- Brown Mountain. Travelers claim to see strange glowing shapes here with many rumors as to their origin, including aliens, spirits, and marsh gas.
Discover more about the scariest places in North Carolina.
What are the most chilling abandoned places in North Carolina?
The most chilling abandoned places in North Carolina include:
- Stonewall Jackson Reform School in Concord. Most of the furniture here is still in place. This is where troubled teens were once abused.
- Family Inn of America in Rowland. A tornado swept through this place and the dilapidated rooms are exposed to the elements.
- Henry River Mill. This ghost town is so chilling that it was used as a backdrop in The Hunger Games.
- Coast Guard Station on Pea Island. This decaying ruin sits on the dunes and is a favorite for local urban explorers.
Find out more about the most chilling abandoned places in North Carolina.
What are the creepiest ghost towns in North Carolina?
The creepiest ghost towns in North Carolina include:
- Judson. When the Fontana Dam was built, this town became submerged and when the lake is low, the roofs of some buildings stick out of the water.
- Mortimer. This was a booming mill town but a massive flood forced everyone to abandon their homes, and the husks of buildings can be found here.
- Brunswick Town. This was the site of many battles during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and the damaged remains can be explored.
- Cataloochee. There are decaying ruins all over this wilderness that were once part of pilgrim settlements.
Learn more about the creepiest ghost towns in North Carolina.