Driving Down This Haunted North Carolina Road May Give You Nightmares
OnlyInYourState Staff
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If you grew up near the Rural Hall area, it’s very likely that you’ve heard some of the most famous urban legends in North Carolina that surround this area. The legend of Payne Road in NC is pretty legendary. A common activity for teenagers in the area is to test the infamous legends about Payne Road near Winston-Salem and take a drive down this North Carolina haunted road at night, just to see how scary the area is. I’ve done the drive, and let me tell you: it’s not for the faint of heart! This road is long, winding, dark, and feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. Decayed buildings, winding curves, and a certain presence in the air all manage to stay with you long after you’ve put the car in park and are safely at home. Some even report ghostly encounters on the road, and many swear to never drive down the path again.
This would've been bad enough, but Payne then found out that another of his daughters also had a relationship with the slave. After finding out this news, Payne completely lost it. He ended up murdering his entire family. He didn't stop there: he then set fire to the plantation, killing every slave on the land.
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The man gagged his wife and bound her to a chair in their living room. One by one, he had each of the children come downstairs and say goodnight to their mommy. Sadly, this was the last time, as he then took each child upstairs and slit their throats.
The wife was fully aware of the massacre that was happening. She found a way to work herself free from the constraints of the rope. While she was making her escape, her husband took their infant child to the well, as he decided that was the best method of execution for such a small baby. As he stood at the well, dangling the child over, the wife attacked her husband from behind, grabbing the baby from his grip. In a frenzy, she ran as fast as she could, but he caught her right at the bridge. He lopped off her head with his knife and then threw the baby into the well.
Finally, the man committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree. Legend says that if you go to the road today and whistle Dixie, the woman's ghost will appear, holding her head and approaching your car. People also report hearing the cries of a baby coming from the old well.
Need even more reason to believe in the ghosts of Payne Road in NC? Check out this EVP recording from YouTube user Brandon Milton:
You can also check out this video from YouTube user JoshG.tv that has even more legends about Payne Road:
Alright, I officially have goosebumps, and might be sleeping with the lights on! Have you driven down this haunted road in North Carolina before, or plan to now? Did you know the legend of Payne Road in NC? Creepy.
Why stop at one haunted road, when there are six other, equally creepy and terrifying roads to drive down in North Carolina? How many of these haunted roads in North Carolina have you traversed? Of course, just because a road is haunted doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for any possibility. Before embarking on any journey, check out our Road Trip Essentials Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for a good time!
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Payne Road Winston-Salem
What are some other haunted roads in North Carolina?
If learning the legend of Payne Road in North Carolina somehow sparked your curiosity to learn about other haunted roads in the Tar Heel State, read on.
- One of the most notorious haunted roads in NC is Heartbeat Bridge, where, legend says, several years ago, an innocent young girl was murdered. In a gruesome turn of events, her heart was said to have been cut from her body and thrown off the bridge by her killer. Today, the heartbeat persists. Even those not easily spooked find much discomfort here. As you approach the bridge, you'll begin to hear the sound of a beating heart in your ears. You might think it is just your own until the sound becomes excruciatingly loud. Several sources claim they were forced to leave the bridge due to the torment of sound.
- Another haunted road in North Carolina that's only for the bravest of souls is Chicken Alley in Asheville. While seemingly innocuous by day, come nightfall, you might see a strange, dark apparition lurking there. The ghost is said to be Dr. Jamie Smith, a physician in Asheville, who was stabbed in the heart after accidentally walking into a bar brawl at Broadway's Tavern. Spotted for over 100 years, the doctor stays true to his style. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a long, black coat. You can even hear the tip of his cane tapping against the street.
- Of course, if you want to experience a haunted road in North Carolina that's just plain bizarre, check out Richfield Road, AKA Gravity Hill. While some non-believers say Gravity Hill is simply an illusion, others adamantly defend the legend and the tragic story of Gravity Hill. It's said that one night on Richfield Road, a young mother and her child were driving and her car stalled. As she got out and attempted to push the car up the hill, a truck came along, hit, and instantly killed both mother and child. Today, put your car in neutral at the bottom, and you will be pushed up the hill. Also, if you put baby powder on your hood, you will see handprints when you get to the top. When it comes to North Carolina's haunted roads, Gravity Hill is at the top of the list.