If South Carolina had a Haunted Places Hall of Fame this cemetery near Pawley’s Island would certainly be nominated. The legendary tale surrounding one single marker in this southern graveyard leads countless visitors to the site each year. Some arrive as mere thrill seekers in search of a true paranormal experience; others are insufferable romantics who identify with the soul the marker commemorates. No matter what brings you to this somber sight, there’s no denying the Alice Flagg grave is one of the most haunted graves in South Carolina.

Regardless of why they come, they're all in search of one person: Alice Flagg.
Flickr/simpleimsomnia
In approximately the mid-1800s Alice was taken in by her brother who owned an estate near Murrells Inlet. Their parents had died and the teen came under the care of her older sibling.
Soon after that she met and fell in love.
©Robin Jarvis/ OnlyInYourState
Her brother disapproved of the young man's social stature so the two dated in secret. At some point, Alice accepted a ring from her suitor and she kept it hidden from her brother on a ribbon tied around her neck.
But her brother discovered she was still seeing the man.
Flickr/Henry de Saussure Copeland Follow
So he sent her off to live in Charleston where some say she attended a boarding school. It was there that she became ill.
Her brother was a doctor and upon hearing she was ill he sped to Charleston by way of horse and carriage.
Flickr/keith ellwood
On the way back to Murrells Inlet she passed out from an illness that was probably Malaria. As he lay her in her bed she awakened just as he discovered the secret ring her love had bestowed upon her. He tore it from her neck and took it out and threw it into the marsh behind his house. Alice died soon after.

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Many believe it was the broken heart that pushed her over the edge causing her to give up.
TripAdvisor/csecrist95
We'll never know if she truly died of a broken heart, but you can visit Alice's grave at a church in Pawleys Island and decide for yourself.
A plain marker inscribed with her first name only can be found in the historic cemetery of All Saints Church in Pawleys Island.
Wikipedia/Eshelms
Alice has different sets of admirers: those that seek the ghost of Alice Flagg and those that mourn for the girl who died of a broken heart.
Both flock to this site where people have reported seeing the ghost of Alice Flagg roaming the cemetery in search of her lost love and her lost ring.
Flickr/Skye D.
She's often seen wearing the white gown in which she was buried.
Both groups of admirers bring special offerings to Alice's grave.
YouTube/SC Things
She's said to really love circular objects that resemble a ring. In fact, some say if you bring the right offering Alice will appear.

Take a daylight walk around Alice's marker in this video from YouTube user SC Things:

Alice Flagg was a real person whose story has enshrined her forever in the hearts of South Carolinians and visitors alike. Visiting this grave can be either a harrowing or rewarding experience depending upon how you feel about seeing a ghost. Would you be a thrill seeker or would you go to help Alice soothe her broken heart? Either way, don’t forget to bring an offering to Alice’s grave on Pawley Island. You wouldn’t want to make her angry.

More famous haunts are scattered around the Palmetto State. If you don’t like ghosts then you’ll want to stay off of the most haunted road in South Carolina after dark. However, if you do like the odd haunted adventure, take a look at this haunted road trip through South Carolina. Just make sure to check out our road trip packing list before you head out!

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More to Explore

Haunted Side Of South Carolina

Jackie Ann | September 05, 2022

What are the most haunted places in South Carolina?

There are so many haunted places in South Carolina, we’ve put together a road trip that’ll take you to the front door of some of the spookiest places in the Palmetto State. This road trip includes stops at:

  • Anderson’s Crybaby Bridge
  • Graniteville Cemetery
  • The mysterious Jacksonboro Light.

If you really want to go on a ghostly adventure, a visit to the Babcock Building, a former mental asylum, is an absolute must. There are plans to renovate the historic building and convert it into apartments ... think you could live here?

What are the creepiest cemeteries in South Carolina?

Cemeteries are often a paranormal hot spot, and there are several haunted cemeteries in South Carolina where you can potentially find yourself face-to-face with a spirit ... or something else. One of the most notoriously haunted cemeteries in the Palmetto State is:

  • Oakwood Cemetery, more commonly known as Hells Gate. This haunted cemetery earned this particular nickname due to the satanic rituals that occurred less than 10 years ago.

 

What are the most popular ghost stories in South Carolina?

One of the most popular ghost stories in South Carolina is the legend behind Crybaby Bridge in Anderson.

  • As the story goes, those who drive down the bridge at night report having unexplained car failure as the engine will just cut out for no reason.
  • Others have reported seeing the ghost of a woman crying out for her child.
  • In the eeriest of cases, some have even heard the ghostly cries of a baby, though no one is around.

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