What’s an adventure in South Carolina without a haunting? South Carolina’s most visited state park, Hunting Island, isn’t devoid of ghostly hauntings. In fact, many people have reported being visited by ghosts, or seeing apparitions at this park especially in the campground and along the sandy beach in front of the campground and lighthouse. Here’s all you need to know if you want to brave a stay at a haunted campground in South Carolina:

Flickr/m01229
Hunting Island State Park was created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Flickr/Dizzy Girl
However, the popular lighthouse on the island was first lit in 1875.
Flickr/m01229
And in fact, it was deactivated in 1933 - at about the time the state park was constructed. Did all the construction stir up some of the activity here?
Flickr/Jordi E
According to stories and/or first-hand accounts there are several hauntings surrounding the lighthouse and its park, including the campground.
Flickr/Charleston's The Digitel
One involves a lightkeeper who tried, but failed, to save a young boy from drowning. A child's laughter is sometimes heard along the beach here - in the absence of any children, of course.

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In addition, apparitions of the lightkeeper searching for the boy have been reported along the beach in front of the lighthouse.
Flickr/Dizzy Girl
Another legend involves a distraught lightkeeper's daughter who jumped from the top of the light and died.
Flickr/huan luong
Still more stories about this incident claim she landed on the second stair leading into the structure. People have used devices to measure paranormal activity at this set of stairs and have found mixed results, some showing positive signs of activity.
Flickr/Christopher Craig
Another first-hand account is from a woman staying in the campground who reports there was a knock on her camper door late one night, but she found no one there when she answered.
Flickr/Dizzy Girl
Others report hearing the ghost of a former lightkeeper banging on the door of the light, as if he's locked out and trying to get in.
Matt Richardson/Flickr
Hunting Island State Park is one of those places in South Carolina you'd expect to be haunted. The property and the state park are absolutely stunning. But with such an extensive history there is no doubt about the possibilities of encountering a ghost here.

Have you heard of other hauntings at this popular park and campground outside of Beaufort? And now that you know it’s haunted, will you spend the night here? If you’d like to, here’s the Hunting Island State Park webpage with more information.

If you love hauntings, you’ll love this haunted road trip through South Carolina ghost towns.

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Haunted Campground In South Carolina

Leah | September 25, 2020

What are the creepiest places in South Carolina?

If you're feeling up to visiting more haunted places in South Carolina, there are quite a few creepy spots you can check out. The Crybaby Bridge in Anderson, South Carolina has quite a lot of urban legends surrounding it. As you might be able to guess, it's said that you can hear the cries of a ghostly baby here, as well as see the apparition of a lost woman in white if you visit after dark. There is a cemetery in Graniteville, South Carolina that is said to be the most haunted in the state. If you're feeling brave, visit at night for the chance to see a witch ghost.

What is the most haunted place in South Carolina?

There are many South Carolina ghost stories out there that make many places in the state seem haunted, but which is the most haunted? Some would say that title would go to Fort Fremont. In this place, you'll find the ruins of an abandoned fort that was built in 1899. But the hauntings are said to come from times before the fort and may include everything from ghosts of Civil War soldiers to slaves. There are quite a few restless spirits that are said to linger here, and ghost hunters have recorded lots of spooky things here.

Can I visit any abandoned places in South Carolina?

After you've visited Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina, you can visit some other chilling spots that - ghosts are not - eerie because they're abandoned. In fact, you can even take an entire South Carolina Abandoned Places Road Trip with lots of spots you can visit for yourself. These spots range from creepy-looking abandoned pools to former mental asylums that are slowly decaying over time. Some of them are even beautiful, in a way, being overtaken by nature. Others will certainly send a chill down your spine.

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Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USA