Fall is finally settled in and Halloween is right around the corner, so that means Spooky Season is in full effect. And what better way to get in the spirit of things than diving deep into tales of apparitions, mysterious urban legends and other stories of all the things that go bump in the night.
Thrillist.com compiled a list of the "most haunted place" in every state, finding chilling locations like "old state hospitals, murder sites, homes with talking dolls, and hotels that are so disturbing, they've served as the setting for some of the most iconic horror movies."
According to the list, the most haunted spot in South Carolina is the Baynard Ruins (formerly Baynard Plantation) on Hilton Head Island, which has had reports of an eerie funeral procession at night. Here's what the site had to say about the reportedly most haunted spot in all of South Carolina:
"The South is crawling with ghosts, especially on former plantations — hoards of evil racist overseers, rightfully damned to roam the grounds for eternity. But unlike the historically preserved plantations offering tours around the region (an entirely different bag of worms), the Baynard Plantation is in ruins. The dilapidation itself is enough to get your stomach in knots, even before the creepiest part: Apparently, if you stick around at night, a freaky funeral procession for namesake William Baynard will pass by. Maybe you'll hear it. Maybe you'll see it or feel it. Either way, this place isn't known for its (living) repeat visitors."
Here are just a few interestingly spooky notes on the ruins.
1. Sightings of a Ghostly Figure: Many claims have been made of a shadowy figure moving through the ruins particularly at dusk. Some have identified this figure as William Eddings Baynard himself, the owner of the plantation who passed away in 1849.
2. Sensations and Encounters: Visitors and locals have reported feeling a cold breeze, an uncanny presence or uneasiness in certain parts of the ruins. Some claim they’ve felt as though they’re being watched, despite being alone at the site.
3. Apparitions on Photographs: Photos taken at the plantation have sometimes depicted ghostly figures or orbs of light that weren’t visible when the photo was taken. Though some might write these off as technical glitches or atmospheric conditions, many attribute them to supernatural phenomenon.
4. Stories of the Ghost Carriage: There have been tales of seeing a ghostly carriage in the area, said to be driven by the spirit of William Baynard himself, who supposedly lost his plantation in a poker game and has been “seen” around the property after his untimely death.
5. Folklore and Indigenous Beliefs: The local Gullah people have a spiritual belief system that includes ancestors and spirits of the deceased interacting with the living. This may lend credence to the claims of the haunted nature of the plantation for some.
If you have an interest in the unexplainable, or just an interest in history, be sure to visit the Baynard Ruins.
You can find the ruins in the community of Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, SC.
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