Mountain Ghost Stories and Curious Tales of Western North Carolina

by Randy Russell, Janet Barnett

For centuries, the mountains of western North Carolina have inspired wonder and awe. It was only natural that man, after gazing at such scenic wonders, would turn some of the mystery he felt into legend. Sometimes these legends attempted to explain natural phenomena, sometimes they attempted to explain an occurrence that appeared to be supernatural, and sometimes they grew up around the eccentric characters that were drawn to the isolation of these mysterious hills. This collection of eighteen stories presents some of the mystery and awe that the mountains convey, and it may alter your perception of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains forever. You may never stand atop Roan Mountain during a storm without thinking you hear a ghostly choir. You may gaze at the top of Chimney Rock during a hazy summer afternoon and wonder if it really is a ghostly cavalry fight you see. If you spend the night near High Hampton, you may find yourself listening for the call of the lonesome white owl. If you stand at Wiseman's View, you will probably think that you, too, can see the Brown Mountain Lights. Standing atop Clingman's Dome, you may wonder if there really is an enchanted lake where animals flock to heal their wounds somewhere in the valley below. And you will always wonder if the fly you hear on your mountain walk means that Spearfinger is lurking nearby. For several years, folklorists Randy Russell and Janet Barnett have taught a course about Southern folklore at the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Russell is also the author of several mysteries, including Edgar Award nominee Hot Wire . They live in Asheville, North Carolina.

Genres: Folklore, Paranormal, Nonfiction, Horror, History, Southern, Ghost Stories

122 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

Novelist. Ghost Lore. Ghostlorist.

Reviews

[Issac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more curious tales and folklore than ghost stories but I really enjoyed it. Learning about some places near my hometown was very cool and I'm going to actually try to visit some of them next time I'm home.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good collection of ghost stories and folk tales, but it's especially cool to learn about Appalachia since it's a short drive from my home. This book makes me want to go visit some of the areas spoken of and learn more about the legends... and photograph things like the Brown Mountain lights.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Joel Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the the Brown Mountain Lights chapter, I had no idea it was a thing and went down a fun YouTube reddit hole. A great mix of ghosts, lore, and history written in a storyteller's tone. Very enjoyable and it made for a great chapter a day book for October.

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has probably been my favorite read so far in 2024, and my unexpected favorite at that. I usually read novels, individual full stories. But I love history, I love ghosts, I love magic and mystery, and I LOVE the mountains. I live in a small town about 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, NC, but my family on my mom's side are mountain people, and I spent many a summer day and winter holidays and trips, vacations, and family reunions in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. I've been to Grandfather Mtn, Linville gorge and Linville caverns and several of the places mentioned in this small but precious book. My mom and her brothers, and their mother and father (my grandparents) went to Appalachian State University, and my maternal grandfather, Phillip C McGuire, was one of the "revenuers" (he went far in the ATF and retired in I believe the late '80s), I've been raised with pride in the mountains and where we come from, and although I live in the piedmonts of NC and spent most of my life here, the mountains are still home and a favorite place to be. I've decided that after my mom reads this book (once I told her what I was reading, she said she wants to read it once I was through!), I'll be keeping this book in my car to remind me to take the time out of day-to-day life to visit some of these places i have never seen (Brown Mountain/ Lights being up there on my list), and to revisit the places I have been, and know well, now with fresh eyes and with landmarks in mind and stories to tell my kids. The hidden gems and mysteries of the mountains are endless.

[Willow Redd · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book that identifies itself as one of "ghost stories," this collection of tales doesn't quite deliver. While the stories are interesting, many curious, but not quite as "ghostly" as one would hope, especially after I chose this particular book to end my October themed reading on.

Another point in the negative here is that many of the tales come from Cherokee legend with what appears to be any input from actual Cherokee sources. Add to this that the writers aren't even from North Carolina, and overall the book is a bit of a let down.

That being said, the tales gathered here are interesting and do inspire further investigation if you are interested in the fascinating legends of the NC Natives or other regional history. A bibliography for further reading would have greatly improved my ranking of this one for sure.

It's a quick read, and the tales of mountain men and curious quirks of the mountains are certainly worth a read, to me it's just a few too many steps removed from the source.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book won't be for everyone, I enjoyed it as it has history for my family, well to me at least. My grandpa, who is still kicking at 84, grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I was lucky enough to travel with him to North Carolina in 2007 and see where he came from, even if the house is only the remains of a chimney now. It is eye opening to see in person where your ancestors came from, and something I suggest everyone do at least once, even if its just across a state line. We are in Washington state, so it was a cross country flight to get there.

I also love folklore and ghost stories which this book brings. There are several tales from the areas and after traveling to many of the locales I can envision them while I read the book. The book is short and sweet and well worth the read.

[Gerrrrry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s more about folktales than ghost stories, so the title is a bit misleading, but I still found it enjoyable. There were historical nuggets from both White Southerners and the Cherokee tribe. It was nice to learn about both perspectives on different locations in Western North Carolina.

My favorite parts of the book were the Cherokee folktales. I don't know a lot about the Cherokee, so I was grateful to learn about some of their folktales. Overall, the casual writing made the book an easy read, though I did wish for more vivid descriptions or dramatic storytelling to bring some of the tales to life.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted GHOST stories.
This is a collection of legends and myths, mixed with some oral history of the mountain regions of North Carolina, put together by a husband and wife team.In my edition of the book, the wife's name,
Janet Barnett, was included as a co-author.
Anyway, as I mentioned - I was mostly somewhat bored.

[Brenda Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book so much! It was filled with such interesting stories & knowledge. My goal is to one day visit all of the places named in the book, to see & experience some of the unknowns discussed in these stories. I would definitely recommend reading this book before/ while visiting the Smokey Mountain National Park to add to the mystery & beauty of the mountains.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This makes a nice souvenir, but if you're looking for a collection of ghost stories there aren't many in this volume. To me the stories are folk stories, even though their are dates and sources referenced in many of the story.

[Tambra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had heard of some of these ghost stories or curious tales before. There were several I hadn't heard of too. The Brown Mountain Lights and the Boojum were some that I had heard about. I found them entertaining and curious.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book that contains many Cherokee legends about the area. It was very interesting and entertaining. For the first time, I learned about the Brown Mountain Lights.

[Henry]

My dad read these to me. I was sort of paying attention, mostly playing and not listening. He was talking in a funny accent, too. So silly, my old man

[Bob Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tales of local lore here in western NC!

[Emmy]

Just being honest...a little dry.

[Morgan Kinerk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read about the stories and myths surrounding so many of these places we've visited/gone hiking.

[Amy Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

been loving anthologies!!! especially about culture

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several stories that I had only heard of in passing growing up. And so much more, now I want to look up the Brown Mountain Lights.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection of stories.

[C. Patrick G. Erker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this book at Malaprop bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina, on a bachelor party trip. I like to read folk tales aloud to our son Henry and to record them for posterity's sake. This is a great collection of stories that's perfect for this, since the stories are engaging, intriguing, and about the right length (8-10 minutes when read aloud, I'd say).

I went to Duke University for college so have a special place in my heart for North Carolina (although I didn't get into the mountains nearly enough while there). These stories, gathered by a couple from Kansas City (another personal connection) who spent their honeymoon in Western North Carolina, are generally more curious tale than ghost story, title be darned. The Cherokees play a big role in many of them, although we often hear too of what these places are like today, which often means--sadly--stripped of much of the visible connections to the past.

If you're from North Carolina or you like the kind of mountains there, I think you'd enjoy this one!

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by Randy Russell and Janet Barnett, a married couple who went to North Carolina for their honeymoon. They liked the stories they learned so much that they decided to share them with others by writing a book. Some are ghost stories, others are myths, but all are very interesting.

The first story really drew me in. It was the story of an innocent accused of murder, and was later hanged for it, although there was really no proof he did it. Then, there are Cherokee tales, which being Cherokee myself, I really enjoyed them.

There is the story of the white owl, hermits and many others. It is a well-written book. I think peope who are interested in myths and stories about North Carolina will enjoy this.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is just one old legend after another, but don't get me wrong, some of these legends are intriguing and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the story of Spearfinger. The writing is good and flows nicely and I ran into no editing problems. Still, this book purports to be a book of ghost stories and that is what I bought it for. A much more appropriate title would have been "Cherokee Legends of Western North Carolina" or something like that. One story doesn't even bother to deal with a legend. It is just the story of a scalawag bushwhacker that people still remember and detest.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not what I expected at all. Mostly Cherokee myths, and a few tales about uninteresting hermits. Well written, but meandering and boring.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little book. Most of the stories are more legends than ghost stories but I still enjoyed the read, and because I set my own novels in this area, it was very helpful.

[Kris Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of folk tales, wouldn't call them scary. Quick read.

[Cierra Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved how the book was set up, with the different stories. Even though I did find it a little repetitive, the stories were okay.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only driven through a small portion of this area but was in awe of the scenic beauty. Now, having read some of the folklore, I really want to spend a little time there.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect reading material for a vacation near Chimney Rock!

[Casey Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*