Haunted Real Estate on the Outer Banks

As home to the mysterious disappearance of The Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Graveyard of the Atlantic, not to mention pirate, the Outer Banks has no shortage of spooky places and rich history that make for great ghost stories and must-see haunted locations.

So, to embrace the spirit of Halloween and all things spooky, we’ve come up with a list of the most haunted real estate on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. From historic inns to popular restaurants to famous landmarks, if you visit any one of these popular locations, you may just bump into one of our famous spirits (or two).

Gather your closest ghouls and goblins as we share some of our island’s local folklore in our list of haunted real estate on the Outer Banks.

The Black Pelican Restaurant

Just one trip to the Outer Banks and you’ve likely heard of (or even visited) The Black Pelican Restaurant. But what you may not know about this Kitty Hawk, NC restaurant is that it used to be one of seven lifesaving stations along our coast. This particular station assisted in reducing mariners lost at sea or stranded on the shoals.

It is said that the leader of this lifesaving station, Captain James Hobbs, was said to have a short temper. In July of 1884, when he had had enough of insults directed at him by one of his surf man, T.L. Daniels, it is said that the Captain shot him. With no witnesses, it’s said that T.L. was supposedly buried at sea and Captain Hobbs  never tried for murder. To this day, T.L. can be seen roaming the restaurant.

Ghost Cat of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Hatteras Island is home to hundreds of years of history and mystery. It’s also home to the Ghost Cat at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Reported to be black and white and weighing around 15 pounds, visitors have reported seeing the Ghost Cat roam the grounds and inside the lighthouse. This spooky feline has even been known to rub against visitors' legs; however, should you reach to pet him, he will vanish. 

It is believed that the cat once belonged to one of the light keepers, and has remained at the lighthouse greeting visitors for several decades.

Bodie Island Lighthouse
Built in 1847, the Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced “body”) located in Nags Head, NC was abandoned in 1859 due to a poor foundation. And while the structure was rebuilt, the lighthouse met its demise during the Civil War when it was blown up in 1861 by retreating Confederate troops who feared the Union would use it to their advantage for navigation. 

But it’s not the actual lighthouse that stands haunted. The gate keeper's cottage, a white building located on the lighthouse grounds, is said to be haunted by a lingering spirit. Every day at 4:00 PM on the dot you can hear a loud knock from behind its large brick fireplace. No one knows what or who lies behind it. Gray Ghost haunts the shoreline during an impending severe storm or hurricane. The mysterious "gray" man was killed in the 1900s when an abrupt storm hit the beach during summer. He appears as a misty apparition and can oftentimes be caught on pier cams or seen silently walking the coast or roaming the lighthouses. 

The Roanoke Island Inn
Located in the quaint coastal town of Manteo, NC you’ll find the charming Roanoke Island Inn. Originally built as a private residence for Asa and Martha Jones during the 1860's, the Roanoke Island Inn is still owned by descendants of the original family. But don’t let this romantic historic inn fool you…as it’s said that ancestor, former owner, and Manteo postmaster, Roscoe Jones, is a frequent visitor. Legend has it that Jones was said to be extremely upset when he was fired as Postmaster. Feeling as if he had nothing to look forward to, Roscoe isolated himself in his room in the months following and passed away a short time later. Former employees and guests have reported seeing a man in postal uniform coming and going from the Inn along with moving window blinds as well as hearing radios turning on and off and footsteps along creaky floorboards.

The Pioneer Theatre
Just down the street from The Roanoke Island Inn is the nostalgic Pioneer Theatre—a single-screen theater loved by locals and guests alike. Built in 1918, the theater remains a landmark on Roanoke Island. 

But beyond the nostalgic feel, family-friendly movies, and cheap snacks, something eerie remains. If you ask some Roanoke Island locals, you’ll hear stories that this old movie theatre is haunted by a former owner that continues to watch over the place. Priding himself on being respectful of one another, there are numerous reports of a "force" or "spirit" knocking cell phones from visitors' hands while using them within the theatre.

Blackbeard’s Ghost
In the early 1700’s, Edward Teach—most commonly known as Blackbeard—was the most infamous pirate to sail the Virginia and North Carolina coast. Roaming the Atlantic from 1716 until 1718, robbing ships from the West Indies to the Carolinas, Blackbeard frequented the small island of Ocracoke—specifically a channel of water known as Teach’s Hole. This inlet was not only where the famous pirate anchored his ship, it is also reported to be the spot of his final demise.

While anchored at Teach’s Hole on November 22, 1718, Blackbeard was ambushed by a ship sent by Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood and commanded by John Maynard. After a ferocious battle, it’s said that Blackbeard “took twenty-five wounds” before his head was chopped off and hung from the bowsprit of Maynard's ship, while the pirate's headless body was thrown overboard.

It’s here—at Teach’s Hole—that some say Blackbeard's ghost remains. Many people have reported seeing a strange light moving beneath the water in the cove. This ghostly light is thought by some to be Blackbeard's spirit, swimming through the waters, searching for his missing head.

The Lost Colony’s White Doe
In 1587 there were over 100 men and women that traveled from England to Roanoke Island to establish the first English settlement in the new world. Known today as The Lost Colony, the settlement vanished without a trace, and even to this very day, the mystery still exists as to what exactly happened to those early settlers.

What we do know is that the first English child to be born in the New World was part of this legendary settlement. Stories say that Virginia Dare left the colony with the other settlers to live with the Croatoan Indians. During a heated dispute with a native witch doctor in the tribe, she was put under a spell and transformed into a white doe. To this day, the ghost of Virginia Dare still roams Roanoke Island in the eerie form of a white doe.

With over 500 years of history, the Outer Banks is full of mystery and legends, and these are just a few of the haunted locations that make our barrier islands so fascinating and great to explore not only during Halloween but all year. 

Looking for Outer Banks real estate that is a little less “inhabited?” Take the mystery out of buying and selling Outer Banks real estate, and make sure that you have the proper real estate team supporting you. Contact one of our Outer Banks real estate agents at Howard Hanna Outer Banks Real Estate. From Corolla to Nags Head to Hatteras Island, they’ve got the local expertise to help you with any of your OBX real estate needs.