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5 AUG 2026 · Is the Terrace Inn in Petosky, MI haunted? Welcome to the Ghostly Summer Rewind! While we take a short break from new episodes this summer, we're reaching back into the vault to re-release five of our favorite episodes. This one originally aired in spring 2023. There's no more fitting Rewind for a warm August night than a haunted summer inn on the shores of Lake Michigan. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, thanks for spending part of your summer with us. New episodes return this fall! In this episode Pat and Rebecca discuss and debate the history and paranormal stories at one of Michigan’s most haunted hotels. Or is it? Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including our bonus show, GhostlyX, which comes out on the opposite weeks of Ghostly. We talk about listener comments, share paranormal news, and talk to interesting guests, and cover extra ghostly stories. You can also get early access to Ghostly episodes, and a monthly AMA with Pat and Rebecca! Join today: https://ghostlypodcast.com/support/ Visit our website, http://www.ghostlypodcast.com/, to learn more about Ghostly, and, of course, give us your opinion on our polls. We want to hear from you! We want your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Sources for this Week's Episode https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/michigan/haunted-hotel-terrace-inn-mi/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petoskey,_Michiganhttps://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g42590-d90164-r151929580-Terrace_Inn_and_1911_Restaurant-Petoskey_Emmet_County_Michigan.htmlhttps://99wfmk.com/petoskeyterraceinn/https://www.theterraceinn.com/about-us/https://www.9and10news.com/2018/10/26/inside-the-haunted-terrace-inn-in-petoskey/https://www.theterraceinn.com/haunted-history.htmlhttps://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/article-6603-things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HblTMlqoDzUhttps://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/terrace-inn-and-1911-restaurant/https://www.106khq.com/ghosts-of-northern-michigans-past/https://issuu.com/northernexpress/docs/march20_document/s/21075777 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher https://www.gailgallaghermusic.com/
22 JUL 2026 · Was the Movie Poltergeist Cursed? Welcome to the Ghostly Summer Rewind! While we take a short break from new episodes this summer, we're reaching back into the vault to re-release five of our favorite episodes. This episode originally aired back in the summer of 2019. Quick heads-up: you may notice the sound quality and formatting aren't quite up to our current standards — we've learned a lot since then! We hope you'll excuse the rougher edges and just enjoy the story. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, thanks for spending part of your summer with us. New episodes return this fall! In Ghostly's seventeenth episode, Pat and Rebecca explore the curse of Poltergeist, the 1982 movie by Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper and its sequels. Legend says that the movie was cursed because of its dark subject matter and use of real skeletons in the original movie. Several actors suffered untimely deaths, including two of its main stars, Dominque Dunne and Heather O’Rourke. Other paranormal claims include lightening strikes, mechanical clowns attacking children, and an exorcism. Do all these events add up to a curse? As always, you the listener get to decide. Questions explored in this episode: What happened on the set of the Poltergeist movies that led people to believe it was cursed? What happened to Dominique Dunne? How did Heather O’Rourke die? What claims did JoBeth Williams, who played the mother make about the film? Did she and others experience poltergeist activity? What is a poltergeist? Why was there an exorcism performed on the set of the second movie? Is there a Poltergeist curse? Listen to hear Pat give a basic plot overview along with a brief history of the movie and the details of the deaths of two of the main stars, Dominque Dunne and Heather O’Rouke. WARNING: There are some graphic details of domestic abuse when discussing Dominque Dunne’s tragic death. If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit https://www.thehotline.org/ After the history, listen to Rebecca tell the ghost story of what it was like to work on the film. It is a terrifying tale that would be a nightmare for any actor – or anyone. Then listen to the Great Debate! Rebecca and Pat go through all the stories and evidence of the curse of Poltergeist, including the deaths, the almost deaths, and just all-around potential paranormal activity, and debate what’s true and what’s just folklore. Listen to all sides and decide what you believe. Be sure to stay for the whole episode to hear the “Closing Arguments” to help you make your choice before voting. Also included in this episode are, as always, poll results from our previous episode on Waverly Hills Sanatorium. (Check out the episode http://www.ghostlypodcast.com if you haven’t had a chance to listen yet). Done listening to the episode? Please subscribe to Ghostly and give us a rating on iTunes or any podcast app where they let you J. Tell your friends! Then you can debate the truth yourselves! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow our audience, so we can do all the amazing things we have planned for this year. And be sure to find us on all social media at Ghostly Podcast. Then visit our website, http://www.ghostlypodcast.com/, to see the pictures talked about in the episode, learn more about Ghostly, and, of course, give us your opinion on our polls on Facebook. We want to hear from you! We want your ghost stories or even your non-stories if you later realized you saw nothing paranormal. We would also love your suggestions for stories to cover in the future. Email us both at info@ghostlypodcast.com or individually at pat@ghostlypodcast.com or rebecca@ghostlypodcast.com Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at GhostlyPodcast Sources for this week's episode: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/poltergeist-cursehttps://www.ranker.com/list/victims-of-the-poltergeist-curse/melissa-brinks?page=3https://www.biography.com/news/the-poltergeist-curse-its-heeerehttp://www.the13thfloor.tv/2015/12/22/the-shocking-history-of-the-poltergeist-curse/https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Poltergeist-Curse-True-Story-37392582https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2015/05/poltergeist-curse-continues-to-haunt-people-in-real-life Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers Intro: III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles by Lowell Liebermann Outro: Dream Images (Love-Death Music) by George Crumb Bumper: Ghost Waltz by Lowell Liebermann
8 JUL 2026 · Is there Paranormal Activity Happening at Skinwalker Ranch? Welcome to the Ghostly Summer Rewind! While we take a short break from new episodes this summer, we're reaching back into the vault to re-release five of our favorite episodes. This episode originally aired in late 2021. Quick heads-up: you may notice the sound quality and formatting aren't quite up to our current standards — we've learned a lot since then! We hope you'll excuse the rougher edges and just enjoy the story. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, thanks for spending part of your summer with us. New episodes return this fall — but for now, back out to the strangest acres in America. Is there paranormal activity happening at Skinwalker Ranch? Considered one of the strangest places in the world, Skinwalker Ranch is filled with stories of UFOs, animal mutilations, orbs, shadow people, and even poltergeist activity. Also, of course, reports of attacks by Skinwalkers, beings who transform into animals. Special Guest Jack Chavez, founder of https://www.facebook.com/groups/896797017552270 joins us to help explain the ufology and cryptology of this highly charged location. How real are the stories? Listen and vote! Questions Explored in this Episode Where is Skinwalker Ranch? How did it get its name? What are Skinwalkers? Is the land cursed? Who has owned the land and who has lived on it? How many of the legends about the history of the land are true? What are the odd readings people get on instruments on the ranch? What do the UFO sightings look like? Did they actually happen? Do people believe there are ghosts on the land? What happened with the government and research on the ranch? Is it full of paranormal activity? Listener Mail This week’s listener mail is about a truly haunted Scottish cottage. Have a spooky story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to info@ghostlypodcast.com and we might read it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly! History of Skinwalker Ranch Pat explores the history the ranch. While legends abound about the history of this place, very little is documented. With every owner, more of Skinwalker ranch’s secrets have been revealed. The Debate Pat and Rebecca debate the paranormal evidence. UFO sightings, Skinwalker sightings, animal mutilations, voices, paranormal activity – this place has them all. Ghostly Gear New merchandise store right on our website at http://ghostlypodcast.com/store for all your Ghostly Gear! T-shirts, Hoodies, and Masks and more. We want to hear from you! We want your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Sources for this Week's Episode Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinwalker_Ranch History.com: https://www.history.com/shows/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch and https://www.history.com/news/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal-ufos-mutilation Legends of America: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/skinwalker-ranch/ Fandom.com: https://the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch.fandom.com/wiki/History_of_Skinwalker_Ranch Den of Geek: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-season-2-hitchhiker/ Tech Buzz: https://www.techbuzz.news/brandon-fugal-and-the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-on-the-history-channel/ KSL.com: https://www.ksl.com/article/50022431/supernatural-is-normal-at-utahs-infamous-haunted-skinwalker-ranch-6-essential-facts-to-know ABC27.com: https://www.abc27.com/news/skinwalker-ranch-possibly-the-spookiest-place-on-earth/ River City Ghosts: https://rivercityghosts.com/the-terror-of-the-skinwalker-the-native-american-boogeyman/ Daily Star: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal-hotspot-bigfoot-24956716 Austin Ghosts: https://austinghosts.com/skinwalker-ranch-a-paranormal-hotbed-few-know-about/ Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles”by Lowell Liebermann Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher https://www.gailgallaghermusic.com/
24 JUN 2026 · Is Alcatraz haunted? Pat and Rebecca dig into the ghosts, dark history, and chilling cellblock stories of America's most infamous prison. A Ghostly Rewind.
10 JUN 2026 · Is Leap Castle in County Offaly, Ireland Haunted? Tucked into the quiet farmland of County Offaly, just north of the small town of Roscrea, sits a castle that has been unsettling visitors for the better part of eight hundred years. Leap Castle has survived clan warfare, a brother murdering a brother mid-Mass, the discovery of a pit holding over 150 human skeletons, a civil-war burning, and decades as a roofless ruin. This week, Rebecca dives into the legends of the Bloody Chapel, the oubliette, the Red Lady, the ghost children Emily and Charlotte, the Governess, and the bizarre entity known only as "the Elemental," while Pat lays out the documented, true-crime-level history that makes this castle's reputation almost too easy to believe. Is Leap Castle genuinely haunted, or is eight centuries of trauma just doing a very convincing impression of a haunting? You decide. What We Cover in This Episode The History
- How Leap Castle got its name — and the legend of the brothers' deadly leap that decided who got to build it
- The O'Carroll succession war of 1532 and the murder of a priest at the altar of his own chapel
- The 19th-century discovery of a hidden oubliette beneath the chapel floor — and the three cartloads of human remains pulled out of it
- The 1922 burning of the castle during the Irish Civil War, and the fifty years it spent as a roofless ruin
- How the Ryan family rebuilt Leap Castle from a ruin into the private home — and haunted-tour destination — it is today
The Hauntings
- Evidence #1 — The Bloody Chapel: the apparition of the murdered priest, Thaddeus, and EVP recordings of murmured prayers
- Evidence #2 — The Oubliette: the pit of forgotten prisoners, and the theory that disturbing their remains "woke" the castle
- Evidence #3 — The Elemental: Mildred Darby's chilling first-person account of a grey, sheep-sized entity with a face unlike anything else in Irish folklore
- Evidence #4 — The Red Lady: the tragic spirit of an imprisoned woman, said to wander the upper floors in mourning
- Evidence #5 — Emily, Charlotte & the Governess: two ghost children and the nanny who still seems to be looking after them — and after blonde-haired guests
Vote As always, it's not up to us — it's up to YOU. After listening, head to our social pages and tell us: which piece of evidence convinced you, and which one did Pat manage to talk you out of? Genuine haunting, or centuries of trauma playing tricks on the imagination? Cast your vote and join the conversation. Music & Sound Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers. “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo. “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — http://gailgallaghermusic.com Support Ghostly Podcast Love digging into the world's most haunted locations with us? Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus investigations, and a say in which haunted location we cover next. Every pledge helps us keep the lights low and the questions coming. https://www.patreon.com/ghostlypodcast Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen — it's the easiest way to support the show and help other ghost-story lovers find us. Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_Castle
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=29
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=238
- https://lovetovisitireland.com/the-irish-castle-where-workers-found-three-cartloads-of-human-bones/
- https://irishhistory.com/architecture-and-monuments/castles/a-journey-through-time-the-intriguing-history-of-leap-castle-tipperary/
- https://www.europeanwaterways.com/blog/shannon-princess-leap-castle/
- https://www.connollycove.com/leap-castle-county-offaly/
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=169
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=41
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=189
- https://leapcastle.net/?page_id=203
- https://www.ireland.com/en-us/magazine/built-heritage/getting-spooked-at-leap-castle/
- https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/leap-castle-ghost-story
- https://emeraldisle.ie/the-most-haunted-castle-in-ireland
- https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/haunted-places/ireland/leap-castle
- https://hauntedsilence.com/haunted-castles/leap-castle-ireland-haunted/
- https://kinnitty.com/the-governess-of-leap-castle-county-offaly/
- https://celticelegance.com/exploring-the-paranormal-at-leap-castle/
- https://paranormalcasefiles.com/p/the-haunting-of-leap-castle-irelands
- https://www.spiritshack.co.uk/blog/haunted-places/leap-castle/
- https://myrealireland.com/offaly/leap-castle-co-offaly-irelands-haunted-castle/
- https://www.beyondthebizarre.com/post/716073346298724352/irelands-biggest-haunt-leap-castle
20 MAY 2026
6 MAY 2026 · Is the Dead Children's Playground in Huntsville, Alabama haunted? Episode Summary This week on Ghostly, we're heading deep into northern Alabama to the oldest and largest cemetery in the state, Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, and the small, unassuming playground tucked against its limestone bluff that locals call The Dead Children's Playground. Pat walks us through the cemetery's history, from John Hunt's 1804 cabin to the autumn of 1918 when the Spanish flu carried away hundreds of Madison County's children. Rebecca brings the swings that move on their own at midnight, the little boy in suspenders nobody else could see, the spectral carriage of Governor Thomas Bibb, the rocking chair ghost of Mary Chambers Bibb, and the silent Lady in White who drifts between the 1800s headstones. This episode was inspired by our most recent Book Club pick — The Dead Children's Playground by James Kaine, the first book in his American Horrors series. Featured Book — The Dead Children's Playground by James Kaine A #1 bestseller in U.S. Horror on Amazon. BookLife by Publishers Weekly called it a story that "will chill readers to the bone." Kaine based the entire novel on the actual legend at Maple Hill — and after this episode, you'll never look at that playground the same way again. The story centers on two sisters: Kylie (9, a cancer survivor with a quiet bravery) and Kayla (19, an angry older sister who lost herself in years of her family's fight to keep Kylie alive). When the family relocates to Huntsville for a fresh start, something old and sinister begins to stir near the playground at the edge of Maple Hill Cemetery. https://ghostlypodcast.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dc85ab703b9d2e67a1f473914&id=087b21bb5e&e=9ebad4ad3a In This Episode Pat's History Notes
- The founding of Huntsville — John Hunt's 1804 spring, LeRoy Pope's failed attempt to name the town "Twickenham," and the 1822 purchase of two acres that became Maple Hill
- The first burial: infant Mary Frances Atwood in 1820
- A who's-who of Maple Hill: 5 Alabama governors, 5 U.S. senators, 10 members of Congress, Albert Russel Erskine of Studebaker Motors, suffragist Priscilla Holmes Drake, and baseball's Don Mincher
- 187 unknown Confederate soldiers buried in the northern section — most killed by disease in training camps, not battle
- Autumn 1918: the Spanish flu in Huntsville, the Birmingham News reports of a "desperate situation," and the rows of small headstones with lambs carved on top
- The rise of the Dead Children's Playground next to the lower section of the cemetery
- A short, careful primer on the difference between Hoodoo (a folk magic practice rooted in the African American South) and Vodou/Voodoo (a religion born in West Africa and shaped by Haiti)
Rebecca's Paranormal Evidence
- The Self-Swinging Swings — decades of reports of swings moving in rhythmic sync on windless nights, plus three first-person comments from visitors (2020, 2020, and 2023) sourced from Alabama Haunted Houses
- The Boy in Suspenders — a haunting YouTube comment from @thomasplouffe1363 on FOX54 News Huntsville's video, describing a child playmate his mother insisted was never there
- Governor Thomas Bibb's Moonlight Carriage Ride — a spectral carriage and white horses returning to a grave that should never have been moved
- Mary Chambers Bibb — The Rocking Chair Ghost — buried in her wedding dress, sitting up in her rocker, and answering knocks at her crypt
- The Lady in White — the silent figure drifting through the 1800s section of Maple Hill
Music Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers "Pat Facts" and "Ghost Story" themes by Mondo "Time for a Debate" theme by Gail Gallagher — http://gailgallaghermusic.com Support the Show Love what we do? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content. Every pledge helps us keep digging up the dead. https://www.patreon.com/ghostlypodcast And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. It's the best way to help other believers and skeptics find the show. Show Notes & Sources Maple Hill Cemetery — History & Overview
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_Hill_Cemetery_(Huntsville,_Alabama)
- https://hvilleblast.com/maple-hill-cemetery-is-an-alabama-treasure/
- https://thebamabuzz.com/9-historic-huntsville-burials-in-maple-hill-cemetery-bonus-famous-burials/
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=28791
- https://huntsvillehistorytours.org/mhc/
- https://cityblog.huntsvilleal.gov/maple-hill-cemetery-stroll-brings-huntsville-history-life/
- https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/leroy-pope/
Dead Children's Playground — Legend & Hauntings
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dead-children-s-playground-2
- https://www.alabamahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/dead-children-s-playground-at-maple-hill-cemetery.html
- https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/maple-hill-cemetery-and-the-dead-childrens-playground/
- https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/features/the-dead-childrens-playground-fact-ficton/525-b1c644ee-d957-4031-8971-824b5f6adce2
- https://wearehuntsville.com/maple-hill-cemetery-most-haunted-places/
- https://www.southernspiritguide.org/at-play-in-the-field-of-the-dead-huntsville-alabama/
- https://wearehuntsville.com/the-moonlight-ride-at-maple-hill-a-huntsville-ghost-story/
- https://www.rocketcitynow.com/video/news/local/haunted-huntsville-the-dead-childrens-playground/525-d88c6108-1ac4-4f3b-ae0e-b6790f6b486f
- https://hvilleblast.com/the-startling-story-of-mary-chambers-bibb/
The Dead Children's Playground — Book by James Kaine
- https://ghostlypodcast.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dc85ab703b9d2e67a1f473914&id=087b21bb5e&e=9ebad4ad3a
Hoodoo & Voodoo — History & Origins
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(spirituality)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Voodoo
- https://www.ulc.org/ulc-blog/voodoo-vs-hoodoo-whats-the-difference
- https://voodooneworleans.com/about-house-of-voodoo/louisiana-voodoo/
- https://www.frenchquarter.com/true-history-faith-behind-voodoo/
- https://louisianavoodoo.com/what-is-hoodoo/
- https://strangeandtwisted.com/blogs/stories/the-shadowed-heart-of-new-orleans-unraveling-hoodoo-voodoo-and-the-enduring-mysticism-of-louisiana-witchcraft
Hashtags #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedAlabama #MapleHillCemetery #DeadChildrensPlayground #Huntsville #ParanormalPodcast #GhostStories #SouthernGothic #HauntedHistory #JamesKaine #AmericanHorrors #BookClub #1918FluPandemic #ThomasBibb #SpiritsOfAlabama #TrueHauntings #SkepticVsBeliever
22 APR 2026 · In this episode of Ghostly Podcast, we travel to the salt-marsh shores of South Carolina’s Lowcountry to explore the legend of The Gray Man of Pawleys Island — one of America’s most famous (and most benevolent) ghosts. Just a quarter mile wide and three miles long, this barrier island south of Myrtle Beach has fewer than two hundred year-round residents — yet for three centuries it has drawn presidents, generals, millionaires, and movie stars. And for more than two hundred years, a solitary figure in gray has been spotted walking its beach in the hours before a hurricane makes landfall. He doesn’t haunt. He doesn’t frighten. He warns. And those who listen almost always return to find their homes untouched — sometimes the only ones left standing for miles. A Brief History of Pawleys Island
- The land was home to the Waccamaw and Winyah peoples for more than 10,000 years before European contact; Spanish explorers arrived in 1521, bringing disease, enslavement, and devastation. The Winyah were gone within two centuries. Waccamaw descendants still live in Conway, South Carolina today.
- Percival Pawley received colonial land grants on the island in 1711; his family sold parcels to wealthy rice planters looking for a summer retreat.
- By the early 1800s, Pawleys was the summer escape for the Alstons, Allstons, Tuckers, Wards, and Westons — the great planter families of Georgetown County. By 1860, Georgetown County was producing more rice than anywhere in the world outside of Calcutta.
- That wealth was built on the brutal labor of enslaved people working waist-deep in malarial rice fields while planter families fled to the island for the sea breeze.
- On April 28, 1791, George Washington spent the night on Pawleys Island during his southern tour, en route to visit the Alstons on the Waccamaw River.
- Beginning in 1905, financier Bernard Baruch assembled 14 former plantations into his 16,000-acre Hobcaw Barony north of Georgetown. His guests included Winston Churchill (1932) and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who spent four weeks there in the spring of 1944 — the longest vacation of his presidency.
- In 1986, residents incorporated as a town and banned commercial development. The motto: “Keep Pawleys as it is.”
- The Notebook (2004) was filmed largely in Georgetown County, drawing on the same marshes and old plantation land that gave the region its timeless feel.
The Storm That Started a Legend In September of 1822, a massive hurricane tore through the coast, killing around 300 people in what are now Horry and Georgetown Counties. University of South Carolina climatologist Cary Mock has described the destruction as comparable to Hurricane Hugo in 1989 — one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region’s history. Out of that storm came a story that Pawleys Island still talks about today: a young man riding home to see his fiancée, caught in the thick pluff mud of the marsh, drowned before he could reach her. Not long after, she saw a figure on the beach — dressed in gray, the very image of her lost love. He told her to take her family and leave. She listened. Her home was one of the few that survived the storm. The Gray Man legend was first put into print by Julian Stevenson Bolick in his 1946 book Waccamaw Plantations and expanded in his 1956 ghost story collection. Who Is the Gray Man? Three Competing Identities Theory 1 — The Drowned Suitor (1822): The classic version. The young man who died in the pluff mud trying to reach his fiancée before the storm. Most ghost historians consider this the original and most credible version. Theory 2 — The Confederate Soldier: A Civil War soldier who somehow crossed back to warn his family of an approaching storm. They evacuated and survived — only to receive a telegram days later saying he had died on the battlefield weeks earlier. The timeline doesn’t line up with the 1822 first sighting, but that almost makes the legend more interesting: locals kept rewriting him into new eras. Theory 3 — Plowden Weston: A real historical figure, born 1819, a Georgetown rice-plantation aristocrat who owned the land that is now the famous Pelican Inn on Pawleys Island. He dressed his men in gray uniforms — unusual for the time — and died young of tuberculosis before the Civil War ended. Local lore says his gray-clad spirit still walks the shore. A footnote: the co-owner of the Pelican Inn has pointed out that Weston would have been a child at the time of the 1822 sighting. But nobody said ghosts have to follow timelines. Famous Sightings & Storm Warnings
- 1822 Hurricane — The first recorded sighting; the fiancée of the drowned suitor is warned and her home survives.
- Hurricane Hazel (1954) — A young woman walking the beach recognizes her deceased lover in the gray figure approaching her; he warns her to leave, and her home is spared.
- Hurricane Hugo (1989) — Jim and Clara Moore encounter a man in gray on the beach who vanishes as they raise a hand in greeting. Their home survives virtually unscathed. Their story airs on NBC’s Unsolved Mysteries on October 31, 1990, bringing national attention to the legend. A second Hugo account from Arney Love describes a figure mistaken for Arney’s father watching from a lookout on an empty property — their house was also spared.
- Hurricane Florence (2018) — Multiple tourists and locals report sightings on the north end of the island. A local photographer taking pre-storm shots later discovers a misty gray shape repeating across consecutive frames at the same spot on the beach.
- Hurricane Ian (2022) — Another round of reported sightings before landfall.
- Hurricane Idalia (2023) — WPDE meteorologist Ed Piotrowski shares a photograph on his Facebook page from Pawleys Island the day Idalia hit. On the left side of the image, at the waterline: an indistinct, gray, solitary figure.
Reported Paranormal Activity
- A solitary figure in a gray coat and hat standing at the waterline.
- Sudden cold pressure in the chest or air when the figure turns toward witnesses.
- Disappearances without footprints, splashes, or any physical trace.
- Misty gray shapes appearing in photographs taken before major storms.
- A consistent message across 200 years: leave now, a storm is coming.
Unlike almost every other ghost in American folklore, the Gray Man protects. Those who heed his warning consistently report returning home to find their property untouched — even when surrounding homes are destroyed. The Protective Promise Across every version of the legend — the drowned suitor, the Confederate soldier, Plowden Weston — the outcome is always the same: he appears before a storm, he delivers a warning, and if you listen, your home is saved. Not just your life. Your house. The thing you built. The thing that holds your memories. After 200 years of watching people he couldn’t save, he keeps coming back to try again. Still Standing Pawleys Island today looks much as it always has. The old cottages of cypress and pine still sit along the shore. No chain restaurants, no big hotels — the town meant it when it said it wanted to keep the island as it is. And every time a storm starts to build out over the Atlantic, a few people still make their way down to the beach. Not just to watch the sky. But to see if anyone’s walking along the shore in gray. Just in case. Listen now: https://ghostlypodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think the Gray Man of Pawleys Island is truly haunted? Cast your vote at https://ghostlypodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us — do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #GrayMan #PawleysIsland #SouthCarolinaGhosts #Lowcountry #HauntedBeach #HurricaneHistory #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: https://ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters — and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number: (312) 869-9929 Music Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — https://www.gailgallaghermusic.com/ Sources for this week’s episode The Gray Man Legend
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gray_Man_(ghost)
- https://gardenandgun.com/articles/who-is-the-gray-man-get-to-know-hurricane-seasons-friendliest-ghost/
- https://www.counton2.com/haunted-history/haunted-history-the-gray-man-of-pawleys-island/
8 APR 2026 · Perched on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Main Street in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho, the Egyptian Theatre has been captivating audiences since 1927. Modeled after the newly discovered tomb of King Tutankhamun and decorated from floor to ceiling with hieroglyphs taken directly from the ancient Book of the Dead, this grand movie palace was practically built to be haunted. Today it operates as a beloved performing arts venue and historic landmark — but many believe something from the past never left the projection booth. In this episode, Pat and Rebecca explore the history and hauntings of the Egyptian Theatre, widely considered the most haunted building in Boise. History of the Egyptian Theatre By the early 1920s, Boise had outgrown its rowdy frontier image and was eager to establish itself as a city of culture and refinement. Local businessman Leo Falk saw an opportunity and commissioned prominent Boise architect Frederick C. Hummel of the firm Tourtellotte & Hummel to design a grand picture palace. The timing was perfect — the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb had set off an Egyptian revival craze across the country, and Falk embraced it fully. The result was a stunning 850-seat theater decorated with lotus bud pillars, gilded scarabs, sphinxes, and murals copied from the Book of the Dead. The Egyptian Theatre opened on April 19, 1927 with a showing of John Barrymore’s silent film Don Juan, accompanied by the theater’s original Robert-Morton pipe organ — which still stands beside the stage today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, narrowly escaping demolition during Boise’s urban renewal era thanks to an anonymous donor and later the preservation efforts of businessman Earl Hardy. A full restoration was completed in 1999, returning the theater to its original Egyptian glory. Today the Egyptian is the last remaining single-screen downtown theater in Boise and one of the few surviving movie palaces from the silent film era in the entire country. Reported Hauntings & Paranormal Activity Visitors, staff, and paranormal investigators have reported decades of unexplained activity throughout the theater. Joe the Projectionist The most well-known spirit at the Egyptian is believed to be a former projectionist named Joe, who worked at the theater from the late 1920s until he suffered a fatal heart attack on the stairs leading to the projection booth in the 1950s. Staff and visitors regularly report doors opening and closing on their own, lights flickering or switching on and off, strange sounds, and unexplained aromas drifting through the auditorium. The Shadow in the Projection Booth During a formal paranormal investigation, a researcher standing on the stage looked up toward the projection booth and saw the dark silhouette of a man staring down at him. When he went to check, the door was locked — and no one on the team had a key. Back on the stage, a detection device showed the distinct outline of a man standing directly beside him. The same investigation also captured a disembodied laugh and multiple reports of being touched on the shoulder. The Ouija Board Incident A former theater manager recounted that she and friends used a Ouija board in the hallway after closing. The moment they began, the planchette shot to “no” — and the projection room door slammed shut as every light in the building went out. Years later, her daughter visited the same hallway and watched her drink tip over on its own with no explanation. The Ceiling Collapse On November 27, 2016, during a Brothers Osborne concert, a large piece of the theater’s ceiling crumbled and crashed onto the stage, narrowly missing the band. It happened a second time that same night. The theater had been fully restored just years before, and no structural cause was identified. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen Now Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think the Egyptian Theatre is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us — do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedTheater #EgyptianTheatre #Boise #IdahoGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters — and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number: (312) 869-9929 Music Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — https://www.gailgallaghermusic.com/ Sources History
- https://egyptiantheatre.net/about/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian_Theatre_(Boise,_Idaho)
- https://www.idahoarchitectureproject.org/properties/egyptian-theater/
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/boise-egyptian-theatre
- https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/332
- https://history.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Ada_Theater_74000724.pdf
Hauntings & Paranormal
- https://www.idahohauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/egyptian-theatre.html
- https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/egyptian-theatre/
- https://ghost.hauntedhouses.com/idaho_boise_egyptian_theatre
- https://localwiki.org/boise/Haunted_Downtown_Boise_Tour
- https://www.letsgoboise.com/haunted-places-boise-idaho/
- https://visitidaho.org/travel-tips/9-haunted-attractions-see-idaho-halloween/
- https://1035kissfmboise.com/haunted-idaho-ghost-inside-the-egyptian-theater/
- https://usghostadventures.com/boise-ghost-tour/
- https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-stories/episodes/boise-theater
- http://boisehelp.boiseghost.org/2012/10/boise-as-seen-on-tv-ghost-adventures.html
- https://kezj.com/ixp/97/p/a-shoulder-tap-at-idaho-theater-could-be-from-dead-projectionist/
- https://ghostlypodcast.com/episode/egyptian/
11 MAR 2026 · In this episode of Ghostly, we look at Charleston, South Carolina to explore the dark legend of John and Lavinia Fisher, the infamous owners of the Six Mile Wayfarer House. Often described as America’s first female serial killer, Lavinia Fisher has become one of the most notorious figures in American ghost lore. But how much of her story is true… and how much has been shaped by legend? After their arrest for highway robbery in 1819, John and Lavinia Fisher were imprisoned in Charleston’s Old City Jail and executed in 1820. Over the years, stories about their crimes — and their restless spirits — have grown into one of Charleston’s most famous hauntings. Today, visitors claim Lavinia Fisher still roams the halls of the Old City Jail, and her presence may also linger along the lonely road where the Six Mile Wayfarer House once stood. The Six Mile Wayfarer House The Six Mile Wayfarer House was an inn located just outside Charleston along a major road used by travelers entering the city. According to local legend, John and Lavinia Fisher ran the inn and secretly worked with a gang of highway robbers. The story goes that Lavinia would charm travelers into staying the night and offer them tea. After they went to sleep, the victims were supposedly murdered and robbed. However, historians have questioned parts of this legend. Some research suggests the Fishers were convicted only of highway robbery, not murder, and the number of bodies supposedly found near the inn may have been exaggerated over time. Regardless of the historical debate, the story of the Fisher couple quickly became part of Charleston folklore. Lavinia Fisher’s Famous Last Words On February 18, 1820, John and Lavinia Fisher were publicly executed outside Charleston. Legend says that as Lavinia stood on the gallows she defiantly told the crowd: “If you have a message you want to send to hell, give it to me, and I’ll carry it.” Whether these were her exact words or not, the dramatic quote helped cement her reputation as one of Charleston’s most infamous figures. Hauntings at the Old City Jail Charleston’s Old City Jail operated from 1802 to 1939 and housed criminals, pirates, and prisoners awaiting execution. With such a violent history, it has become widely known as one of the most haunted buildings in South Carolina. Among the many reported spirits, Lavinia Fisher is said to be the most frequently encountered. Reported paranormal activity includes:
- Sightings of a woman in white believed to be Lavinia Fisher walking the halls of the jail
- Apparitions appearing near the cells where the Fishers were once held
- Visitors feeling pushed, scratched, or touched by unseen forces
- Sudden choking sensations or shortness of breath on the staircase
- The sound of the old dumbwaiter moving between floors, even though it no longer operates
- Ghostly voices captured during paranormal investigations
Some investigators have even claimed that when asking spirits questions inside the jail, a voice responded with the word “devil”, echoing Lavinia’s legendary final statement. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen now: https://ghostlypodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Sterling Hill Mine is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls
Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: https://ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you're a believer, NO if you're a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher https://www.gailgallaghermusic.com/ Sources https://www.tamedwild.com/a/blog/ghost-stories-the-six-mile-innhttps://luxurysimplifiedretreats.com/a-haunting-in-charleston-the-legend-of-lavinia-fisher/https://fairweatherlewis.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/the-killer-innkeepers-of-six-mile-house/https://nightlyspirits.com/a-charleston-ghost-story-the-ghost-of-lavinia-fisher/https://hauntedus.com/south-carolina/old-charleston-jail-hauntedhttps://www.hauntedrooms.com/south-carolina/haunted-places/old-charleston-jailhttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/https://www.murderbygaslight.com/2010/10/legend-of-lavinia-fisher.htmlhttps://www.southerngothicmedia.com/lavinia-fisherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavinia_Fisher
Seekers of the Truth in Ghost Stories
Information
| Author | Harrington |
| Organization | Harrington |
| Categories | History , Philosophy , Comedy |
| Website | GhostlyPodcast.com |
| info@ghostlypodcast.com |
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