The
Lodge on Lake Lure
This lodge is
right on Lake Lure in Hickory Nut Gorge and has the requisite beautiful and
peaceful lake views. It was built in 1937 as a memorial to George Penn, a
highway patrolman who was killed in the line of duty. The lodge was a retreat
for state troopers and their families for many years until it became a public
inn in 1990. The spirit of George Penn remains there still, having been seen
many times in room 4. Guests have
thought he was a real man who was in the wrong room until he left by walking
through a closed door! There are fifteen guest rooms. Breakfast, and sunset
cruises are included in the room rate. Lake Lure is about 25 miles southeast of
Asheville. Note: the inn is closed
for renovations until April 15, 2002. Rte. 1, Lake Lure, NC
800.733.2785
the
lodge on lake lure link
The
1859 Cafe, Hickory
The 1859 Cafe on 2nd
Avenue in Hickory, NC is haunted by a gentle blond woman. The house was built in
1859 by Henry Link to be both a home and a general store. No one knows who the
ghostly woman is, just that she is blond and wears a long white dress. She has
appeared in the dining room to waitresses relaxing there after their shifts. One
of the staff was cleaning the mirror in the women's restroom when she saw the
blond woman in the glass. Lights flicker a couple of times a week and some staff
think it's the ghost, but the owner is skeptical about this. She hasn't seen the
ghost, and there was a faulty power transformer where the electricity came into
the cafe. However, her husband took a picture of just the building for their
liquor license application, and when it was developed and enlarged, there was a
figure in the lower corner of it. It appears to be a fair haired young woman in
white, walking away from the building. The face is unclear. The 1859 Cafe is at
443 2nd Avenue SW, Hickory, NC (828)322-1859. The Cafe offers live music on
Saturday nights and has outdoor dining. Reservations are encouraged. They're
closed on Sundays.
Richmond Hill Inn, Asheville
This
luxury inn is located in the Blue Mountains and offers scenic views and
beautiful gardens. Built in 1889, the owners suffered the tragedy of
losing their 14 year old son to scarlet fever. The F. Scott Fitzgerald
room is the most frequent site of unexplained occurrences. The sound of a
ball bouncing or a wagon being pulled has been heard. The mother of the
family is also thought to haunt the inn. There are 36 rooms, ranging in
price from $205 -$515 per night. The room charge includes a full breakfast
for two, and afternoon tea. Phone: 888-742-4536.
Richmond
Hill Inn
Grove Park Inn
Resort & Hotel, Ashville
This massive granite resort
offers panoramic views of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. A luxury
resort with stunning spas the 510 rooms and suites as well as the dining also
carry a luxury price tag. But for those of you who want this level of
getaway with a chance of a ghostly encounter, ask for Room 545 and you may have
your own encounter with The Pink Lady. She is the spirit of a woman who
fell to her death in the 1920s from a balcony near room 545 to the floor of the
atrium two stories below.. Most often seen as a smoky cloud with a light pink
cast to it, she has been seen in the nightclub but is most active in the older
original section of the inn.
Guests in Room 545 have been
locked out of their room or had the bathroom door locked from inside. One guest
was alone, sitting on the bed making a phone call when he felt the other side of
the bed clearly sink down as if someone else had sat near him. Many guests feel
a cold brush of air and the children of some guests have talked about the nice
lady or lady in the pink dress who came in and visited with them. Overnight
stays start at $235 per person double occupancy in the value season,
basically January, February and March. An overnight stay starts at $295 per
person double occupancy in April, May, November and December and Peak season
pricing starts at $305 per person double for a nightly stay during
June-October. The Grove Park Inn Resort
is at
290 Macon Ave.
Asheville, NC 28804 Phone: 800-438-5800 Most (but not
all) guest rooms are non smoking. No pets.
