Katie Rea Spiritual Direction 🌞

Connection through our spiritual journeys.

Tales of a Haunted Asheville, NC

An evening walk through Asheville’s ghostly past, where history and legend meet!

By Katie Rea — spiritual director, writer, and companion for those listening deeply to life as it

Tales of ghosts, Skinwalkers, vampires, and werewolves are just part of this walking tour in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you have the opportunity, I always encourage visitors to take a ghost walk. My husband and I enjoy learning about the history of a place just as much as we enjoy hearing the ghost stories.

These tours offer a unique blend of local folklore, fascinating historical details, and a fresh perspective on the city after dark. Watch out for ghosts!

My husband, two of our kids and myself at the beginning of the ghost walk tour.

We booked tickets for the Asheville Nighttime Walking Ghost Tour, which began at the Asheville Masonic Temple. Completed in 1915, the building carries both historical significance and quite a reputation for paranormal activity. During the influenza epidemic that began in 1918, the basement reportedly served as a temporary hospital and morgue as the city struggled with the devastating effects of the pandemic.

According to local lore, visitors can sometimes hear the laughter and giggles of ghostly children near one of the staircases. In more recent years, a wedding held at the Temple added another story to its haunted reputation. A photograph taken during the celebration appeared to capture the image of a childlike apparition reaching toward the wedding cake. Unlike many ghost stories that inspire fear, the spirits associated with the Masonic Temple are generally described as friendly and playful.

A ghost has been cited at this building behind our tour guide.

A man was said to have jumped from the top of this building. He haunts the area to this day.

One local politician reportedly lost the city’s money in the stock market. Rather than face the consequences and possible criminal charges, he took matters into his own hands. According to local legend, his restless spirit still haunts the area today.

The Grove Park Inn has its own collection of ghost stories. One of the most famous is that of the Pink Lady. She was reportedly an unregistered guest who fell from the fifth floor. Did she slip, or was she pushed? No one knows for certain. Guests and staff have reported seeing a pink aura or the apparition of a blonde woman dressed in a pink gown, believed to be the Pink Lady herself. She has a particular fondness for children. She seems to be a friendly ghost.

Then there is the more chilling tale connected to Trinity Episcopal Church on Church Street. According to the legend, if you walk by the church between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., you may encounter the ghostly figure of a nun. She is said to ask a single unsettling question: “Are you prepared for death?” Those who dare to look into her dark, empty eyes reportedly feel their energy drain away, causing them to weaken or even collapse. Whether fact or folklore, it is one of Asheville’s most haunting stories.

Helen’s Bridge is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman searching for her child. According to local legend, one driver swore they saw the form of a woman fall onto their car, only to disappear moments later. After hearing the stories surrounding the bridge, our tour guide offered some practical advice: if we decided to visit Helen’s Bridge, we should probably do it during the day.

And for the non-believers out there, take the tour anyway. You’ll have fun, learn some fascinating local history, and get a unique glimpse of everything downtown Asheville has to offer. Whether you come for the ghost stories or the historical insights, the experience is well worth the walk.