Ghostly Happenings in Alabama

Haunted by Sarah

Located in Tuscaloosa, Drish House is among the most haunted places in the US. This stately home was built by Dr. John R. Drish for his new bride, Sarah, in 1835. They had lived in the home for 32 years when John drunkenly fell down the staircase and died. His spirit might still be around, but mostly the home is haunted by his wife, Sara, who even after death refused to leave because her family failed to honor her funerary wishes. Today this manor is used for weddings and celebrations, but that has not kept Sarah away. If you look up at the third-story tower, you might get a glimpse of the lady of the house. Perhaps she enjoys taking part in the celebrations.

Haunted Barracks

Located near Orange Beach, Fort Morgan was completed in 1834 and was used as Mobile, Alabama’s main line of defense during the Civil War. Now the old barracks is the most haunted of spaces. Visitors have claimed to see orbs in photos, hear disembodied footsteps, and even feel the touch of cold fingertips.

Disembodied Voices

The Jemison Center is located in Northport, Alabama. It was formerly known as the Old Bryce Hospital and now is an abandoned mental health facility. This building was first built during the Segregation Era and was an “insane asylum." Here African Americans were forced into slave labor and worked in the fields surrounding the hospital. The facility closed in 1977, but you can hear disembodied voices, the slamming of doors, and the sounds of footsteps if you explore.

The Screaming Lady

Located in Camden, the Gaines Ridge Dinner House has been serving diners since 1985. (pictured above) This restaurant is housed in a mid-1800s antebellum home, originally built in the late 1820s. It is famous not only for its upscale Southern cuisine but also for its ghostly tales and paranormal activity. Reports of ghostly encounters, including sightings of a "screaming lady," have been shared by both diners and staff. The establishment is featured in various ghost tours and is part of Alabama's Ghost Trail.

Spirits Don’t Rest in Peace

The ghosts are restless in Huntsville at the Maple Hill Cemetery. It was founded in 1822 and is the oldest and largest burial place in the state. Visitors can enjoy guided tours.

Be sure to say hi to Mary Bibb, a popular spirit who will knock back if you knock on her mausoleum wall. You’ll hear the creak of the rocking chair she was buried with.

Take a walk to Maple Hill Park or Dead Children’s Playground, where the spirits of buried children like to play after the sun sets. Their laughter can be heard.

Haunted Hiking Trail

You’ll find Nancy’s Mountain Trail in Haines Island Park outside of the city of Franklin. The park is known for its birding and hiking trails and pine trees. The legend of Nancy Mountain is the story of a family whose son enlisted to fight in the Civil War. Tragedy struck when the son was killed in battle, but his body was never recovered. So Nancy took a lantern and went looking for her beloved son along the trails. She kept doing this until she passed away, and now even after death, people here have seen a woman holding a lantern along these trails, still searching.

The Spirit of Clifford and Objects Moving on Their Own

You can find accommodations at the newly renovated Redmont Hotel in Birmingham if you don’t mind sharing with ghostly spirits. The hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in the 1920s and purchased by Clifford Stiles in the 1940s. Clifford chose to stay around his hotel even after death. Overnight guests can see doors open and close on their own, their baggage changing places, furniture moving about, and the friendly apparition of Clifford. It is among the most haunted places in the state.

Outlaw Jesse James and His Girlfriend

Built in 1837, the St. James Hotel has hosted numerous notable figures, including Union soldiers during the Civil War. The hotel is reputed to be one of Alabama's most haunted locations, with several spirits said to linger within its walls. The most haunted rooms are believed to be 214, 314, and 315. Guests have reported sightings of Jesse James, his girlfriend Lucinda, and even a ghostly dog. The presence of Jesse James is particularly noted, often described as a male apparition dressed in 1880s cowboy attire. A psychic research team investigated and asked, “Is anyone there?” in a well-known haunted spot. When the tape was played back, an older man is heard to answer, “Well, that’s a stupid question." Of course, he could not be seen, but he was there. Today, the St. James Hotel operates as a charming establishment, featuring elegant French antiques. Visitors often seek out the haunted rooms for a chance to experience the supernatural.

Screams of Tragedy

In Birmingham, Sloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark. The furnaces were built to access rich deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone. However, the working conditions were dangerous, and one employee, Richard Bowers, slipped into the molten steel of the furnace, and to this day his terrified screams can be heard. There is also the spirit of James "Slag," a brutal foreman who still insists on giving harsh orders in the night from the second story. It was under his leadership that 47 workers lost their lives. Legend says that finally, the employees who were fed up with this brutal man fed him into the furnace to end their nightly tortures, and now guess who is still around?