Just in time for Halloween, Visit North Carolina has unveiled First in Fright, a new campaign that highlights otherworldly points of interest.

“The timing might scream ‘Halloween,’ but the spirit of First in Fright rises from age-old narratives instead of costumes and props,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “The lore surrounding the Brown Mountain Lights near Morganton dates back centuries, and other stories have been retold for decades. It takes more skepticism than I can muster to dismiss the accounts, even if they’re impossible to prove.”

The First in Fright podcast directs intrepid travelers to places whose stories have endured attempts to explain them away. A Haunted Trail winds through Mountain Mysteries, the Paranormal Piedmont and the Creepy Coast. As they make their way through these regions, travelers can look into Spooky Stays for hotels where long-term guests have never checked out. For those in search of seasonal scares, a rundown of Halloween attractions and events addresses the quest.

“For anyone intrigued by ghosts, stories are the starting point,” said Tuttell, who has stayed in the “Pink Lady Room” at Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn (see Mountain Mysteries). “The podcasts bring the mysteries to life while letting listeners decide what to believe and what to dismiss.”

The Devil’s Tramping Ground, a strangely barren clearing near Siler City. Curious campers can reserve a spot near the perfect circle of a site that some say is cursed by the devil himself.
Battleship North Carolina, a well-decorated World War II vessel moored in Wilmington. Frequent paranormal reports have emerged: hatches mysteriously opening, lights switched on and off, and the appearance of a young sailor in the washroom. Beyond regular tours, travelers can watch for special events such as those offered this fall by Haunted Rooms of America.
Brown Mountain Lights, a phenomenon that unfolds over Linville Gorge near Morganton. For hundreds of years, the appearance of mysterious lights have been described as rising above the peaks of Linville Gorge. The size, shape and color often change. Viewer guides are available at the Discover Burke visitor center downtown.
Madison Dry Goods, a shop in downtown Madison that owes its popularity in part to its museum, which occupies a former funeral parlor space on the second floor. Hauntings tied to a family’s murder in 1929 have been reported.

The free podcast, with episodes being released today and Oct. 1, can be accessed at NCFirstInFright.com or through Apple, Spotify and other major streaming platforms.