If you grew up near the Rural Hall area, it's very likely that you've heard some of the most famous urban legends in North Carolina that surround this area. The legend of Payne Road in NC is pretty legendary. A common activity for teenagers in the area is to test the infamous legends about Payne Road near Winston-Salem and take a drive down this North Carolina haunted road at night, just to see how scary the area is. I've done the drive, and let me tell you: it's not for the faint of heart! This road is long, winding, dark, and feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. Decayed buildings, winding curves, and a certain presence in the air all manage to stay with you long after you've put the car in park and are safely at home. Some even report ghostly encounters on the road, and many swear to never drive down the path again.

Construction and rerouting have left the new Payne Road quite creepy, but what's now Edwards Road was the original Payne Road that the legends are based on. Everyone can agree that this haunted road in North Carolina is quite terrifying. The multiple stories that are tied to the haunting remain somewhat debated.

The first story is the best-known. A man named Edward Payne once owned a very large slave plantation on the land here. After finding out that his daughter was impregnated by one of the slaves, he revolted in a rogue rage. Payne murdered the slave and then descended into what some sources claim was "devil worship."

This would've been bad enough, but Payne then found out that another of his daughters also had a relationship with the slave. After finding out this news, Payne completely lost it. He ended up murdering his entire family. He didn't stop there: he then set fire to the plantation, killing every slave on the land.

The second legend that lurks around these parts is tied to the actual Payne Road in NC, instead of just the area surrounding it.

A young man was driving late at night and couldn't quite see one of the sharp curves on the road. He ended up crashing his car next to the spot where a chapel once stood - and, apparently, where Edward Payne once worshiped the devil.

As his car caught fire and he died a slow, painful death, bystanders gathered around watching. They did absolutely nothing to help the man. It's said that if you drive down the road late at night and pass that particular curve, you just might see the headlights of an old Ford following you. In typical ghostly fashion, the lights suddenly vanish without a trace.

The third and final legend is another commonly heard story with quite a tragic ending.

In the 1800s, a man lived in a farmhouse on the land with his family. After terrible fights with his wife, he ended up coming to the conclusion that his children were the root of their domestic disputes. One particularly explosive fight led to devastating consequences.

The man gagged his wife and bound her to a chair in their living room. One by one, he had each of the children come downstairs and say goodnight to their mommy. Sadly, this was the last time, as he then took each child upstairs and slit their throats.

The wife was fully aware of the massacre that was happening. She found a way to work herself free from the constraints of the rope. While she was making her escape, her husband took their infant child to the well, as he decided that was the best method of execution for such a small baby. As he stood at the well, dangling the child over, the wife attacked her husband from behind, grabbing the baby from his grip. In a frenzy, she ran as fast as she could, but he caught her right at the bridge. He lopped off her head with his knife and then threw the baby into the well.

Finally, the man committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree. Legend says that if you go to the road today and whistle Dixie, the woman's ghost will appear, holding her head and approaching your car. People also report hearing the cries of a baby coming from the old well.

Need even more reason to believe in the ghosts of Payne Road in NC? Check out this EVP recording from YouTube user Brandon Milton:

You can also check out this video from YouTube user JoshG.tv that has even more legends about Payne Road:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r75gp4cn5OI

Alright, I officially have goosebumps, and might be sleeping with the lights on! Have you driven down this haunted road in North Carolina before, or plan to now? Did you know the legend of Payne Road in NC? Creepy.

Why stop at one haunted road, when there are six other, equally creepy and terrifying roads to drive down in North Carolina? How many of these haunted roads in North Carolina have you traversed? Of course, just because a road is haunted doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared for any possibility. Before embarking on any journey, check out our Road Trip Essentials Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for a good time!