It might be the middle of summer, but who doesn't love a good ghost story year-round. From haunted hotels, houses and even restaurants; North Carolina has no shortage of eerie places where the afterlife is indeed lingering.

1. St. James Episcopal Church, Wilmington

Finding its way on several ghost walks, St. James is notoriously haunted, mainly by a man said to be buried alive here. Headstones date back to the late 1700s, but one certain death (and reason for a haunting) occurred in 1810. After Samuel Joselyn had a fight with his wife, he rode away on horseback in the middle of the night on a freezing cold, winter night. The next day, his body was found by a search party frozen and presumably dead. Although he was buried, in the following days Joselyn's friends reported strange, almost lucid dreams where he came to them in their sleep begging for his body to be dug up.

After giving into the requests, officials dug up Joselyn's casket. The body was found in a dried puddle of blood, fingers chiseled to the bone and scratch marks on the wood. Centuries later, visitors to the cemetery claim to see the figure of a man leaning against Joselyn's headstone. Many believe that due to the horrific nature of his death, his soul is forever trapped within the cemetery.

2. Road to Nowhere and Fontana Lake

While you might not see any "boo" type ghosts so to speak, Fontana Lake is metaphorically filled with ghosts of an eerie past and promises broken. Many small towns, including Judson, were washed away at the dam's creation and today exists in shadows beneath the lake. Only visible during times of low water levels. The Road to Nowhere is a road that literally goes nowhere and is intertwined in the entire debate after small towns vanished and many families had no access to cemeteries or grave sites. The history is complicated and strange. Many who visit notice a dark energy in the air and even technology going haywire. Read more about it here.

3. The Country Squire

This charming restaurant / bed and breakfast in Kenansville is home to the 72 oz.'Kilt Buster' steak...with a side of spirits from the past. One thought to still be hanging around (and making sure things are done right) is the former owner. Patrons have witnessed darts flying about and sounds of steps with no one else around. Paranormal activity has even been caught on camera. Read all about it

here.

4. Norton Creek Trail

There sure are some mysterious legends and folklore lurking in the Smokies, including the legend of 'Spearfinger,' and several children "vanishing" due to this witch. Unrelated, or possible related, there's a story of a settler who was murdered after searching for his lost daughter. Norton Creek Trail was also an old path used for "decoration days," a tradition where the families of those buried in the (200 some) grave plots throughout the park would convene and celebrate their ancestry by decorating headstones.

Norton Creek Trail allows you to hike with history and haunts, but it's not for the faint of heart!

Read more about the trail

here.

5. Helen's Bridge

Located in Asheville, this beautiful bridge has a gorgeous exterior with dark stories surrounding it. One of which (and the bridge's namesake) is that of Helen. Rumor has it after her young child died in a fire, the grief-stricken Helen hung herself from the bridge. Today, Helen's bridge exists around dark stories and reputations; some even claiming it's more than Helen herself who has been spotted here. For those claiming to see Helen, she appears in a white night gown, asking the whereabouts of her child. Read all about Helen's Bridge and the hauntings,

here.

6. Henry River Mill Village

While many recognize Henry River Mill Village as The Hunger Game's District 12, this eerie ghost is town is much more. Visitors report having items thrown at them and hearing voices in the town and down by the river. It wasn't really until after the Hunger Games debuted people started to come forward with their personal stories. While many didn't know each other, their tales and sightings matched. Read all about the history and haunts of Henry River Mill Village

here.

7. Grove Park Inn

For most North Carolinians, their first ghost story ever heard was about the Pink Lady at the Grove Park Inn. Perhaps the most famous ghost in North Carolina, the Pink Lady is believed to be either a scorned lover or debutante who fell to her death at the hotel. She takes a particular interest with room 545 and many paranormal investigators spend the night in that room in search of her. While the Grove Park is a stunningly beautiful hotel, many have encountered a weird energy or even the friendly Pink Lady herself. If you want to book your stay at more haunted hotels in North Carolina, read our list

here.

8. Brown Mountain Lights

Ghosts? Swamp gas? No one knows exactly what the Brown Mountain Lights are, but unlike everything else on this list, the Brown Mountain lights can be definitively seen with your own two eyes; they've even been caught on camera by scientists and paranormal investigators. While the mystery of the Brown Mountain lights may never be solved, one thing is for sure - they exist. Read more about the Brown Mountain lights

here.

So creepy! Do you have any North Carolina ghost stories you want to share? Any sightings in the places mentioned? Share your stories below!