The scariest might be the story of the drowned children. Supposedly, a group of children were playing too close to the lake and accidentally fell in and drowned. Their ghosts are said to haunt the area where they perished. Locals claim to hear their faint cries for help on still nights. It's really terrifying to think about those poor children's spirits still being trapped near the lake.
A particularly spooky Seneca Lake ghost story is about a bride who was on her way to her wedding near the lake. She was in a carriage that went off the road and into the lake. Her body was never recovered. Ever since, on moonlit nights, people say they can see her ghostly figure walking along the road, still in her wedding dress, as if she's still trying to reach her wedding. The idea of this tragic and lost bride's spirit wandering around is truly frightening.
The ghost of the lighthouse keeper is also quite scary. The lighthouse on Seneca Lake has a long history. The keeper, who died in a storm while trying to keep the light on, is now said to haunt the lighthouse. His apparition has been seen by fishermen out on the lake late at night. He seems to be still on his eternal duty, and the sight of his ghostly figure in the window of the lighthouse gives a chill down one's spine.
One well - known Seneca Lake ghost story is about a lady in white. Legend has it that she haunts the shoreline. Some say she was a jilted lover who drowned herself in the lake long ago. People claim to have seen her figure gliding along the water's edge at night, her white dress flowing in an otherworldly manner.
The scariest might be the story of the vanishing cabins. There were some old cabins near Devils Lake that were said to be haunted. People who stayed in them reported strange noises and cold spots. But one day, the cabins just disappeared as if they were never there, and some believe it was the work of malevolent spirits.
Well, the story of the cursed campsite by Lake Hartwell is pretty scary. A long time ago, a group of campers had some sort of bad encounter here and since then, people say that strange things happen. At night, tents get shaken as if by an unseen force. There are also reports of cold spots and eerie whispers. It's not just one thing but the combination of all these spooky happenings that make it one of the scariest stories.
The story of the Edmund Fitzgerald's ghost is quite scary. The sudden and tragic sinking of the ship makes the idea of its crew's spirits lingering very spooky.
A very scary Big Bear Lake ghost story is about the haunted lodge. Guests who have stayed there have reported seeing a lady in a long white dress walking through the halls at night. She doesn't make a sound, but just glides past. It's said that she was a former owner's daughter who died in the lodge under tragic circumstances, and her spirit has never left.
The scariest element is the sense of mystery. We don't really know if these ghosts are real or just figments of imagination. It gives a feeling of unease.
I think the lost hiker's ghost story is also very scary. The thought of being in the forest around Dale Hollow Lake and hearing strange noises that could be the spirit of someone who died there is really unsettling. You can't see what's making the noise, but you know it's something not of this world. It makes you feel like you're not alone in the forest, even when you should be.
One main theme is the connection between the living and the dead. In Seneca Indian ghost stories, the ghosts often have unfinished business related to their tribe or family, showing that the bond doesn't end with death.
One famous Seneca Indian Ghost Story is about the spirit of a warrior who guards an ancient burial ground. It is said that at night, his figure can be seen walking among the tombstones, protecting the resting place of his ancestors.
There's a story about a haunted cabin on the shores of Lake George. People who dared to enter at night reported hearing disembodied voices and feeling cold spots. One visitor even claimed to see the apparition of an old woman sitting in a rocking chair. It's said that she was a former resident who met a tragic end in the cabin, and now her spirit remains there. The overall atmosphere in the cabin was so terrifying that most people who entered never wanted to go back.