Happy Halloween: Ghostly Tales from the Lake Part 2

A bright moon rests on a foggy lake.
Photo Courtesy of Vasarae on Pixabay

Halloween is upon us, and spooky season is officially in full swing! It’s time to make that cup of apple cider, sit by the fire at your lake home, and share some ghostly lake tales. In the previous installment of our “Happy Halloween” series, we shared chilling stories from Gardner Lake, White Rock Lake, Lake Erie, and Lake Lanier. In this edition, we are highlighting four more lakes. Brace yourself for tales of soldiers, abandoned towns, haunted waters, and sunken ships. There’s nothing like a lake backdrop for all our favorite ghost legends!

Lake Tholocco, Alabama

Spooky picture of the allegedly haunted Lake Tholocco near Fort Rucker in Alabama.
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Haunted Houses

Situated near Fort Rucker, Lake Tholocco features plentiful recreational activities, complete with a beach and children’s water slides. However, the lake has not always been a recreational oasis. During the Civil War, the property that is now Lake Tholocco served as a battlefield, and the cries of the fallen soldiers are still heard today. On dark nights, some visitors have reported hearing peculiar sounds and sighting ghostly figures wandering in the nearby woods. In fact, a Fort Rucker soldier claimed that once he saw three ghostly soldiers marching around the lake. Perhaps the nearby graveyards have failed to lay the Civil War soldiers to rest, and they come to Lake Tholocco to reminisce battles bitter and hard-pressed.

Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia

A map of the abandoned town of Petersburg, now covered by Clarks Hill Lake.
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Today Clarks Hill Lake showcases 400 miles of shoreline and bears the title of “Georgia‘s Freshwater Coast.” Yet, its beginnings were not so prosperous. At its construction in 1954, Clarks Hill Lake flooded the abandoned town of Petersburg—formerly the third-largest city in Georgia. At one point, from the 1780s to the 1820s, Petersburg boasted a thriving upper class and a plethora of businesses, taverns, and community events. However, when cotton replaced tobacco as the crop in demand, Petersburg’s tobacco-centric economy quickly crumbled. One by one, the town members left, diminishing Petersburg to the classic ghost town.

Nevertheless, Clarks Hill residents have not forgotten Petersburg. In 2002, when the area experienced a severe drought and water levels dropped, residents discovered foundations, pottery, old roads, and fences—remnants of an old town long-drowned by modern waters.

Veteran’s Lake, Oklahoma

Veteran's Lake in Oklahoma, supposedly one of the most haunted places in the state.
Photo Courtesy of Yall.com

Although Veteran’s Lake offers plenty of recreational fun, Oklahoma residents have consistently placed it on the list of the most haunted places in the state. As the story goes, in the 1950s, a woman was watching her son play in the lake. Despite only being distracted for a moment, when she looked up, she frantically discovered that her son had vanished under the water. She immediately jumped into the lake to rescue him. However, in the process of saving him, she was pulled under. They both drowned that day.

In the years since, Veteran’s Lake visitors have reported seeing two apparitions—the frantic mother and her waning son—searching the lake, seeking their next victims. Additionally, some report witnessing a ghostly woman floating around the lake, asking visitors to save her child from drowning.

Lake Superior, Michigan

The Kamloops, a ship that mysteriously sunk in 1927, with a ghost who still roams its rooms underwater.
Photo Courtesy of Isle Royale National Park

Many mariners say that Lake Superior, the colossal Great Lake, “seldom gives up her dead.” Certainly, this quote proves true in the case of the 1927 disappearance of the SS Kamloops. For fifty years, the ship’s vanishing remained a mystery. However, in 1977, unsuspecting divers stumbled upon the fully intact SS Kamloops, preserved by the frigid depths of Lake Superior. Inside, they found pristine cabins containing drawers filled with folded clothes and leather shoes. They even discovered 1927 Lifesavers that had yet to deteriorate. By all means, it seemed that the ship had been prepared for visitors.

And perhaps it was, considering that the divers reported that a real corpse—colloquially called “Old Whitey”—followed them around the boat. The icy water had acted as a natural refrigerator for the ghostly Old Whitey. Although his body was rigid and his skin was ivory, he had remained unspoiled. Despite feeling initially spooked by Old Whitey’s appearance, the divers soon learned that he was anything but malicious. Wearing an old wedding ring on his finger, he floated by them peacefully. If anything, he seemed happy to have some company.

We hope you stayed close enough to your lakeside campfire to shake off those goosebumps! Happy Halloween from Lake Homes Realty!

Spooky Fun at the Lake – Halloween Playlist

We’re well into October, and the spooky season is officially upon us. It’s time to celebrate with Jack-O-Lantern carvings, endless amounts of candy corn, and watching our favorite horror movies at the lake house. In honor of this haunted holiday, we’ve compiled a fun, energetic Halloween Playlist for you. We hope you enjoy!

  1. Thriller – Michael Jackson
  2. Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
  3. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett, The Crypt Kickers
  4. Time Warp – Little Neil, Patricia Quinn, Richard O’Brien
  5. I Put a Spell on You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
  6. Main Theme: The Addams Family – Vic Mizzy and His Orchestra and Chorus
  7. Everyday is Like Halloween – Ministry
  8. Spooky – Classics IV
  9. Ghostbusters – Pentatonix
  10. Friday the 13th Theme – Halloween
  11. Witch Doctor – Alvin and the Chipmunks
  12. Season of the Witch – Lana Del Ray
  13. This is Halloween – The Citizens of Halloween
  14. Do You Believe in Magic? – The Lovin’ Spoonful
  15. The Great Pumpkin Waltz – Vince Guaraldi
  16. The Twilight Zone – The Ventures
  17. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
  18. Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein – The Diamonds
  19. Dark Lady – Cher
  20. Magic – Selena Gomez
  21. Zombie – The Cranberries
  22. She Wolf – Shakira
  23. I’m in Love with a Monster – Fifth Harmony
  24. Jack’s Lament – Danny Elfman
  25. Monster – Lady Gaga
  26. Purple People Eater – Audio Idols
  27. Witch’s Brew – Hap Palmer
  28. Scooby-Doo Theme – Ohio Express
  29. Witchy Woman – The Eagles
  30. Killer Queen – Queen

Listen on Spotify

Be sure to check out our other playlists:

Lakeside Chill – A Lake House Relaxation Playlist

Songs of Summer – A Lake Day Playlist

The Ultimate Top 40 Boating Playlist

Happy Halloween: Ghostly Tales from the Lake

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

October is finally here! Everywhere you look, doorsteps are adorned with carved pumpkins, colorful leaves are scattered across the streets, and cable TV is screening Hocus Pocus again. In other words, “spooky season” has arrived. If you’re a lake homeowner, this holiday is particularly festive for many reasons. First, your Halloween decor will blend seamlessly into your lakeside scenery’s fall colors and outdoorsy charm.

Further, lakes serve as backdrops to classic scary movies like Friday the 13th. In honor of this spooky holiday that we love, we’re sharing our favorite ghost stories, myths, and haunted facts about U.S. lakes. We hope you enjoy — and pass these stories onto your friends! 

Gardner Lake Ghost House

Photo courtesy of Only In Your State.

Some ghost stories are pure myths. However, the one about Gardner Lake, Connecticut, is rooted in a true story. In 1895, one local, lake-dwelling family wanted to move their lake house to the other side of the lake. So, they waited until the water had frozen over to put their home on slabs and slid it to the other side. The move was a two-day endeavor. Day one went fine, but when the family returned the next day to move their house along a second trek across Gardner Lake, the ice had broken, and their home had sunk. 

Although they rescued smaller possessions, larger items (like a piano) had to remain underwater. Scuba divers have confirmed the existence of this underwater house. Now, here comes the spooky part — many visitors to Lake Gardner have reported hearing piano sounds from the lake. Legend has it that the music is coming from the underwater house.

Lady of the Lake, White Rock Lake

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

It’s not unusual for a friendly neighbor to offer a ride home in the south if someone is lost. However, on Dallas’s White Rock Lake, this person in need of a lift could be a ghost. Some White Rock residents and visitors have reported seeing a young woman dressed in 1930s clothing wandering around the lake, soaking wet, and looking for a ride home. She’s known as the “Lady of the Lake.”

According to legend, if you offer her a ride, she’ll vanish as soon as she gets in your car, leaving the passenger seat drenched with water. So if you want to keep your vehicle dry and ghost-free — don’t offer her a lift!

The Black Dog of Lake Erie

If you’ve ever wondered whether animals can be ghosts, it turns out they can! According to a Lake Erie legend, a black Newfoundland dog fell overboard on the Welland Canal, and the crew ignored him. After the incident, the crew reported hearing its howls throughout the night. But this dog’s appearances aren’t limited to this one ship. Allegedly, the dog appears on the Great Lakes to warn ships that are in danger.

Alternatively, the dog has also been said to curse ships as revenge against the sailors who allowed him to drown. The dog’s appearance is linked to wrecks like the Mary Jane on Lake Erie, the Isaac G. Jenkins on Lake Ontario, and the Thomas Hume on Lake Michigan.

Lady of the Lake, Lake Lanier

Photo courtesy of Ron Mayhew via Flickr.

Lake Lanier is one of the most popular travel destinations in Georgia. The lake is located just outside of Atlanta and is known for water sports like rowing, gorgeous sunsets, and a beloved water park. However, most locals will be quick to acknowledge that this lake has a haunted history. Rather than being one ghost story, Lake Lanier is associated with several bizarre incidents.

Perhaps the most famous ghost tale is the “Lady of the Lake,” Susie Roberts, who fell into the lake in a 1950’s car accident. Sightings of this woman, often described without hands and wearing a blue dress, have been reported consistently since her accident.

You’re welcome for the goose pimples! From our lake house to yours, Happy Halloween!

Creating a Haunted Lake House

It’s mid-October, and the spooky season is upon us. It’s time to pick out costumes, start planning Halloween parties, and buy endless bags of candy corn. This holiday is particularly fitting for those of us who live on the lake. When it comes to evoking a haunted, intriguing autumn feel, there’s no better environment than a fog-covered lake and a house full of Halloween decorations. Whether you’re gathering around your outdoor fire pit to tell ghost stories or turning your back porch into a pumpkin patch, the abundant trees and remote location will create the perfect spooky atmosphere. To amplify this perfect lakeside Halloween setting, we have some tips on how to turn your lake house into a fun haunted adventure.

Spooky Wreaths

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SpoOkY Bones 💀🎃🕷

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By hanging a spooky wreath, you’ll show your guests that you’re committing to the Halloween theme before they even step into your home. Like the photo above, you can invoke the Friday the 13th theme, a scary movie that takes place on the lake. Or you can create your own DIY craft. For example, you could make a black wreath with sticks jutting out in every direction, and even place a fake crow in the mix to add a spooky touch to your door. Before entering your haunted lake house, your guests will have a small taste of what to expect.

Bowls of Treats

Plastic pumpkins filled with Halloween candy
Photo courtesy of Good Housekeeping.

There’s no better way to embrace the Halloween season than with candy. During this time of year, there’s always an abundance of tasty treats at your local stores. If you prefer to make your own snacks, there are plenty of easy and fun recipes for Halloween snacks. Pick your favorite spooky treats and add them to your scary decor scheme. Whether you use small decorative bowls, pumpkins, or cauldrons to hold your tasty treats, your guests will be thankful that there are a few treats among all the tricks that your haunted lake house might play. 

Witch’s Cauldron

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One sure-fire way to ensure that spookiness is in the air at your lake house is by investing in a smoky witch’s cauldron. To set up this decoration, buy a large plastic black cauldron, suspend it with three long sticks, and add water and dry ice. Especially if it’s already an overcast day, the mysterious fog from your cauldron will create a genuinely ghostly setting for telling scary stories by the fire on your patio. If you use the same setup on the lakeside of your home, you might even impress your neighbors across the slough. 

Graveyard Tombstones

Decorative funny Halloween graveyard tombstones
Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens.

A classic Halloween yard decoration that never gets old is a makeshift graveyard. You can use cardboard and spray paint to create ghostly tombstones and arrange them in your front yard or near your dock, and put them on display with spotlights. With this decoration, you can aim for laughs like in the photo above, or you can make them a little more sinister. Whichever you choose, the Fall lakeside atmosphere is sure to provide the perfect eerie backdrop for a graveyard at your haunted lake house. 

Funny Skeleton fishing on lake Halloween humor
Photo courtesy of Home is Where the Boat is.

We hope that these spooky ideas inspire you to start decorating your own lake house for Halloween. Between the chill in the air, the fog drifting over the lake, and all your creative decorations, you’ll have the perfect haunted house in no time. If you’re looking for more holiday tips and decor inspiration, make sure to check out our articles here.

Turn Your Lake Home Into a Haunted House With Halloween Decorations

The temperature is dropping, the leaves are changing and the smell of Fall is in the air. With Fall, comes one of the most exciting times of the year: Halloween!

Trick or treating, scary costumes and apple-bobbing aren’t the only things to look forward to.

Decorate for Halloween

Halloween decorations are just as fun!

haunted lake house

If you’re looking for some advice on spooking up your lake house a bit, look no further, we have some great ideas for you!

Of course, there are the classic Halloween decorations like cobwebs and fake spiders.

Adding these too your house and dock (which may already have cobwebs on it) is a surefire way to spook up an area.

Always use jack-o-lanterns, as these are super fun to make and are great decorations. Place them on your front or back porch and dock for all to see and fear!

Scarecrows are also a frightful sight, especially this time of the year! Stick a scarecrow in your yard, and it will be sure to turn some heads!

Other Spooky Ideas

Some other spooky ideas include:

Bone Door Knocker – What better way to spook your neighborhood ghouls and goblins by having a super scary door knocker? For this decorative setup, you’ll need some fake bones and a door to place them on. Knock Knock! Trick or treat!?

Witch’s Cauldron – A great idea is having a witch’s cauldron in your front yard! Buy a large plastic black cauldron, set up three long sticks to suspend it from, add water and dry ice and you’ve got yourself one spooky decoration!

Or, if you would like to impress the neighbors across the pond, use this same setup on the lakeside of your home, and add a couple of spotlights to highlight your setup!

Gothic Wreath – Make a black wreath with sticks jutting out every which way, and place a fake crow in the mix to add a spooky atmosphere to your door.

Spooky Face in the Mirror – Remove most of the paint from a mirror and stick an old portrait photo behind it. Paint the mirror frame black, and you have yourself one spooky mirror!

Graveyard Tombstones – Use cardboard and spray paint to create ghostly tombstones and stick them in your front yard, or near your dock, and put them on display with spotlights!

Window Silhouettes – Use cardboard and a sharpie to outline the shape of a ghoulish character from one of your favorite horror movies! Cut it out, stand the silhouette in your window and let the shrieks begin!

Zombie Hands in Ground – This one is a classic and surely freaks everybody out. Buy a few fake severed hands, and bury them halfway so that they stick out of the ground. These can be purchased at any Halloween store.

They can also be placed on your dock, as if the zombies are coming out of the water. Nothing is scarier on the lake than water ghouls!

But, your main focus on Halloween should always be to just have fun with it!