C.J. Harris Building - Downtown Sylva

The C.J. Harris Building on W. Main St., Sylva

The C.J. Harris Building is one of Sylva's oldest, having been commissioned and constructed in 1902 by none other than C.J. Harris of Harris Hospital fame!
The building's numerous rooms were home to a variety of businesses, and one particular room often served as a meeting space for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, one of those secret society type groups that dated back to the 1700s.
The silent figure of a woman is said to haunt the building, appearing often in the corner of the eye and then vanishing without a sound upon second look.
Who she is or what she wants remains unknown, but so far she has shown no ill will towards her living counterparts.

Paris Building, Downtown Sylva

Inside the Paris Dept. Store

The Paris Department Store was open in Sylva, NC from at least 1918 until some time in the late 1920s, when the owner abruptly relocated to nearby Bryson city to open and operate a store there.
While it's not entirely certain why the owner abandoned his Sylva store, some say it has to do with a child ghost said to haunt the building.
The real estate has seen a large number of different businesses, none ever seeming to last long, leading some to believe the location is cursed.
You can still see the old "PARIS" letters on the parapet of the building.

St. John's Bell -- Downtown Sylva

St. John's Church Bell House, Sylva NC

The original St. John's Episcopal church in Sylva got its start back in 1879, where the mission of the Episcopalians was explained to one Mr. Love and his niece, Sarah. A few years later in 1892, Mr. Love offered the upstairs of his lumberyard office building to the service of the Church, and it was fitted with a chapel. In 1912, Mr. Love donated the land to the church entirely, and it still sits there to this day.
However, the frame of the building was replaced in 1956, and the bell was placed just a few feet from the front door.

A strange orb of light has been reported to float around the bell's tower at night, and then disappear upon further investigation. Local residents walking their dogs at night have often reported the sighting, with no explanation in tow. Some say the orb is a spirit which has lost its way, and is being called to the church via the ringing of the bell.

Scott Hall - Western Carolina University

Students pose outside of Scott Hall

Scott hall has long been listed as a haunted location on Western Carolina University's campus. Residents of this, one of the university's oldest dorms, have reported auditory haunts on the 8th floor of the building, often in the form of footsteps being heard at all hours moving up and down the hall. Upon investigation, the halls are always empty. This could potentially be the ghost of a girl who reportedly hung herself on the East Wing of the 8th Floor in the 1990s. The floor was closed for many years afterwards, with multiple students reporting sightings of the girl's spirit.The 4th floor of the building is also said to be haunted. Freshmen beware!

Scotts Creek Bridge - Sylva, NC

Scotts Creek Bridge

Scotts Creek Bridge connects Bridge Park to Poteet Park in downtown Sylva, NC. Children playing in Poteet Park have often reported a shadowy figure standing on the other side of the bridge, often to the dismay of their parents who apparently are never able to see the apparition. Children describe the figure as a tall man in dark clothing, wearing a dark brimmed hat, much like the Shadow Man of other lore. He never moves, nor does he take any other sort of action other than to stand menacingly across the bridge. Ghost hunters investigating the bridge can often find strange EMF readings that tend to spike on the Bridge Park side of the crossway.

Comfort Inn Sylva - Cullowhee

Comfort Inn Sylva

The Comfort Inn Sylva was under construction for several years, at one point having been abandoned mid-construction and sitting half-complete and idle for years. The contractors stated that it was due to sudden bankruptcy from the funding company, but there were rumors at the time (circa 2003) that a brutal murder had taken place on the premises one night which the construction crew discovered in the morning. Following several strange events, such as falling beams and machinery malfunctions, the contractors pulled out and the construction was abandoned until several years later when Comfort Inn bought up the land. Guests report strange activity in rooms 307 and 412, such as the shower curtain opening/closing and the temperature staying cold, despite the thermostat reading.

Old Sylva Courthouse

Jackson County Courthouse, Sylva, NC

Constructed during the early 1900s, the Jackson County Courthouse (now used as a Public Library as well), is said to be haunted by the ghost of one of the workers who died under mysterious circumstances during the building of the imposing hilltop structure. It is alleged that a dispute between an unnamed construction worker and the rest of the construction company led to his death, which was covered up by the company, the victims remains being buried somewhere on (or in) the premises. Visitors report seeing a haunting glow circling the building at night. Library workers report finding piles of books on the floor, as well as flickering lights.

Balsam Mountain Inn

Balsam Mountain Inn

This early-1900s inn has two haunted rooms: 205 and 207. There are logs in the room where guests can write about anything strange that occurs during their stay. Folks have reported footsteps, jiggling doorknobs, unexplained noises, and other sounds of someone making a racket in the hallway.

The Moore Building - Western Carolina University

Moore Building

As rumor has it, in the mid-1960s a student was murdered after she refused a man’s amorous advances. She now is said to haunt the third floor, crying, screaming and pacing. The man was caught and served a few years in a mental hospital, but then was released. He passed away in the 1980s, and folks say the hauntings in the dorm, now turned into classrooms, has all but stopped. Students still claim to get the willies in the building, however.