Moon Mausoleum
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
On the scenic route in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ghost of Lucy of Roaring Fork is said to roam the road of Roaring Fork Motor Trail through the historic part of early settlers as a vanishing hitchhiker.
On the scenic route in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ghost of Lucy of Roaring Fork is said to roam the road of Roaring Fork Motor Trail through the historic part of early settlers as a vanishing hitchhiker.
On the outskirts of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail winds its way through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering a scenic journey by car through the remnants of early settlers’ homesteads of cabins, mills and historic buildings along the way.
Named after the fast-moving mountain stream it parallels, the trail offers a captivating drive through lush forests, vibrant wildflower meadows, and historical log cabins that paint a picture of early Appalachian life. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely drive while making stops at various points of interest, including cascading waterfalls, like the popular Grotto Falls, and old-growth forests teeming with wildlife.
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Amidst the beauty of this historic trail, a haunting legend unfolds – a tale that has earned Roaring Fork a reputation as one of the most haunted roads in America. At the center of this spectral narrative is the enigmatic figure known as Lucy of Roaring Fork.
But who is Lucy of Roaring Fork? There are many legends, but some say she was a young girl or woman who died when her family cabin burned down and is now haunting the surrounding roads and forest. Exactly when this was supposed to happen is uncertain, but it is mostly said to be around the turn of the century or early 1900s.
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The story of Lucy of Roaring Fork is told as a vanishing hitchhiker story, an urban legend that spread in the latter part of the 20th century, but if there was any tales about her haunting the area before turning into an urban legend, is uncertain.
As the legend goes, at the turn of the twentieth century, a young man, sometimes given the name Foster, traveled the trail on a chilly autumn evening. To his surprise, he encountered a young woman clad in rags, wandering barefoot through the ancient forest. Driven by kindness, he extended an offer to drive her home, a gesture she graciously accepted. After safely depositing the mysterious woman at her doorstep, the young man continued on his journey. Yet, the memory of the beautiful hitchhiker lingered, a ghost in his thoughts.
Unable to shake the enchantment, the man returned to her home the next day, seeking to reunite with the captivating Lucy. When he inquired about her with Lucy’s mother, he received a chilling revelation that sent shivers down his spine.
“I gave Lucy a ride home last night, and I would very much like to see her again,” the young man explained.
“That’s impossible!” exclaimed the mother. “Lucy passed away many years ago.”
The tale of Lucy, the vanishing hitchhiker, echoes through the decades, a classic tale heard many places in the world with its own local twists and lore being added to this phenomenon known as the vanishing hitchhiker.
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Lucy of Roaring Fork’s ghostly presence lingers, weaving through the mist-laden trees, eternally hoping for a journey home that transcends the realms of both the living and the departed.
The Ghost of Lucy on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
