Roanoke Island — ghostly voices of the Lost Colony, North Carolina

Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina is the site of the famous Lost Colony, one of the greatest mysteries in American history. In 1587, a group of 117 English colonists settled on the island under the leadership of Governor John White. When White returned from a supply trip to England in 1590, the colony had vanished. The only clue was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a fence post. No trace of the colonists was ever definitively found. Since then, Roanoke Island has been associated with ghostly phenomena. Visitors to the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site have reported hearing voices speaking in Elizabethan English carried on the wind, seeing ghostly lights moving along the shoreline at night, and feeling a profound sense of loss in specific areas of the park. During performances of 'The Lost Colony' outdoor drama, which has been staged on the island since 1937, cast and crew have reported seeing figures in Elizabethan costume who were not part of the production. Some performers have described a woman in a white gown watching from the tree line during shows, who vanishes at intermission. The island's marshy landscape, with its live oaks and salt-air mists, creates an atmosphere of genuine mystery that has drawn visitors for over four centuries.