I’m always on the lookout for new historical sites to explore in my area, and when I came across a site that played a part in the Revolutionary War near Lake Wylie in South Carolina, I was very eager to visit. Discribed as a lightly trafficked trail with views of a former iron ore mine, Lake Wylie, Crowder Mountain, and the Charlotte Skyline, it seemed to be the perfect place to visit during Memorial Day weekend. Especially since picnic areas and a visitors center were at the top of the summit.

Once I arrived at Nanny Mountain, I soon realized that it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was less then lightly trafficked, my husband and I were the only ones there, and the parking lot is behind an old chain link fence in a residential area. The mines were visible, but the other views were not. I’m assuming they are only visible during the fall, when leaves are off the trees. 

The mines are passed on the first section of trail, and once we passed the informational sign describing how mines were used in the Revolutionary War to mine iron for cannon balls and other weapons, things just got stranger. As we hiked further up the quiet trail, an eerie feeling settled over us.

When we reached the top and finished the trail, we found a small open chapel, and no visitors center or picnic tables. After I snapped a few pictures, my husband noticed a single doll arm on the railing. We already had a strange feeling about the place, and this did not help at all. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the doll arm is visible in every picture I took. We retreated back to the trail, and headed down, and decided to explore a small side trail that was supposed to lead to picnic tables. In hindsight, I’m surprised we weren’t running for our car. 

This trail was not much more comforting, as we spotted thick spider webs, actual spiders, and a tree trunk that looks like the one The Headless Horseman springs out of in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. The trail ended with a single picnic table, which was set on a platform, and looked like it could be hiding a trap door leading to a dungeon.

It may not have been the trip we expected, but we certainly left with an strange story to tell. I think it’s the closest I’ve come to visiting a site that was genuinely haunted.