Haunted Pawleys Island

The Grey Man is the most famous ghost from the Pawleys Island area, and, if you ask any local, they’ll tell you that if you see him then you need to get out of Pawleys Island in a hurry. That’s because anytime anyone has ever spotted the spirit of the Grey Man, a horrible hurricane has swept through Pawleys Island shortly after.

The Grey Man is always spotted along the beach wearing all grey clothes. In some accounts, he speaks to people, but in others, he just appears in front of them and vanishes. However, for those who know the legend
of the Grey Man, this is more than enough of a warning.

There are several stories behind the ghost of the Grey Man, but no one is quite certain who the man was.

There are quite a few ghost stories surrounding the Pelican Inn, including stories of ghosts of two Boston Terriers. It is said that these two dogs were once owned by an old caretaker, however, one of the dogs died when it swan into the ocean to save a drowning boy. The dog unfortunately died from this heroic action, and the second Boston Terrier died soon after from loneliness. People claim to see the dogs and hear the dogs barking while at the Pelican Inn.

The Grey Man is also tied to the Pelican Inn, and many people who work there have claimed to see him on multiple occasions. Employees also have reported sightings of a woman dressed in an old gingham gown.

In addition to the Grey Man, the ghost of Alice Flagg is another extremely popular legend in the Pawleys Island area. Legend has it that Alice Flagg was the sister of a wealthy man named Dr. Allard Flagg. They lived at the Hermitage, and Alice fell in love with a lumberman. However, despite her feelings, Alice’s brother disapproved of the couple being together and forced the man away.

But Alice and the man secretly became engaged and she was given a ring. When Dr. Flagg found out, he demanded that she give the ring back, and sent her away to boarding school where she contracted malaria. She was brought back home to the Hermitage and soon died. Upon her death, Dr. Flagg discovered the engagement ring attached with a ribbon under Alice’s dress. He removed the ring and threw it into the marsh.

Alice was buried in the All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery without her beloved ring. To this day, when people visit her grave (a flat stone that simply says “Alice,”) people feel a tug on their wedding rings. Others have spotted her walking out of the front door of the Hermitage in her white dress with one hand clutched to her chest. Other people
claim to have seen Alice walking around the marsh looking for her ring.

Many people who visit Alice’s grave leave her rings and other gifts to help ease her troubled soul.

The ghost at Litchfield Plantation is a friendly one. In fact, the most famous ghost that haunts the Litchfield Plantation is none other than Dr. Henry Tucker—a member of one of the last families that owned the property. Many people have reported seeing him the house’s Blue Room, and no one has felt intimidated by him

In addition to Dr. Tucker’s ghost, other people have seen strange lights and ghosts of maids.