Ghost Stories & Haunted Places in Myrtle Beach

Journey to Myrtle Beach and uncover the spooky legends that lurk in the shadows of the sun-soaked coastline. This seaside city harbors a dark and intriguing past. Dive into some of the most notable haunted places in Myrtle Beach and the stories behind them.

Haunted Places in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is rich with historic landmarks and chilling tales of ghostly phantoms. Old restaurants filled with whispers of the past and eerie cemeteries provide a thrilling experience for those brave enough to explore.

The Legend of Drunken Jack

Myrtle Beach is paradise for merry makers, and according to local lore, some of them never left. The legend of Drunken Jack is one such tale. The legend revolves around a pirate named Jack, who was part of a notorious band of looting pirates. During a raid, they seized a ship loaded with rum off the coast of the Carolinas. To celebrate their victory, the pirates sailed to a nearby island (known as Drunken Jack’s Island) to indulge in their stolen bounty. Jack, who was especially fond of the rum, drank himself into oblivion.

When the pirates departed the next day, they left the drunken Jack behind. Upon waking, he found himself stranded with nothing more than the cases of rum for company. Jack reportedly drank himself to death, forever stranded on his island paradise.

Today, his spirit haunts the area, still seeking the companionship of his former crew and a fresh bottle of rum. The legend of Drunken Jack is an enduring part of Myrtle Beach’s folklore. 

Intrigued by tales of ghosts and pirates? Take a boat tour to the very island where Jack spent his last drunken days and visit a popular restaurant named after the drunken pirate. Drunken Jack’s seafood restaurant adds an extra layer of adventure to your Myrtle Beach vacation. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy fresh seafood. You can almost picture the ghost of Jack wandering the nearby shores, as you savor the restaurant’s fresh seafood and cuisine.

Barman Joe at The Bowery

The Bowery, a legendary music venue and bar, is home to another ghost: Barman Joe. Joe was a beloved patron at The Bowery who died while sitting at his regular barstool. In a remarkable twist, Joe momentarily revived long enough to relish his last sip of beer before finally passing on. 

This iconic Myrtle Beach restaurant, known for its live country music and laid-back vibe, has entertained patrons since the 1940s. Today, visitors of The Bowery are often swept up by the feeling that Joe’s spirit lingers. Some say that you can still hear Joe singing a tune by the bar. As you enjoy the toe-tapping tunes, keep an eye out for Barman Joe.

The Brentwood Restaurant

The Brentwood Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant with a history dating back to 1910. Employees report several eerie encounters like unexplained noises, moving objects, specters that appear in photos, and even sightings of a man with a black silhouette. Feeling daring? Join Brentwood’s three-course dinner ghost tour! Dinner starts at 7pm and is available by reservation most days of the week. Tours begin shortly after dessert as storytellers guide you through this historic Victorian home. 

Alice Flagg of Pawley’s Island

Probably one of the most heartbreaking ghost stories in Myrtle Beach revolves around Alice Flagg. As the tale goes, Alice falls in love with a man of lesser status, much to the disapproval of her affluent family. While stricken by illness and heartbreak, Alice’s brother seized the opportunity to confiscate her engagement ring (which she wore on a ribbon around her neck) and threw it away. Alice passed away and was buried without the engagement ring her lover gave her, a symbol of their forbidden love.

Alice Flagg’s spirit is now said to roam the All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery in Pawleys Island, where she still searches for her lost ring. Visitors report seeing Alice’s ghost wandering through the graveyard. Some claim  that if you walk around Alice’s grave 13 times backwards and call out her name, it summons her spirit.  Alice Flagg’s spirit seems bound to the mortal world by her quest for her lost ring.

The Gray Man of Pawley’s Island

The Gray Man is another ghost that haunts Pawleys Island. There are a few renditions of this story, but the most common paints a touching picture of romance. A Gray Man, while voyaging from Charleston, intended to pop the question to his sweetheart.

To quicken his journey home before a storm, he decided to cross the marsh near Pawleys Island on horseback. As dusk fell, his horse tripped in the mud, flinging him off. The waves and thick mud overpowered him, pulling him under. To this day, the phantom warns locals of incoming danger before major hurricanes. Sightings of the Gray Man at Pawley’s Island have saved many residents from storm damage, earning him a good reputation.

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure: Unleashing Fear and Thrills

If you love all things supernatural, there’s one last place you must visit during your stay in Myrtle Beach. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is a purpose-built haunted house designed to frighten and delight. It’s a multi-story, year-round festival of scares. ‘Victims’ navigate through dimly lit corridors, encounter ghouls, and spine-chilling scares.

This attraction delivers a unique, immersive horror experience. Each room within the house features scary animatronics and terrifying live actors. Filled with blood-curdling sounds, unpredictability lurks around every corner!

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The sands of Myrtle Beach are soaked with history and hold a wealth of ghost stories and legends. Start your journey by exploring all the most haunted places in Myrtle Beach. Delve into the legend of Drunken Jack, and dine at a restaurant that celebrates this intriguing tale. Step into the music-filled atmosphere of The Bowery and keep an eye out for Barman Joe. His enduring presence serves as an eerie reminder of his sudden death and his lasting love for the bar.

Make your way to Pawleys Island to pay your respects to the tragic figure of Alice Flagg. Her heart-wrenching tale of forbidden love and death is forever memorialized at All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure offers a terrifying journey into the supernatural world. Prepare yourself for spine-chilling thrills, petrifying visual effects, and creepy ghouls around every corner.

Whether you’re a fan of the paranormal or intrigued by local folklore, explore the ghost stories and haunted places in Myrtle Beach on your next trip. Are you brave enough to meet these local legends?

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