"We don't know much about 'Debby,'" says Michael Walker, the tour guide at McRaven House in Vicksburg, Miss., about the corn husk doll lying innocently in a wooden cradle. "We don't know where she came from, how old she is, or who owned her last. All we do know is that she likes moving around by herself."

He continues, "We'll come in here and find she's moved around the room when there's no one up here to move her around."

"Debby" is one of many haunting stories found inside the walls of the McRaven House, aka Mississippi's Most Haunted House and the third most haunted house in America, behind the Winchester House (California) and The Myrtles Plantation (Louisiana). The doll joins other spirits, such as Mary Elizabeth Howard, who died during childbirth in 1836. According to Walker, she dislikes having her belongings moved and has a soft spot for toddlers, children, and pregnant women. Then there's John Bobb, killed by Union soldiers in 1864, who, Walker says, along with his wife, Celine, make recurring appearances now and then. The tour guides are known to hear the chattering of a man and a woman, the swooshing of hoop skirts, and scents like lavender and cigar smoke associated with the couple.

While the stories of McRaven's spirits are plentiful, there's no guarantee you'll encounter any of them. However, Walker advises remaining aware of your surroundings; you might hear, smell, or feel something (or someone). Most importantly, keep your eyes peeled ("It's not uncommon to see a dead guy walking around," he says) and have your camera ready.

Nothing can beat a good ghost story or two or more. The South has plenty of tales that will spook even the most skeptical.

And the best news is that, regardless of the time of year, you can delight in the many frights throughout the region. Some are open for tours, some are on tours, and some you can view, either up close or at a distance, and believe the lore.

Fort Worth Stockyards

Texas

Some places, like the Fort Worth Stockyards, the past just can't let go. With a history that includes being the last “civilized” outpost for cowboys, becoming the largest livestock-trading center in the Southwest, and, during the Great Depression, the largest in the country, it's no wonder that The Stockyards are said to be one of Texas' most haunted historic districts.

Paranormal activity is found throughout sites such as Miss Molly's Hotel, which was once a boarding house, a Prohibition-era speakeasy and a bordello; the Stockyards Hotel, which once hosted Bonnie and Clyde; and the Cowtown Winery, where the Original Ghost Tour starts. Put on your walking shoes, grab a glass of their wine and listen to the many stories of The Stockyards.

Louisiana's Old State Capitol

Baton Rouge

The stately Neo-Gothic structure, known as the "Castle on the River" (ca. 1847), is said to be haunted by a host of spirits that include Sarah Morgan, whose family donated the land around the building; Civil War prisoners; and Avoyelles Parish Legislator Pierre Couvillon from the 1800s, who died of a heart attack in the Capitol's chambers.

Old Cahawba 

Orrville, Ala.

About 20 minutes from Selma, Old Cahawba is a ghost town in the genuine sense of the phrase. The area served as the state's first capital and was once a flourishing antebellum river town. However, over time and due to events beyond its control, the town's population dwindled to nothing, and all that remains today at what's now an archaeological site are a few structures and many ruins.

And ghosts.

There's the story of Pegues' Ghost, described as 'will-o'-the-wisp' or a ghostly light, and other strange occurrences.

The Orpheum Theatre

Memphis, Tenn.

The Orpheum Theatre is considered the "second-most haunted building in the city," according to a 2021 story by ActionNews 5. While 12-year-old "Mary," who met her demise near the theatre, is perhaps the best-known and most frequent spirit making appearances, others are also drawn to The Orpheum.

Bell Witch Cave

Adams, Tenn.

For 13 years, the Bell family lived peacefully on the secluded 320 acres of farmland along the Red River in Adams, but that all drastically came to an end in 1817.

The big question then became: what exactly was tormenting the Bell family, and why did it last for three years?

Well, the stories vary, but they include strange animals, eerie sounds, voices speaking and more. Whatever it was, it gained the attention of then-Gen. Andrew Jackson, who resided in Nashville, and supposedly came out to investigate.

The country's most famous ghost legend, and you can tour Bell Witch Cave, where it all occurred. Not only that, but you can even take a Lantern Tour, if you dare.

Check the website for the latest times, tours and events throughout the year.

Cemetery at Christ Church Frederica

St. Simons Island, Ga.

It wouldn't be a spirit round-up without mentioning a cemetery, and this one is at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island, where a flickering light can be seen. So, what is haunting this final resting place, this final stop, however you refer to a cemetery? It's a love story, in a way, with a husband visiting his wife in their afterlives.

Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail

Jackson County, Fla.

North of Marianna is the Bellamy Bridge Historic Site, a one-half-mile-long walking trail leading to the Bellamy Bridge (ca. 1914), believed to be the state's oldest structure of its type.

Of course, you know what more than likely means: there's a haunting, either on it or near it. 

According to the story, there's a spirit of a lady who passed away in 1837, roaming the bridge in search of her love, whom she promised to "forever and always," but when he died, he ended up buried miles away.

Historic Poinsett Bridge

Landrum, S.C.

The Historic Poinsett Bridge (ca. 1820) in Landrum was part of the state road that connected Charleston and Columbia with the North Carolina mountain communities into Tennessee.

It's also considered one of South Carolina's most haunted sites. Along with the stories that include a slain enslaved person, construction workers' deaths, and more, there are the unexplained lights, eerie screams and sounds, and the like.

Old Salem

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Settled in the 18th century by the Moravians, a group of German-speaking religious migrants who made their way from Pennsylvania to North Carolina (and other points), Old Salem, now one of the country's top preserved living history villages, has its share of ghostly legends. Here, you can learn more about the "Little Red Man," which is said to be Old Salem's most famous ghost story, as well as other stories.

The Tavern

Abingdon, Va.

The Tavern (ca. 1779) in Abingdon, Va., is one of the oldest historic buildings in the city and one of the oldest west of the Blue Ridge.

And, of course, it has its share of spirits that include dead soldiers and a friendly "hands-on" female.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

Corbin, Ky.

Referred to as the "Niagara of the South" and the only place in the Western Hemisphere to view a moonbow, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin is also home to one of the many spooky legends throughout Kentucky.

The setting was the 1950s, and a newlywed couple was honeymooning at Cumberland Falls. They wanted to take a photo, still in their wedding attire, with the falls in the background. Supposedly, the bride, who was on the edge of the cliff, lost her balance and fell to her death. Her spirit, in her wedding dress, haunts what is now known as "Lover's Leap."

It's the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America, and it served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill from the mid-1800s onward.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Weston, WVa.

Of course, the over 160-year-old Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston has many stories to tell, along with its share of hauntings. There have been reports of sightings, sounds and other unexplained activities you can learn about or try to discover for yourself.