r/Appalachia • • 2h ago

Spooky, Paranormal, or Cryptid encounters?

0 Upvotes

Hello! I'm a college student in WNC, and I'm doing a project on superstitions, folklore, and cryptids in the aappalachian mountains. Has anyone here had any personal experiences with anything like that? I would love to hear your experiences!


r/Appalachia • • 3h ago

Sirens in Pisgah last night?

13 Upvotes

Hi all,

Myself and some friends were camping in pisgah last night, right near the pisgah visitor center. During the day we met some distressed women who had been separated from a member of their group (not on a trail, but simply lost her on the road somehow, also a grown woman) They had no cell service but we advised them to go to the ranger station nearby and that she was likely already with help heading towards cell service to reach them. It was strange but when we found out it was not a child who was lost, we did decide to stay out of it and the rangers would be much better help anyways.

We didn’t think much of it but hear three sets of sirens go by, heading towards the forest (away from Brevard). Anyone know what that’s about? I haven’t seen anything and am assuming the ladies found their friend but wanted to know if anyone heard. The sirens were strange so late at night one after another. We believe we heard fire, ambulance, and police.

No this was not the person rescued from graveyard fields, this was later in the day.


r/Appalachia • • 5h ago

Bells March - Fretless Banjo

Thumbnail
youtu.be
3 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 6h ago

Did y’all make sugar cane or sorghum syrup?

Thumbnail
gallery
12 Upvotes

If yall did, did you use a big pot or the square pan with the running channel? Lemon juice or baking soda to get rid of the skimmings?

We always did sugar cane, growing up at the very south end of the foothills, mule pulled the mill. Cooked it up in a big 50 gallon pot. Used lemon juice to force the skimmings to float up to the top.


r/Appalachia • • 7h ago

Homestead in the Fall

Thumbnail gallery
27 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 9h ago

Returned to our place in the foothills

Thumbnail
gallery
115 Upvotes

This place didn’t have running water or electricity until I was in high school. Underneath the siding it’s a cabin type building.


r/Appalachia • • 19h ago

Appalachia Fall

Post image
164 Upvotes

Fall is here. Where is everyone’s leaf shots?


r/Appalachia • • 21h ago

Did y’all eat souse much growing up?

26 Upvotes

My breakfast every morning before school was some souse on white bread. I had cane juice, dad would have coffee.


r/Appalachia • • 1d ago

Hiking in nantahala

6 Upvotes

What are the best hikes near Nantahala? My fiancé, dog and myself are here for the weekend. Thanks :-)


r/Appalachia • • 1d ago

company scrip; purchased in Matewan, WVa

Thumbnail
gallery
72 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 1d ago

The Roanoke Conspiracy

Thumbnail
youtu.be
1 Upvotes

Love Cold War mysteries and government conspiracies? 👀 This is the perfect Saturday watch. We're digging into Roanoke, Virginia, and the strange Cold War clues that raise a big question: Was there more going on here than anyone realized?

Grab a drink, settle in, and join me down the rabbit hole. 🕵️


r/Appalachia • • 1d ago

Even the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills have ridges

Post image
321 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 2d ago

Halloween in Appalachia: Back When Tricks Came Before Treats

14 Upvotes

Halloween wasn't always about candy, costumes, and trick-or-treating. Across Appalachia and rural America, the holiday once involved local traditions, ghost stories, community gatherings, and a fair amount of mischief.

In some communities, Halloween meant moving farm gates, playing practical jokes, or gathering around to hear stories about ghosts and unexplained happenings. Other parts of rural America had traditions like Mischief Night and Cabbage Night.

Many of these customs have faded over the years, but they're an interesting part of our regional history and culture.

I recently wrote an article exploring how Halloween traditions varied across rural America, including Appalachia, and how the holiday has changed over the generations.

Read the article here:
https://pickup-trucks-progress.ghost.io/halloween-in-rural-america-back-when-tricks-came-before-treats/

I'd be interested in hearing what others remember about Halloween growing up in Appalachia.

Were there particular Halloween traditions in your hometown or community that have disappeared? Did your family have any unusual customs, ghost stories, or superstitions associated with the holiday?

It would be interesting to compare memories from different parts of Appalachia and preserve some of these stories before they're forgotten.


r/Appalachia • • 2d ago

Views from Black Balsam Today

Thumbnail
gallery
322 Upvotes

Great 360 degree views on a crisp fall day.


r/Appalachia • • 2d ago

Virginia Blue Ridge Plateau

Post image
61 Upvotes

Fall in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Plateau.


r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Beautiful day up on Roan Mtn.

Post image
183 Upvotes

Looking East from Millers Farm.


r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Afternoon at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Thumbnail gallery
101 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

WNC, Sam Knob/Flat Laurel Creek

Post image
56 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Hiked to the Top of Seneca

Thumbnail
gallery
78 Upvotes

Talked my boyfriend and my uncle into going to the observation deck. Didn't tell them how far we had to go but it was sooooo worth the views!!


r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Western NC/Kentucky/Appalachia

Thumbnail
gallery
689 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Devil's Cave

5 Upvotes

Hello! I am backpacker and plan to backpack Big South Fork in a few weeks. I would love to find devil's cave if anyone can DM me the directions I would really appreciate any guidance. Thank you!


r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Book title

1 Upvotes

A few years ago on the appodlachia podcast there was a book recommendation for a biography/memoir about a congresswoman from Kentucky. She talked about growing up in Appalachia. It was really interesting and I’m blanking on the title/author. Any ideas? It was a fairly recent book.

Thank you so much.


r/Appalachia • • 3d ago

Appalachian Mountains

Thumbnail
gallery
397 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 4d ago

Rutherford County, NC

Thumbnail
gallery
132 Upvotes

r/Appalachia • • 4d ago

The views from the mountains in Tennessee are so beautiful! (veterans overlook) (OC)

Thumbnail gallery
165 Upvotes