EDITOR’S NOTE: Strangeville explores the curious and unexplained stories that have long defined Asheville and Western North Carolina. The region is full of unanswered questions, from old folklore and local legends to eerie encounters, unsolved moments in history, and the true-crime mysteries that still leave people wondering. Each week, we look back with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, trying to understand why some stories take hold and why some can never be explained.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Nestled in the heart of the Montford Historic District, Riverside Cemetery is a place where history whispers through the trees and legends endure. Established in 1885, the 87-acre burial ground was designed as a garden-style cemetery, a 19th-century approach that blended public park and memorial space. Today, its rolling hills, paved paths and towering oaks make it as much a sanctuary for the living as a resting place for the dead.

Visitors strolling the three miles of winding roads will find themselves surrounded by a landscape that feels more like a park than a graveyard. It’s no wonder Riverside Cemetery draws thousands of visitors each year, not only for its tranquility but for its stories.

Some of North Carolina’s most notable figures are buried in Riverside. Author Thomas Wolfe, whose novel Look Homeward, Angel immortalized Asheville, rests here alongside short story master O. Henry. Former governors Zebulon Vance and Locke Craig share the grounds with architects, educators and even George Masa, the photographer who helped shape the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

But Riverside’s serene facade hides a darker reputation. Locals and visitors alike whisper of hauntings that trace back to the Civil War. The cemetery sits near the site of the Battle of Asheville, and some claim the echoes of cannon fire still rumble through the hills. Others report shadowy figures in Confederate gray, appearing and vanishing among the headstones.

Ghost hunters frequently stop at Riverside, drawn by tales of German soldiers from World War I whose spirits are said to linger near their shared plot. Paranormal investigators have captured strange orbs and misty shapes near the old receiving vault, and visitors speak of disembodied voices, footsteps and even children’s laughter drifting on the wind.

Whether fact or folklore, these stories have made Riverside Cemetery one of Asheville’s most atmospheric landmarks. A place where beauty and mystery converge. For those seeking peace, history or a brush with the unexplained, Riverside offers all three in equal measure.

Riverside Cemetery

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