The Good Ghost of The Carolina Coast

By Christine Vernon

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. It is a time to enjoy the cooler temperatures along the beach, the familiar aroma of pumpkin spice, and the approach of Halloween. But when you live on the coast, it also marks the conclusion of hurricane season.  I always breathe a heavy sigh of relief when the local weather person announces its official end.

We are more fortunate today when it comes to hurricane preparedness. We have warnings and updates through television, radio, and cell phones. But we do have a more antiquated hurricane warning system here on the South Strand. I’m not speaking of blaring sirens or phone alerts. I am speaking of a person. Well, a spirit. Locals and visitors count on this ghostly specter during the tropical storm season. His name is the Gray Man.

Yes, we have faith in an old legend of a ghostly gray figure who walks the South Strand shore warning people to evacuate the area before a devastating storm strikes. And if you are lucky enough to see him, you and your property will be spared.

The Gray Man story was the first legend I heard when I moved to Murrells Inlet in 2005. I had read a similar story when I vacationed in North Carolina as a child, but from what locals tell me, our Gray Man story came first. I was so taken by the hauntingly romantic tale that I published a novel about my research on the main characters. There are at least three different versions of the story, but this is the first rendition I heard when I moved to the area.

In 1822, a young lady and gentleman from Pawleys Island wanted to be married. But the young man had to leave town for an extended period to raise money for their wedding. He kept in touch with his fiancé, writing her letters whenever possible. In the fall of 1822, the young girl received a letter from her love. He would be arriving in Pawleys Island in 2 weeks, and they could be wed. She spent every day preparing for the wedding.

When the two weeks passed, the young bride-to-be sent a servant with a horse to meet the young man’s ship. When the boat pulled into the harbor, the young man recognized and greeted his servant. The gentleman immediately jumped on his horse and galloped away. The young man was so excited to be back home he decided to take a shortcut through the marsh. That would be a deadly mistake. The marsh is filled with dangerous creatures such as poisonous snakes and alligators. But there was something more deadly beneath the murky water: pluff mud. The mud reacted like quicksand. The horse tripped and threw his rider into the marsh. The young man was pulled under the mud and died from his injuries.

Hours later, the servant found his master, but it was too late. He rode back to tell the young lady that her fiancé was dead. She was beside herself with grief. She ran to the beach and prayed that her loved one would return. Day after day, she walked the beach until one day she saw a man approach her. He was dressed in gray, the same color as the pluff mud. When she wiped the tears from her eyes, she realized it was her fiancé. She ran to him with open arms, but he raised his hand to stop her. He announced that a hurricane was approaching and that she and her family must leave Pawleys Island. Then, the apparition disappeared. The young girl ran home and told her parents what transpired. They packed their belongings and headed inland for a few days to calm their daughter’s fears.

Days later, the great storm of 1822 hit the island. When the family found it safe to return, they witnessed the devastation. Every house in the region was destroyed except their home, which remained standing after the storm.

This is the legend of the Gray Man, and we take it very seriously, y’all. He has appeared before every major hurricane since 1822. A family in Pawleys Island witnessed the Gray Man before Hurricane Hugo of 1989, and their home and lives were spared. He was also sighted before Hurricane Florence in 2018. Many say they witnessed a gray figure wandering the beach before Hurricane Hazel and Gracie in the 1950s.

So, when you and your family spend your summers here, we hope you enjoy your stay along our sandy beaches. And if you happen to see a gray man approach you… RUN!