Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier is an eerie lake in Georgia, about three hours southeast of Asheville.
One of my friends mentioned she had heard about it while hiking, and that I should check it out. (Shout out to Kaitlyn.)
She said that it’s supposed to be wildly haunted, has had an abnormal amount of deaths, and that you can even scuba over entire towns and cemeteries!
She also mentioned that people who have camped there have reported hearing sounds of children crying at the lake (which apparently lures you out of your tent and toward the disembodied voices).
If I knew how to set up a tent, I definitely would have planned a camping trip, but I don’t—so planned a day trip to swim, instead.
On that note, Lake Lanier (like many places on Earth) has a very disturbing history, sadly.
Fast forward to summer 2024, and there have been *over* 700 deaths since the 1950’s.
And it’s not like all these deaths happened at once like everyone was gobbled up by some scary (yet adorable) lake monster—these deaths have been spread out over the years.
So what better fun than to go for a swim where it’s rumored you might be dragged under by the slimy, decayed arm of a water ghost?
I decided to go to ‘Keith’s Bridge’ because people online said it was a less crowded area of the vast lake.
About 10 minutes from my arrival at the lake, I drove by an abnormally large vulture hanging out in the road, snacking. “Hello my little friend!” I exclaimed as I slowly rolled past.
Next was a cemetery… So spooky, I thought.
Ok so right when you get up to Keith’s Bridge, you’ll want to pull over to your right and pay for your parking (it’s $5).
Insider tip: Keith’s Bridge does have a restroom area. It's up past the swimming zone, so if you prefer to change at the lake, you’re in luck.
Also, you don’t have to pee in the lake—so that’s a bonus.
When I first got over to the swimming area, I noticed a little yellow thing kind of encapsulating a section. I wasn’t sure what it was, but saw a sign that said “danger large drop off,” so (naturally) swam past it.
The swim was nice, and the water was a good temperature. BUT—I definitely felt an eerie presence, *only* in the water.
To the right of the swimming area is a great spot for a picnic! It’s got an amazing view of the lake and is super lush and green.
So, what are you waiting for? Head out to Lake Lanier and see for yourself if you get dragged under the water to your ultimate demise by a lake phantom.
