Naked Vegan to Poinsett Bridge: A Haunted Evening in South Carolina

Last fall, I wandered out to Poinsett Bridge in Landrum, South Carolina, just before dark—with a vegan snack in my bag and the vague feeling that maybe I shouldn’t be there alone. I never ended up posting the story… but haunted places don’t really have seasons.

Fueling Up at Naked Vegan

Naked Vegan is a 100% vegan restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina, off McAllister Road—with an extensive menu full of options like chicken sandwiches, mac & cheese, juices, and more.

Enjoy your food there (the vibes more than check). Or take it to go to Poinsett Bridge and have yourself a little outdoor picnic by the babbling brook, where the trees reverberate with the tortured wails of the lost souls who haunt the forest.

I ate my meal at Naked Vegan and took some dessert to-go to enjoy among the Poinsett Phantoms.

Ok, so my “Koochie Kat” fish filet sandwich was delish. The filet itself came on a perfectly chewy pretzel bun, topped with dill pickles and loaded with veggies and vegan cheese.

I subbed my fries for sweet potato, added chipotle ranch dipping sauce (obviously), and made the meal whole by adding a Capri Sun.

Heading Toward the Historic Poinsett Bridge

Dessert in hand, I headed up to Poinsett Bridge, which is about 40 minutes from the restaurant. From there, you’ve got another hour to get back to Asheville, so be prepared for an adventure.

According to Only In Your State, it’s quite possibly the most haunted place on Earth. Some locals even warn not to visit after dark.

So naturally, I planned to visit after dark.

Park here (I think).

Then walk across the street, and down you go!

When I first began to explore, I immediately heard cracking sounds in the forest. Eek.

It was a cardinal. Well… an abnormal number of cardinals.

Fun fact: Cardinals are often considered messengers that bridge the gap between this realm and the spirit realm.

Check out the stone historical plaque, then walk down to your left to the under-the-bridge area.

So I didn’t wear my hiking shoes, but if I were to go again, I would. It’s not really a hike, but there are uneven roots on the walk down and slippery spots by the water. So… careful.

The under-the-bridge area was spooky yet intoxicatingly refreshing, with the lull of rushing water.

After exploring below, I decided to head back up to the road that crosses over it. By this point, darkness had really begun to blanket the bridge and the surrounding forest.

So I’m not sure if it was the dusk settling in or just the area itself, but the top road part of the bridge began to feel extra spooky.

And by spooky, I mean scary.

It was at this point I realized I had left my dessert in the car—and decided to head out.

🚗 Pro Tip (learn from me)

Maybe download the route for your drive home before you adventure out there, because you probably won’t have any signal.

Otherwise, you might end up lost on winding, dusk-blanketed roads, driving about 20 mph while your GPS betrays you, and your sense of direction quickly dissolves.

Next thing you know, a long line of cars begins to tailgate you, and you feel like you’re being hunted by a Honda Civic while crying and shouting, “I just want to go home.”

Perhaps Poinsett Bridge really is the most haunted place on Earth?

Pro Tip: Maybe save that dessert from Naked Vegan, so you’ll have something to comfort-eat when you get home.

Food Phantom Verdict

🌱 Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👻 Spookiness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🚗 Getting There: mildly terrifying after dark

 

Written by Jennifer Donner
The Food Phantom