Ghost Hunters of Boone, NC

We are a group of explorers. We search for the paranormal and the unknown. We are The Infiltrators...

Ghost Hunters of Boone, NC Haunted location: Saint John's Episcopal Church


Location: Valle Crucis, NC

Saint John's Episcopal Church

Valle Crusis is Latin for "Vale of the Cross," and is a reference to the three streams in the town that seem to form the shape of a cross. In the 1840s, the Episcopal missionary, William West Skiles came to the area and started the Church of the St. John the Baptist in 1926; he also founded a Missionary School.

Local legend says the priest hung himself on a rafter right in front of the alter. Not long after, the church closed down for many years. Upon reopening in the 1990s, people believe that the scores on the rafter in the front of the church are from the rope the priest used to hang himself and that the seemingly shipped away area underneath is where his bowels had let loose when he hanged himself.

The Church protests, saying he died of cancer in December 8th, 1862.

On July 1, 2001, his original headstone was moved.

Anyone who has investigated this location please contact us. We are interested in your experiences.

24 comments:

Scott May 13, 2009 at 6:22 AM  

As a college student at ASU we used to drive up to the church at night and hide in it. Then another group would bring people up who had never been there and tell them this legend. Well, when they got there and made it into the church, we were there waiting for them. Needless to say, I've seen some people run VERY fast out of that church. However, I can tell you that while we were in there waiting in the dark for the other to show up....it was quite spooky and unsettling.

Tom E May 13, 2009 at 8:59 AM  

I am sorry but this is wrong to post information that is so totally incorrect. Please rethink what you are posting.

Tom Eshelman

Scott May 13, 2009 at 9:10 AM  

Say what?

I'm sharing a personal experience. There's nothing incorrect about it.

Tom E May 13, 2009 at 11:48 AM  

I am not talking about your personal experience I am talking about the history printed about what you wrote. The dates are wrong, the information is wrong and the facts are completely wrong as stated in the history part.

Tom Eshelman

Scott May 13, 2009 at 12:10 PM  

Then you need to contact the people who run this blog. I just found the site and posted a comment. I didn't write the post.

Tom E May 13, 2009 at 1:01 PM  

One of the reasons the church is now locked at night is because so many ASU students in the past did not respect the fact that it is a church. They built fires inside on the floor and other acts of vandalism. It is so sad when people can't respect the property of others especially a church.

IraBot May 13, 2009 at 3:03 PM  

Hey fellas,

I appreciate the posts. Scott, I think you are a funny guy. I am always down for a good scaring.

Tom,
the information posted about Saint John's Episcopal Church was collected from an online source. Unfortunately you can't always count on information available online. If you know the history please post it here and we'll make the appropriate corrections and attribute you with the credit!

Thanks guys!

Tom E May 15, 2009 at 4:53 AM  

I will do that as soon as I have some time.

Aaron December 28, 2009 at 10:00 AM  

I grew up in Boone (Cove Creek) and went by the church on multiple occasions. The last time was with a big group and left b/c some of the ppl were trying to carve symbols into the floor for a circle. The very last time I drove by was on Halloween ~93 and there were 3-5 police cars stationed there and many cars slowing down then speeding off. I'm glad they are keeping it locked. The church is/was nice, historical and picturesque and should be protected.

Of the times we tried to contact "the other side," we never had any results.

Thanks for this, I've always wondered the real story. Or at least more info.

Anonymous March 24, 2010 at 8:31 PM  

I used to drink, get high and have some fun w/ the girls in that church and then I saw a ghost. He was huge, 7 foot tall and was a preacher. He asked for a drink, i obliged and we tore down. We danced all night while listening to the preacher give his fire and brimstone sermon. What a great time !!

Anonymous March 24, 2010 at 8:33 PM  

Tom E-
Quit correcting others ya whiny brat- You sound like a duke fan ! If you dont like the comments, then find some time in your busy schedule after you get off your greeting job at Walmart chump.

Anonymous December 13, 2010 at 6:42 PM  

Scott, we used to do the same thing--we would lay underneath the big pews and grab peoples legs (circa 1990).

Never vandalized the place, it was strange that it was unlocked!

The tombstones were all real old, really an interesting place.

Robert

christy July 25, 2011 at 10:06 AM  

I need some one that can look at pics I took. In the three window is a out line of a man hang. And one a the grave and one were there a man standing and looking up. Plz help. Would like to find out more on why or how this showed up on my cam.

KBV July 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM  

I was an ASU college student in 1989 and heard this legend as well. We visited the church one Halloween night. At that time the church was not being used. It was very scary,but not because of a ghost. It was dark and isolated.We were a bunch of students full of adrenaline. I am proud to say we did not desecrate that holy ground by drinking on it or trashing it. For years, I tried to find the church, but could not remember the correct road. When we were looking for a wedding venue, I came across St. John's and was elated to find that it had been restored for service. I've been back to St. John's many times over the past years that it has reopened. I've spent hours in the church alone in prayer and experiencing solitude and peace. I've taken hundreds of photos there. The only spirit I ever encountered was the Holy Spirit. I hope St. John's remains as is for a long time. It is truly a historical and holy place.

christy August 18, 2011 at 8:55 PM  

I have grown up around here and. I have pics to go with my story. U would belove if I could show you. And yes I have been there many many of time. Before this it was just me and my boyfriend. That night it was 330bam. We went out and justs started snapping pics. I felt like we need to leave. When I we got to the car I was goin though the pics and dropped the cam. And wouldn't let him stop till we were off the r.d. and I have showed,my family and friend. What we saw. And everyone can see what's in the pics its for real. I need some one to look at them. But what ever it was, was watching us the whole time. Every. Pics u can see his looking right at us. It was scary. .. but yes the church is very nice. And should always remain there. And. Ppl should fist it. But plz help.

Andrew. October 29, 2011 at 3:33 AM  

Been there maybe a dozen times or so never captured anything, but have experienced a few. The barn across from the church is where I have seen things. One night my family and I arrived, and there was a flower on every fence post, thinking nothing of it we walked to up to the church, after about an hour we walked back to the barn, and the flowers were gone. I've seen eyes in the top part of the barn, with no visible body, even when lighting it up with a spotlight.
@Christy...if you would like to e-mail me the photos to let you know my opinion, I'd be more than happy to look them over.
hshit18@yahoo.com

Anonymous November 4, 2013 at 11:33 PM  

I'm goint to take some time and contact others who were with me the night 4 of us visited this old church in the late 70's. We were all horrified to the point one was almost taken to the emergency room. Im no nut, this place either was or still is haunted. Without doubt. Story to come.

Unknown July 30, 2014 at 4:10 PM  

I am Michael Renegar, ASU alumnus, and author pf ROADSIDE REVEVNANTS AND OTHER NORTH CAROLINA GHOSTS AND LEGENDS. The story that Rev. Skiles hanged himself out there are patently false. The priest died of consumption in Linville, while caring for a parishioner. This is historical fact. NO priest killed himself out there.

Unknown July 30, 2014 at 4:12 PM  

I am Michael Renegar, ASU alumnus, and author pf ROADSIDE REVEVNANTS AND OTHER NORTH CAROLINA GHOSTS AND LEGENDS. The story that Rev. Skiles hanged himself out there are patently false. The priest died of consumption in Linville, while caring for a parishioner. This is historical fact. NO priest killed himself out there.

Unknown November 24, 2016 at 11:13 AM  

Is this church still operational? I can find no website for the church, and have been to take photos during the day. It was gorgeous and would be an amazing wedding venue. Does anyone know?

DanielC September 13, 2017 at 9:28 AM  

Hey Alisha, the church is still used during the summer months and is kept-up by the Church of the Holy Cross. Contact the Rector of the Church of Holy Cross for more information on services.

Unknown December 8, 2018 at 10:07 AM  

I'm interested in taking a look

pdollar October 5, 2020 at 11:27 PM  

Oh I remember when they locked the doors!Me and my ex husband who was my boyfriend back in the day 1990. We would see the lights come on & then go out while sitting on the porch at his grandpa's house. My aunt Carlene Dollar & uncle Richard Dollar & many others are buried at St. John's.Sad The doors s don't swing freely like they did back in the day. College Kids Ruined A Beautiful Church. I believe anyone who vandalized this church will reap the seeds they sowed!

Anonymous February 21, 2024 at 10:07 PM  

I grew up going to family picnics at this church me and my cousins played in the church alot one year my aunt was filming the church as they drove up my cousin in the background ask who god was or what heaven was I can't remember but right as my cousin ask the whole church was athe glare of a cross she took it to some specialist who said the church is filled with spirits

Our Purpose...

This group of Ghost Hunters has been created to prove and disprove the paranormal. It is our goal to be the number one source for Paranormal investigations in the western mountains of North Carolina. Our office is located in the Mountains of Boone, NC. Home of APP State University. We travel from one end of the North Carolina to the other in search of the paranormal.
We investigate haunted locations that time has forgotten. Sometimes these locations are not accessable by ordinary means. Sometimes, these areas must be infiltrated.
All evidence will be uploaded here! We encourage fellow Ghost Hunters to review the evidence and post there thoughts and findings.

Currently seeking ghost hunters and suggestions...

Please contact us anytime via email if you have suggestions or if you are interested in joining The Infiltrators. We are always seeking the assistance of fellow Ghost Hunters. In or around Boone NC.
Our email address is: ncinfiltrator@gmail.com.
We are looking for individuals with a passion for ghost hunting around the Western Mountains of North Carolina. Fellow ghost hunters please contact if interested.
If you have a suggestion please include as much information as possible. We are always looking for haunted locations to investigate as well.

Fellow Ghost Hunters

Our ghost hunting equipment...

We receive many questions from fellow Ghost Hunters concerning the technology that we use. Some have asked about EMF meters, IR thermometers and etc. We do not use such devices in our investigations typically. Namely, you cannot use such information as evidence. Theories yes, but not solid evidence. We attempt to prove/disprove the existance of ghosts using die hard proof.

Our main focus is the evidence that can only be collected from sight and sound. Feelings are important but naturally they are too easily influenced by surroundings, atmosphere and the etc, so they do not account for much here.

Digital Cameras (from SLR’s to point and click), Digital Audio Recorders (multiple models), Night Vision Camcorders (HD based systems) DVR, and more. All these tools and more assist us in our investrigations of haunted locations in North Carolina as we search for ghosts, spirits, and other paranormal oddities.