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It’s October, the scariest time of the year. And for those who enjoy the change of seasons and the events of October, the Mysterious Candlelight Tours of the Carter Mansion will return Thursday, Oct. 15, and Thursday, Oct. 22. Tours will be held both evenings at 7:30 and 8:30 with a maximum of 10 people per tour.
The tour is recommended for children age 10 and up. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 17 and under.
October is the time for ghost stories, and when certain old houses such as the historic Carter Mansion take on an ominous appearance. If you have ever wondered what goes on at night in a house that’s over 200 years old and willing to brave the darkness and shadows, the candlelight tours are inviting.
Carter Mansion curator Chad Bogart will lead a tantalizing tour of this old house built by John and Landon Carter in 1775. The tour will include tales of ghostly appearances, unexplained happenings, mysterious past events, strange superstitions, and other unusual goings-ons with a bit of history and humor thrown in.
To make reservations for the tour, go to www.tnstateparks.com/parks/events/sycamore-shoals or call 543-5808.
Other October events include Scary Stories at Fort Watauga Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event will be held in the amphitheater behind Fort Watauga. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.
The evening will include family friendly stories, songs, and tales sure to send a shiver down your spine and tickle your funny bone.
Also Living History Saturdays at Fort Watauga will be celebrated Oct. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. when a member of the interpretive staff will showcase a slice of colonial frontier life —everything from 18th century woodworking and musket demonstrations to open hearth cooking and quill pen writing.
Guided tours are also planned Oct. 3 and 17 and October 4 and 18 at Sabine Hill Historic Site. The Saturday tours are at 11:30 a.m. and the Sunday tours are at 1:30 p.m.
Seasonal Interpreter Laura Ellis will lead a guided tour of this stately home which has been described as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the state of Tennessee.
There is a charge for the tours and pre-registration is required. For more information call the park office at 543-5808.
Also, guided tours will be offered by Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield at the Carter Mansion on Saturdays, Oct. 10 and 24, at 11:30 a.m., and Sundays, Oct. 11 and 25, at 1:30 p.m.
There is also a charge for the tour and pre-registration is required. More information can be obtained by calling the park office.