Ghost tours across Huntersville and Davidson open in October, inviting residents to explore the eerie history hiding beneath Lake Norman and inside some of the area's oldest buildings.

A Revolutionary War battlefield, a crashed amphibian aircraft and a reported 15-foot lake creature all share the same address: somewhere beneath the lake's 32,500 acres.

A battlefield beneath the water

The Battle of Cowan's Ford took place on the foggy morning of Feb. 1, 1781, along the Catawba River in what is now the Huntersville area, according to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Gen. William Lee Davidson was killed in the fighting. His body was recovered and buried at Hopewell Presbyterian Church on Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville, where his grave remains.

The town of Davidson and Davidson College both carry his name.

The battlefield itself disappeared between 1959 and 1964, when Duke Power dammed the Catawba River to create Lake Norman. A memorial to the battle stands across from McGuire Nuclear Station. Before the flooding, some cemeteries had to be relocated so living relatives could continue visiting their loved ones.

A plane 90 feet down

In September 2013, a Charlotte Fire Department dive team running practice drills with sonar found a plane sitting 90 feet below the surface, invisible from above. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft was a Lake LA-4 amphibian involved in an accident in September 1974, as reported by WBTV. The FAA said the plane's last owner was a deceased North Carolina resident. Visit Lake Norman identified that owner as John Gibson, developer of Lake Norman Air Park.

The legend of Normie

Then there is Normie, the lake's resident monster. Visit Lake Norman reports dozens of alleged sightings over the years, with witnesses describing enormous fins, multiple humps, glowing eyes and a length of at least 15 feet. Warm spots in the lake, created by power plants' underwater steam vents, have fueled speculation about what might lurk beneath the surface.

Scientists have found alligators and a rare species of freshwater jellyfish in the lake, though Visit Lake Norman says the alligators have all been removed.

An anonymous Mooresville resident reported a sighting in August 2024, describing a fast-moving, dark shape at least 15 feet long skimming the surface during a super moon.

Ghost tours and haunted walks

Residents looking to explore the lore in person have several options in October.

Hugh Torance House and Store ghost tours run Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at 8231 Gilead Road in Huntersville. The Charlotte Area Paranormal Society leads guests through the late-1700s homesite with investigative equipment. Tickets are $25 per person, limited to 24 guests per tour. Attendees must be 12 or older and accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at ticketstripe.com.

Historic Cedar Grove ghost tour takes place Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at 8229 Gilead Road in Huntersville. The adjacent 1831 Greek Revival home was built by James Torance. Tickets are $40 per person, limited to 40 guests. The same age requirements apply. Tickets are at ticketstripe.com.

Ghosts of Davidson offers 90-minute walking tours of downtown Davidson on Fridays and Saturdays. Founded in 2020 by then-15-year-old Davidson resident Andrew Knorpp, the tour is now run by Rachel Workman, a Lake Norman area resident for more than 20 years. Two routes are available: Davidson After Dark North, starting at the public library steps, and a new Davidson After Dark South route, starting outside Table and Board. David Boraks, a local historic home owner, described the tour on the Ghosts of Davidson website as "a fun look back at the town you thought you knew." Check ghostsofdavidson.com for October dates and availability.

Upcoming events

• Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. — Ghost tours, Hugh Torance House and Store, 8231 Gilead Road, Huntersville. $25. Tickets.
• Saturday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. — Ghost tour, Historic Cedar Grove, 8229 Gilead Road, Huntersville. $40. Tickets.
• Fridays and Saturdays in October — Ghosts of Davidson walking tours, downtown Davidson. ghostsofdavidson.com.
• Year-round — Hopewell Presbyterian Church and cemetery, 10500 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville. The oldest cemetery holds burials dating to 1775.