For the more adventurous trick or treater we have Belmont’s Haunted Mill. For over 10 years The Haunted Mill has been scaring us each Halloween without fail. Each year they refit The Mill with new scenes and update active scenes. This year is the most ambitious, having more changes than any other season. Over the years as the business has grown,  owners have added The Purple Planet 3D Mini Golf (an indoor, climate controlled black light putt-putt course), a game arcade, and a party room that can be rented for any occasion. Make no bones about it, The Haunted Mill is in the business to scare and this year they are going all out with many new scenes and more actors and actresses.

The name for this local attraction came easy as the 100 year old mill has its own ghost story.

The Story Of Fred Bailey’s Haunted Mill

Fred Bailey, a building inspector of sorts, was one of the first on site when the building of Vision Hosiery Mills was taking place, overseeing the construction and making sure that everything went as planned. Based upon his responsibility and knowledge Fred should have been living well, but times were tough in this small town that was just starting to experience growth. Fred still took his job responsibilities, and the safety of the men very seriously. As the building started to take shape, the owner noticed Fred’s dedication and his attention to detail. Fred was approached with an offer of the job as Mill Keep which he would assume upon completion of the mill. The Mill Keep would live on site, oversee the workers, and maintain the building. Fred rejoiced at his new future of being the Mill Keep, feeling that someone had finally noticed his worth.

After that day Fred started to spend more and more time at the mill and became extremely intimate with every square inch. Many mornings the workers would come in to find Fred still in yesterday’s clothes walking the mill making inspections and notes. Fred’s thinking was that since this was going to be his building it was his duty to make sure that it was as perfect as it could be. Many times he would have the workers tear down sections they just finished and redo them because he did not feel it was right.

Fred quickly went from being respected to being resented by the workers. All the while the owner would keep praising Fred for his good work and telling him what an asset he will be to the mill once they open. The mill was finished with minimal delays and no fatal accidents. On the last day, the builders made final checks, finished cleaning areas up and ended the day. Fred stood on the steps of the mill as he watched them leave much like he did every day during the construction and then turned and went back inside.

The next morning when the mill opened for its first day to prepare to move in the employees were shocked and mortified to see the body of Fred Bailey hanging from the rafters.

It is at this point that the details become very sketchy. Some say he learned that he was not getting the job of Mill Keep and committed suicide, while others mostly believe there was foul play, either with a confrontation of the owner over the Mill Keepers Job or with one of the many disgruntled builders. While Fred died in the building he loved, his tortured soul is said to still roam the mill to this day.

Because many have experienced Fred’s presence consistently over such a long period of time, the story drew the attention of a Paranormal Investigation Team from Myrtle Beach that came and visited The Haunted Mill. What they saw and experienced was strong enough that they filmed a documentary on their investigation for Monster Vision TV which will be aired for their opening episode for their 3rd Season. You can view the trailer at http://www.thehauntedmillnc.com

Buddy and Bootsie Love, who oversee the day-to-day operations, recount stories of unexplained noises and shadowy figures passing into a room with no exits, which is found only to be empty upon investigation. There have even been times when The Haunted Mill attractions would activate with no one in the room and even when they are unplugged.  Many stories from employees and guests just don’t add up.

Buddy says it seems that Fred becomes much more active during October leading up to the busiest time of the year for The Haunted Mill and coincidentally, the month of Fred Bailey’s demise.

While the details of Fred’s story have not been able to be verified, the accounts of him being seen and felt throughout the mill are undeniable. So this year as you make your way through The Haunted Mill be sure to keep one eye open for Fred, he may be right beside you.