EDITOR’S NOTE: Strangeville explores the legends, folklore, and unexplained history of Western North Carolina. From Cherokee mythology and Appalachian ghost stories to Bigfoot sightings and UFO encounters, the Blue Ridge Mountains have long been a hotspot for the strange and mysterious. Join us as we dig into the past and uncover the truth behind the region’s most curious tales.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Nestled in the heart of the Montford Historic District, Riverside Cemetery is a place where history whispers through the trees and legends endure. Established in 1885, the 87-acre burial ground was designed as a garden-style cemetery, a 19th-century approach that blended public park and memorial space. Today, its rolling hills, paved paths and towering oaks make it as much a sanctuary for the living as a resting place for the dead.
Visitors strolling the three miles of winding roads will find themselves surrounded by a landscape that feels more like a park than a graveyard. It’s no wonder Riverside Cemetery draws thousands of visitors each year, not only for its tranquility but for its stories…