THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The Old Newbern Jail has developed a local reputation for paranormal activity and has attracted paranormal investigators interested in the nearly two-century-old building. Visitors and investigators have associated the jail's surviving cells and historic atmosphere with unexplained activity, although no single named spirit or specific recurring apparition has been reliably documented. Because the paranormal claims are based primarily on local tradition and investigation rather than historical evidence, the Newbern Jail is best regarded as a reputed haunt rather than a confirmed site of any particular ghost.
Built in 1848, the Old Newbern Jail is Pulaski County's oldest surviving public building. Newbern served as the county seat before the courthouse was destroyed by fire and the county government eventually moved to Pulaski. The brick jail survived and remains part of the Newbern Historic District. The property is owned by the New River Historical Society and stands along historic Wilderness Road near the Wilderness Road Regional Museum.