THE STORY
Reported Haunting
Spartanburg's Oakwood Cemetery, widely nicknamed Hell's Gate in local ghost lore, is associated with apparitions, unexplained cries and screams, strange lights and reports of electronics malfunctioning in the older sections.
Oakwood Cemetery at 184 Oakwood Avenue is one of Spartanburg's historic burial grounds and has long circulated under the paranormal nickname Hell's Gate. Stories concentrate especially on the older and lower sections of the cemetery, with reports of fleeting figures, voices or cries, shadowy movement, unexplained lights and an oppressive atmosphere. Modern visitors also report phones, cameras and other electronics behaving strangely. Individual legends vary considerably by source, so this entry focuses on the recurring cemetery-wide reports rather than presenting any one dramatic origin story as fact. As an active cemetery, the property should be visited only during permitted hours and with respect for graves and mourners.