Brocarde, a paranormal expert, embarked on one of her most chilling ghost hunts yet – paddling a canoe through pitch-black, 'cursed' waters where restless spirits are said to lurk beneath. The trip took place on the Caney Fork River in Silver Point, Tennessee, at a location known as Cemetery Cove.
A Sign on the Road to the Smoky Mountains
Brocarde first discovered the Haunted Canoe Trip after spotting a giant roadside sign while driving from Nashville to the Smoky Mountains. The attraction normally runs only during Halloween, but the owner of Canoe the Caney kindly arranged a private trip for her.
The evening began at sunset around a roaring fire, where local guides shared the chilling history of Cemetery Cove. The nearby cemetery sits within what is now a Christian camp, but the site has lived many lives, serving previously as a military recreation base and a school. Many believe the land carries a curse that punishes anyone who dares mock its supernatural reputation.
Stories of Skinwalkers and a Boy Found in Blood
One story tells of a group of schoolchildren who regularly sneaked into the cemetery searching for ghosts. One boy reportedly dismissed the legends, laughing at tales of skinwalkers and spirits. According to local folklore, his friends left him alone among the graves one evening. When they returned the following morning, they allegedly found him lying in a pool of blood with his head against a gravestone. He survived, but locals claim he never spoke about what happened.
The haunting isn't confined to the lake. The surrounding area is said to include cursed woodland, a haunted playground, and numerous paranormal hotspots that visitors claim to experience before they even reach the water.
Submerged Graves from the 1940s
The lake itself has an unsettling history. During the 1940s, an entire town and its cemeteries, some dating back to the 1800s, were deliberately flooded to create the reservoir. While some graves were relocated, many locals insist others were left behind beneath the water. During periods of drought, old gravestones can reportedly still be seen emerging from the lakebed.
According to local accounts, the exhumations were carried out with little care, with some bodies allegedly placed together in shared graves rather than being respectfully reburied individually. Believers claim this disturbance left many spirits unable to rest peacefully.
The Haunted Playground and a Mother's Tragedy
Before launching the canoe, Brocarde explored the former military base, passing the site of an old playground where one of the area's darkest ghost stories is said to have unfolded. According to local legend, a military wife watched her young daughter happily playing on the swings with three other children while she briefly went inside to check on dinner after smelling something burning. Moments later she heard a blood-curdling scream. Racing back outside, she allegedly found her daughter lying beneath the swings with a broken neck. The three children had vanished.
The story claims police later told the grieving mother there had been no other children in the camp that evening, fuelling speculation that the mysterious playmates were ghosts. The swings have long since disappeared, but visitors still point to a nearby tree that has grown into the shape of a pitchfork, which some believe represents the Devil's mark.
Paddling into the Cove: An Unseen Force
Brocarde climbed into the canoe as stars filled the sky and reflected across the glass-like water. Paddling into Cemetery Cove proved surprisingly difficult. Despite her efforts, she constantly felt as though an unseen force was pushing her back out, almost as if she wasn't welcome there.
Locals have their own explanation. They say motor boats frequently suffer unexplained engine failures within the cove, only to be mysteriously restarted after encounters with the ghost of a fisherman known simply as Buddy, who is said to continue helping stranded visitors long after his death.
A Woman Dragged Underwater
One of the most unsettling stories Brocarde heard came from the crew of a party boat. According to the account, a woman suddenly disappeared beneath the water. Her friends desperately tried to pull her back aboard but claimed they felt an invisible force tugging her deeper beneath the surface. They remained convinced something beneath the water had been trying to claim her.
Brocarde reflected: 'It's exactly the sort of story you don't want playing over in your mind when the only thing separating you from the lake is a narrow canoe, floating above submerged graves.'
An Unforgettable Experience
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, spending the night paddling across Cemetery Cove is an unforgettable experience. Between its remarkable history, eerie atmosphere, and spine-chilling local legends, it's easy to understand why the lake has earned such a haunted reputation. If you ever find yourself in Silver Point, Tennessee, and you're brave enough to take to the water after dark, Canoe The Caney’s Haunted Ghost Trip is one ghost hunt you won't forget.
