Written By: Alex DeLuca
Tuscaloosa has a long, rich history filled with stories of war, peace, protests, progress, — and ghosts? From infamous hospitals to eerie museums, here are five of Tuscaloosa’s most notorious haunts to put on your radar this spooky season.
- Gorgas Library and House
One of the most recognizable buildings on The University of Alabama’s campus is Gorgas Library, with giant concrete pillars looking over the Quad. This sprawling seven-story building houses tens of thousands of books and is a student favorite for studying and research. It is named after Amelia Gayle Gorgas, previous university librarian and wife of 8th UA president Josiah Gorgas. Library staff have reported the elevator moving of its own accord to the fourth floor, where Mrs. Gorgas’ desk was located. Next to the library stands Gorgas House Museum, the oldest building on UA’s campus- and possibly the most haunted. In fact, Crash Media Paranormal recently conducted an investigation here and documented some chilling footage. (You can watch here).
2. The Historic Drish House
This distinctive Drish House mansion was built in 1837 on the plantation of Dr. John R. Drish. Over the years, it changed hands many times — converted into the Jemison School in 1906, later used as a warehouse by a wrecking company, and eventually purchased by the Southside Baptist Church, which occupied it until the late 1990s. After falling into disrepair, the house was bought again in 2012 and restored in 2016 as an elegant event venue. With its long and varied history, the Drish House is also known as one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
In 1867, Dr. John Drish tragically fell down the stairs while drunk in the house. His wife, Sarah, held a wake for him in the tower that still stands today. A year later, overwhelmed with grief, she jumped from that same tower. It’s said she wished for candles, like those at John’s wake, to be lit at her funeral, but that never happened. Many believe her spirit haunts the tower, still searching for peace.
Visitors have reported seeing a woman in white wandering the halls or looking out the windows, thought to be Sarah Drish, forever linked to her past.Current owner Nikka McCool describes often hearing “the front door open and close, sometimes a distinctive whistling, and two little girls laughing,” and smelling “fresh roses, even when there are no flowers in the house.” “I think the ghosts that are here are doing their own thing, I don’t think they’re malicious,” McCool said. “Mrs. Drish lived here a long time and she just didn’t move out.”
Schedule an appointment or tour to experience both historical beauty and enduring local supernatural lore.
3. Bryce Hospital
Opened in 1861, Bryce Hospital was once the oldest and largest mental institution in Alabama. It was world-renowned for progressive methods and innovative scientific treatments. However, as the decades passed, the institution became overcrowded and understaffed, leading to abysmal living conditions. The hospital was eventually sold to The University of Alabama in 2010, later undergoing an extensive remodeling process to transform it into the Randall Welcome Center that opened in 2024, located at 200 Bryce Lawn Drive. Here you can visit the Bryce Hospital Museum, showcasing the history and timeline of this fascinating institution and all the people it possessed.
4. Smith Hall
Located in the heart of The University of Alabama’s campus is Smith Hall, home to the Alabama Museum of Natural History at 427 6th Ave. Named after state geologist Dr. Eugene Allen Smith, it contains thousands of different specimens and artifacts displayed within a beautiful classical revival- style interior. But there might be more than just “natural” phenomena in this 100+year-old museum. Students and staff working late have described hearing voices and footsteps when there is no one else to be found. Some even claim the ghost of Dr. Smith can still be heard giving lectures to empty classrooms at night. Whether you’re in it for the history or the thrills, Smith Hall is a must-see. For more visitor information, click here.
5. Evergreen Cemetery
In the shadow of Bryant-Denny Stadium lies Evergreen Cemetery, established in the mid-1800s and the resting place of some of Tuscaloosa’s most prominent early figures, including three former University of Alabama presidents and graves dating back to the Civil War. The grounds have long rumored to be haunted— from reports of ghostly apparitions to strange glowing lights. Give this mysterious site a closer look next gameday; or for the braver souls, maybe even a spooky nighttime stroll.
Whether you’re a history buff, ghost hunter, supernatural thrill seeker, or just looking for places to add to your fall bucket list, Tuscaloosa has something to offer you. These five spooky spots are the perfect way to spice up your fall!
