The first time I visited the Swannanoa mansion, it was the middle of the night. A car-full of friends had wanted to watch the stars from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and we took a quick detour to see this crazy, run-down, potentially haunted palace. The stories we were told while driving up the narrow, winding driveway were creepy enough to keep me locked inside the car, but I was still hopeful that one of these days I’d make it back for one of their tours.

I spent a few hours on the property this spring, with some other photographers, setting up a styled shoot. The house is much less-scary in the daylight! Here are a few stories about the property. Does anyone want to visit with me on the 27th?