The Brown Mountain lights are believed to be ghost lights near Brown Mountain in North Carolina. The first written records of strange lights in the area date back to around 1910, which is when electric lighting was becoming more common in the region. In 1922, a scientist from the USGS named George R. Mansfield used a map and a special telescope called an alidade to show that the lights people saw were actually from trains, car headlights, and brush fires. This discovery helped reduce public worry about the lights.

After the early 20th-century sightings were explained, storytellers began creating fictional stories about the lights that existed before electricity was available. Over time, the way people describe their experiences with the lights has changed, often reflecting the different beliefs and interests of society in various eras.

History

The first published mentions of the lights appeared in 1912. This came after Jules Verne's novel Master of the World was first published in English in 1911. A key part of the novel describes a mad scientist building an airship in a secret lair near Morganton, North Carolina, which causes strange lights to appear on a mountain. The expansion of electric power in the Linville Gorge area from the 1890s to the 1910s likely started the legend of the Brown Mountain lights, possibly influenced by Verne's story. Travel books and ghost stories about the region existed before 1900, but none mentioned unexplained lights. Mansfield’s research showed many locals did not know about the lights until 1910 or later. Joseph Loven, who lived near Loven’s Hotel, first saw the lights in 1897 but did not pay attention to them until 1910, when his neighbor, C. E. Gregory, began talking about them publicly. In 1909, the Southern Railway began using headlamps with 600,000 candlepower, making their train lights brighter than some lighthouses.

An early report of the lights appeared in the Charlotte Daily Observer on September 24, 1913. It described “mysterious red lights” seen above the horizon every night at 7:30 PM and 10 PM, as reported by Anderson Loven, a trusted local. Like in Verne’s novel, locals asked their Congressmen to investigate. In 1913, a USGS employee named D.B. Sterrett studied the area and found that the lights matched the timing and direction of westbound Southern Railway trains. In 1916, a flood stopped train activity for weeks, leading some to doubt Sterrett’s findings. George Anderson Loven, who ran a hotel near the lights, claimed the lights were still visible nightly, though it is unclear if he meant one light or many. Train headlights and car headlights were possible causes, but this idea is still debated today.

In 1922, the USGS sent Mansfield to investigate. He used a special telescope near Loven’s Hotel and recorded several lights. One appeared to move but was actually still when measured. Another set of lights matched the timing of a scheduled train on a nearby track. Robert Loven said the lights were not bright enough to be the famous Brown Mountain lights, but Joseph Loven believed they were typical of the phenomenon. Mansfield concluded the lights were from distant trains, cars, and brush fires. Joseph Loven, who had been a key figure in reporting the lights, stopped commenting on them in print after this. Some believe Mansfield’s work helped solve the mystery for many people.

After Mansfield’s findings, local writers tried to keep the mystery alive by creating new stories about the lights. In 1938, an article claimed Native American cultures had referenced the lights, but experts say this is a myth created by white people. A ghost story about a murdered woman and baby in the Jonas Ridge community was first published in 1936. Other ghost stories, including one about a Revolutionary War soldier (1982) and a Civil War ghost (2012), were added later. The UFO movement also influenced the legend in the mid-20th century. Ralph Lael, who claimed to have met aliens on Brown Mountain, published a book in 1965. Over time, stories shifted from distant lights to glowing spheres in the air, a change not seen in early 20th-century reports. Today, the lights attract people interested in ghost hunting.

Josiah Lafayette “Fate” Wiseman (1842–1932) was the great-uncle of Scotty Wiseman, who wrote the song The Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights (1961), which made the lights famous. Fate Wiseman’s story, passed down through his family, claims he saw a light near Brown Mountain around 1854. He noticed the same flash appearing at the same time each night. The description matches a distant train headlight turning a corner. However, the date “around 1854” is uncertain, as it was based on Scotty Wiseman’s memory of his grandfather’s stories.

Research

Appalachian State University placed two cameras that work in low light on rooftops looking over Brown Mountain and Linville Gorge. By 2014, these cameras had collected 6,300 hours of video without recording any lights that could not be explained.

Viewing locations

There are specific places along the Blue Ridge Parkway where people can observe the reported lights. These locations include mile post 310 (Brown Mountain Overlook) and mile post 301 (Green Mountain Overlook). Lights have also been seen from the Brown Mountain Overlook on North Carolina Highway 181 (NC 181), near Jonas Ridge, North Carolina. Additionally, lights have been reported from the top of Table Rock and Wiseman's View, both of which are located in the Linville Gorge Wilderness.

In popular culture

The lights inspired the bluegrass song “Brown Mountain Lights,” written by Scotty Wiseman. This song was later performed by The Hillmen (Vern Gosdin – vocals), The Kingston Trio, and the Country Gentlemen. In this version, the light is described as being carried by “a faithful old slave/come back from the grave” who searches for his lost master. The song was also recorded by the bluegrass band Acoustic Syndicate and performed by Yonder Mountain String Band. Additionally, Sonny James, Tommy Faile, and Tony Rice performed and recorded the song.

In the 1999 episode “Field Trip” of the paranormal drama show The X-Files, a mysterious case of missing hikers found dead near the Brown Mountains of North Carolina was explored. The episode mentioned the Brown Mountain Lights, with the main character, Fox Mulder, believing the lights were caused by UFOs.

The lights were also featured in episodes of Weird or What?, Ancient Aliens, and Mystery Hunters. They served as the basis for the 2014 movie Alien Abduction. The mountains and lights are also included in the 2015 book Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs.

The Brown Mountain Lights Festival, started in 2022, is an annual event in Morganton. It celebrates local musicians and artists while focusing on the mysterious and supernatural aspects of the so-called “ghost lights.”