The Ghostly Lights of Frying Pan Shoals
Just off Oak Island, stretching nearly 30 miles into the Atlantic, lies one of the most treacherous—and mysterious—places on the East Coast: Frying Pan Shoals. Nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, these constantly shifting sandbars have claimed hundreds of ships over the centuries, from pirate vessels to warships. But the shipwrecks aren’t the only thing that make Frying Pan legendary.
For generations, sailors, fishermen, and even modern boaters have told stories of strange ghostly lights floating above the shoals at night.
Lights in the Night
Witnesses describe them as glowing orbs or “phantom lanterns” that bob and weave across the water. Sometimes they appear as a faint blue-green shimmer. Other times they’re bright white orbs dancing on the horizon. They’ve been spotted by people who swear no ships or beacons were anywhere nearby.
Are they a trick of the eyes, or something more?
The Legends
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Ghost Ships: Many locals believe the lights belong to the spirits of shipwrecked sailors, forever guiding the way for others.
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Lantern Echoes: Some say they’re ghostly reflections of the lanterns that once swung from sinking ships or from fires lit onshore to warn sailors of danger.
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Wreck Watchers: Old Southport families whisper that the lights belong to the souls of “wreck watchers”—locals who once made their living salvaging from ships lost on the shoals.
The Science
Of course, science offers explanations, too:
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Marsh Gas (Will-o’-the-Wisp): Gases released from decaying matter may glow when exposed to oxygen.
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Bioluminescent Plankton: Tiny sea creatures can make the water itself glow when disturbed.
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Light Refraction: Fog, moisture, and salt spray can bend light from distant ships or even the Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, making it appear closer or ghostly.
Still… ask anyone who’s seen the lights, and they’ll tell you it felt like more than science.
Posted by Ashley Park on
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