3 stories about Charlotte that just aren’t true

The real story is actually a lot better than that.

In 1997, Jim Gross, the developer of The Arlington, decided he was going to tear down an old building called Park Elevator and rebuild something on the patch of land. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t get the zoning right, so he didn’t get the land.

Conveniently enough, Park Elevator burned to the ground, and although arson was never confirmed, a flammable chemical substance was found at the site.

So Gross got his way, and made plans to break ground on a 42-story condominium that would offer a brand new style of living to the city with 14,000 square feet of retail space, 23,000 square feet of offices and 121 townhomes with room to park.

The Dilworth Community Development Corporation wasn’t having it; it wasn’t what they were promised, and the building would manage overwhelm the efforts to preserve South End’s history and overpower most of the skyline at the same time.

But Gross once again got his way and got a nice dig toward the Dilworth Community Development Corporation that’s seen every single day: he made the building as tall as possible and then installed bright pink windows.

2. There’s some Satanic worshipping happening down East Independence.

Everyone has heard this story and every generation has gone looking, but if you haven’t, let me explain: back in the ’80s, a group of kids thought that traipsing through the woods off of Margaret Wallace Drive would be a better way to spend their day than actually staying in school until they found a pile of dead animals on an altar and a pond with steps leading into the middle.

There are a lot of creepy stories surrounding this place. According the internet, there have been things like double homicides and dead cats tied to trees in the name of sacrifice and satanic rituals.

But there’s zero proof of any of it. The only things that can be found that could even suggest that the stories are true are the bare-bone necessities like the fact that Thompson’s Children Home is there and that there is a pond along with a private residence in the woods. But it’s just that – a private residence in the woods.

I will say, though, that when I drove up there, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Something’s off. It’s just most likely not a satanic cult.

3. A woman from the early 1900’s can be sitting in the Manor Theater restroom.

You won’t see her, but you’ll smell her perfume (it smells like roses) or hear her heels headed toward the bathroom and on occasion, a scream.

She’s not the only one hanging around. The theater is also haunted by a former manager who committed suicide in his home but has continued to wander around in his suit and ask people if they need any help before disappearing.

People also say that after the theater is closed and everyone has gone home, the sound of sweeping can be heard coming from the auditoriums. And when you get up, don’t look into the projection rooms – you may see someone.