Children's Graveyard Visit
A short walk to a small, historic hillside cemetery with markers dating to the 1700s and 1800s, long the subject of Greenville ghost lore.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domainA small, old hillside burial ground off Old Buncombe Road near Furman University in Greenville, SC, locally called the 'Children's Graveyard,' where visitors report lights, laughter, and running sounds among 18th- and 19th-century graves.
Old Buncombe Road (near University Square), Greenville, SC 29617
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Historic cemetery; no admission. Respect the grounds and any posted access rules.
Access
Limited Access
Small wooded hillside cemetery reached by a short unmarked trail; uneven ground.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1847 · Burial ground of the former Duncan Chapel Methodist Church (founded c. 1847) · Surviving markers reportedly range from the 1700s to the late 1800s · Long known in Greenville folklore as the 'Children's Graveyard' · Documented by multiple regional history and paranormal sources
The small hillside cemetery commonly known in Greenville as the 'Children's Graveyard' is, by documented accounts, the burial ground associated with Duncan Chapel Methodist Church. Local history sources, including Random Connections and Upstate Greenville cemetery coverage, identify the congregation's origins around 1847. The church itself no longer stands, but the cemetery survives on a wooded rise off Old Buncombe Road, near the University Square shopping area and not far from Furman University.
The surviving markers reportedly span from the eighteenth century into the late nineteenth century. Despite the popular 'Children's Graveyard' nickname and the lore of child spirits, researchers who have surveyed the site note that it does not contain a disproportionate number of children's graves relative to other cemeteries of its era — the name appears to be folklore-driven rather than reflecting an unusual burial pattern. (Some Greenville sources also distinguish this well-known roadside cemetery from a separate, lesser-known 'real' children's cemetery in the area, underscoring how the legend has attached to this accessible site.)
The cemetery has become a fixture of Greenville-area ghost lore and is documented by multiple regional sources, including local history blogs, South Carolina paranormal groups, and South Carolina Haunted Houses. Like many small historic burial grounds that attract legend-tripping, it has suffered from trespass and disturbance over the years, and visitors are encouraged to treat the graves with respect.
Sources
According to Random Connections, South Carolina Haunted Houses, and regional Greenville ghost coverage, the legend of the 'Children's Graveyard' holds that the small hilltop cemetery is animated by the spirits of children. The most commonly reported phenomena are auditory: visitors describe hearing children's laughter and the patter of running feet among the markers, often when no one else is present. Others report seeing unexplained lights, a dark mist, or feeling sudden disorientation and waves of uncontrolled emotion when on the grounds.
The lore is tied closely to the cemetery's nickname, even though surveys of the site have found no unusual number of children's graves — a discrepancy that local researchers point to as evidence the legend grew in the retelling. The cemetery's secluded, wooded setting and the age of its markers (some reportedly dating to the 1700s) have made it a long-standing destination for Greenville legend-trippers.
This listing presents the activity as reported folklore rather than verified fact. Visitors should also be aware of practical, non-paranormal hazards documented at the site: it is reached by an unmarked trail, sits near a police facility, and wildlife including bobcats has reportedly been seen in the area. HauntBound encourages respectful daytime visits and discourages the trespass and vandalism that have damaged this historic burial ground.
Notable Entities
A short walk to a small, historic hillside cemetery with markers dating to the 1700s and 1800s, long the subject of Greenville ghost lore.
Some links on this page may earn HauntBound a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial picks are independent. Full disclosure
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Free Guide
Verified stops across all fifty states, rated for families. Free.
One email to confirm, then the guide link. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atlanta, GA
Historic Oakland Cemetery was chartered in 1850 as the six-acre 'Atlanta Cemetery,' renamed Oakland in 1872, and expanded to 48 acres. Approximately 70,000 people are interred, including roughly 6,900 Confederate soldiers (3,000 unidentified), four Confederate generals, six Georgia governors, 27 Atlanta mayors, Margaret Mitchell, golfer Bobby Jones, and Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African American mayor. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 1976.
Aerial survey · USDA NAIPDarlington, SC
Montrose Cemetery — also known as Lowther's Hill Cemetery — was established in 1789 on the grounds of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Darlington County, South Carolina. A large entrance stone records the names and dates of burial of those interred. The cemetery was reportedly moved from its original location at some point in its history.
Forest Park, IL
Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois, grew from two adjacent cemeteries — German Waldheim (established 1873) and Forest Home (1876) — which merged in February 1969. The 220-acre site was chosen as a non-denominational burial ground, a policy that made it the only Chicago-area cemetery willing to accept the bodies of the Haymarket defendants in 1887.