Located in The Outer Banks, North Carolina, Roanoke Island is a place awash with supernatural speculation and deep-rooted fear. Nearly thirty years before any Pilgrims would come to America and settle the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the inhabitants of Roanoke Island would come ashore and attempt to recreate some semblance of European life in the Americas. Their attempts obviously failed, seeing as three years after their landing in America the colony was found by another European to have been abandoned, with only the word "CROATOAN" (which had been ominously carved in a tree-trunk) remaining. A huge hurricane blew onto the island before the Europeans could investigate the matter, and no one ever got around to solving the mystery of "The Lost Colony".
Today, Roanoke Island is inhabited and lively. It retains its fame from the ominous tale of the Lost Colony, and remains a popular tourist destination. In recent years, pop-culture has taken a stab at pinning down what happened on Roanoke island, with television programs such as the drama-anthology series American Horror Story tackling the subject. Visitors flock to the island not only to enjoy the beaches and sunny weather, but to learn more about the island's unsolved mystery.
If you visit Roanoke Island for yourself, you will find that there is a very popular play you can attend concerning The Lost Colony, and thus is it named. The Lost Colony has performance dates all throughout the popular tourist season (usually May through August) and the play chronicles the (known) events of how the colony was built, and perhaps how it met its ultimate demise. For more info on this particular attraction, check out http://roanokeisland.net/thelostcolony.
So, what most likely happened to the Roanoke colony, and why is it so creepy anyway? Well, for one, the Roanoke colony already had a bloody history before even being settled by the English. European expeditions to the little island (which is, in fact, only eight miles in length) typically ended in brutal blood-baths between the Europeans and the Native American tribes who originally inhabited the island. The English decided to colonize it anyhow, because they didn't really have another choice once they had set out on their way to America. The governor, John White, was coerced into staying on the island by a ship captain who refused to sail any farther north. White originally intended to end up closer to modern day Virginia, where Jamestown would eventually emerge. Alas, White and his band of not-so-merry colonists had to attempt to colonize the island, all while trying not to incite another massacre by the Native Americans. Honestly, it is most likely (and mostly supported by historical record) that the settlers ended up moving to Hatteras, or "Croatoan", where Manteo's people lived. (Manteo was a Native American who was friendly with the English, FYI.) The more terrifying theories though, include slaughter by the Native Americans, mass starvation of the colonists, etc.
So, what do you suppose happened on Roanoke island? Sound off in the comments below!
