Witches and bridges and trees, oh my! Visit these haunted places in Mississippi's outdoors

With spooky season in full swing, it is a good time to share ghost stories.

When you think of hauntings, you might picture an abandoned house or an old hospital with overgrown leaves sprouting up through cracked walls. But, there are several outdoor places in Mississippi that have garnered a reputation for ghost sightings.

Bridges and roads are among the locations horror-enthusiasts frequently visit in the hopes of spotting one of the legendary spirits that have planted roots in the Mississippi outdoors.

The Witch of Nash Road, Columbus

The Witch of Nash Road was featured on RV Trader's most recent Most Haunted Roads in America list. Drivers on Nash Road may be lucky — or unlucky — enough to spot the three-legged woman.

There are several different theories on who this ghostly woman is, a rare sight but one you wouldn't forget easily. According to legend, the Nash Road Witch has three legs. Some say a satanic ritual is the cause of the extra limb; others say the witch used dark magic to attach her late mother's leg to herself. Other versions say it is actually her mother carrying around her missing daughter's leg in a desperate search for the rest of her body.

No matter what legend you believe, RV Trader warns "you always want to stay out of the path of the witch."

But, in case you don't want to stay out of that path, you can visit the witch's frequented road. Most sightings have occurred between 2661-4548 Nash Road. Some say the witch will come out if you stop your car, turn off the headlights and honk the horn three times.

Others say they have seen her running alongside their cars. Some have even reported dents in the side of their cars from her slamming against them.

Gates of Hell and Satartia Bridge, Satartia

Satartia is small, quiet town nestled in the foothills of Yazoo County. Three-year part-time resident Mark Doiron said it's a loving community surrounded by beautiful scenery.

In this calm little town, however, lies the Gates of Hell, which is a name given to the space between two live oak trees standing tall in the Satartia woods that used to frame a church. Legend has it that the trees mark the entrance to something sinister.

Investigators over the years have reported disembodied screams and knocks coming from the trees. Doiron said when he moved to Satartia, a local preacher told him the legend of the oaks. The preacher told him that when the church still stood, its preacher would sit in the pulpit and tell people the two trees were the gate to hell.

Many residents, including Doiron, won't go through the two oaks.

Away from the oaks, other spirits may lurk near the bridge that peers over the Yazoo River. The bridge, built and considered state-of-the-art in the 1970s, remains operational today.

Doiron said he doesn't cross the bridge at night, and not just because of the traffic. Creeks and other noises have led many people to believe the bridge is haunted. Others have said the waters light up at night.

Doiron, who helps to keep the bridge clean, said the locals respect its history and beauty. He described it as "magnificent."

Satartia does see some tourists coming to take pictures of the bridge, Doiron said, but mostly the locals consider it a well-kept secret.

Stuckey's Bridge, Enterprise

Just outside Meridian lies a bridge sitting quietly over the Chunky River. Legend has it that this bridge is home to the spirit of "Old Man Stuckey," a man who supposedly ran a small inn nearby.

The tale tells that Stuckey would rob and murder guests. Eventually, he got caught and hanged from the bridge. Visitors say they have seen Stuckey wandering around the riverbank or have even seen his body still hanging from the bridge.

Today, the bridge that bears his name is considered one of the most haunted in the state. Visitors can rent canoes and kayaks to spend a lazy day under the not-so-welcoming bridge.

The Witch of Yazoo's Grave, Yazoo City

The legends surrounding the Witch of Yazoo have stood the test of time for over a century. Today, her supposed gravesite is still a tourist attraction.

According to this legend, one day in the late 19th century, a woman who had been accused of torturing fishermen on the Yazoo River was chased into a sand pit by the Yazoo sheriff. Before drowning, she promised to come back in 20 years and burn down Yazoo City.

In May 1904, a massive fire burned almost every building in town. Many blamed it on the "Witch of Yazoo." When the people of the town buried the woman 20 years earlier, they had placed large chains around her grave. Legend says that after the fire, the townspeople discovered the chains laying on the ground split in half.

The Witch of Yazoo legend was made famous by Mississippi author Willie Morris' 1971 novel "Good Ole Boy." Morris' own grave is only steps from the witch's.

According to the Visit Yazoo website, which offers a map for visitors wanting to see the witch's grave, the Glenwood Cemetery workers make sure to keep the chain repaired as it often mysteriously breaks. The legend warns that if the chains ever break completely, the witch will return to finish her revenge.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Witches, bridges and gates to hell: visit MS haunted outdoor locations