There’s a spot near Murphy NC called “The Leech Place” (We actually did a video of it here on Spooky Appalachia) by the indigenous Cherokee people that lived there, where something very dangerous and strange can be found. The spot in question is right before the Valley River joins the Hiwassee. There’s a thin ledge of rock that runs across the river to form a natural bridge. Below it there’s a deep hole where the water disappears into darkness.
A long time ago along this bridge, a small group of Cherokee men were walking one day and looked into the river below and noticed something very strange. There was something very large and red sitting on the rock ledge in the river. It began to move and stretch out, and they noticed it looked like a giant leech! It was bright red with white aries running along its body.It layed on the rocks for a while, then slithered down the rocks into the deep dark hole in the water.
The men couldn’t believe their eyes. Shortly after the water began to bubble and foam like it was boiling. Then a giant water spout shot up out of the water, It would have swept the men away had they not turned and ran.
There’s also many stories of folks who were not that lucky. Such as a young man who thought the story was an old wives tale and set out alone and was never seen again. Or a young mother who went out there fishing and was also never seen again. Most of the stories tell of body’s found near that spot with their ears and noses missing. So if you’re in Murphy NC steer clear of this spot.
Source: https://northcarolinaghosts.com/mountains/giant-leech/
