Hi, I'm Holly and I'm Haley. Welcome to Mountain Mysteries Tales from Appalachia. Welcome back. Hello, hello.
I'm finishing my cookie. Yeah, it's still working on these soft baked cookies. It's only been a week. I did.
I put them back and then they were sealed. Yeah, and then we brought them back. Yeah, we got some. When at Holly's house, hey, you know, eat crap.
All right. You know, Haley, we had been to this destination in a while and I thought, let's bring it back. Let's do it. Go on to Asheville.
Hey! Hello, Asheville. Yeah. We love it.
We do, but I noticed that some people online call it trashville. Trashville? Absolutely. I've heard that too.
Yeah, there was something about something recently. I saw saying that Asheville was one of the best, had some of the best food. That's what it was. And then I mistakenly read all the comments and people were like, not trashville.
It's just full of hippies and homeless people. I mean, we do have lots of both. Yes, we do. Housing crisis is a really big deal.
And it's the most expensive place in North Carolina. It is. It is. Yeah.
And I've had a theory on why, like, I don't know, I think Asheville does a good job. Like, there's a lot of really good organizations out there to help homeless folks. It's also a pretty, like, it doesn't get too, too hot or too, too cold. Like, there's not a lot of extreme.
Yeah. I mean, we do have extreme weather because it's the mountains, but it's, you know, not like living in Florida or in, you know, Michigan trying to be homeless in one of those two places. So, yeah, but it is like the housing crisis, especially in Asheville. It's really bad.
It is. It is. The cost of living. It's just excessive.
Insane. I mean, there's so much, so the problem is a lot is we have a lot of hotels in Asheville. I say we like, we live there, but, you know, we work there. Like, you know, I feel like I have a connection to Nashville in that way.
I work there for like, right at grad school. I work to Nashville. So I feel like it was kind of a, you know, a little, I have a soft spot. Yes.
My heart's for Asheville. But yeah, so there's so many hotels. There's so many people like moving in and just the property crosses through the roof. It drives up.
Yeah. It's in the surrounding area then also becomes more toxic. It's really high. Yeah.
So just it's, it's hard. And that's the thing is houses in some areas that would be, you know, $100,000, you know, here is an $800,000 house. You know, like, I mean, it's just insane. Actually, I was showing them a colleague of mine who lives, you know, several hours away.
So, where I work, you know, we're, we have multiple offices. Anyway, I digress. But, so I was just telling her about the cost of living. She's like, Oh, yeah.
Sure. And so I showed her this picture of a single line. And I was like, so this is $350,000. And she was like, that's a trailer.
And I was like, right. She's like, that's an old trailer. And I was like, yeah. And she's like, there's no land on it.
And I was like, right. Exactly. And she's like, why? And I was like, it's probably walking distance to a brewery.
Probably. There you go. That's what it's like. There you go.
Like, that's, and I mean, I've seen shacks on there. Oh, yeah. It's like bad neighborhoods. Shacks.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's insanity.
Asheville has changed even a lot from when, you know, like, because I grew up close enough to be able to like, we would just pop over in Asheville all the time. And it's changed a lot even from when I was a kid. I grew up in it until I came back. Yeah.
And, you know, when Haley was a kid, I was an adult. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, Asheville. Asheville. We write. I want to talk about a prison in Asheville.
Okay. Yes. So our story begins in 1924, when old Craigie prison. Craigie prison.
Okay. So I tried to work there. What? Not old new Craigie.
Well, like Craigie prison. But why? Because I wanted to work in the prison. Okay.
Yeah. Because I have a newer, like a newer building now. Okay. But I wasn't going to work in the old part.
I want to work in the old part. I want to work in the old part. The women's section. All right.
Why? I wanted to social work in the prison. Okay. Well, and they didn't let you into the.
Oh, well, there was no positions available. The name of the school system, which is, you know, kind of similar. We were actually just saying. Similar.
Yeah. Very similar. All right. Let's go around.
So to have the distinction, there are two Craigie prisons. So there's the old Craigie prison, which is the one we're talking about currently. And there's the one that was open in the late 1980s. Yeah.
That is the current one. Yeah. All right. So old Craigie prison opened to the public in 1924.
And this facility was built within the suburb area of Woodford, North Carolina. So this is on the north side of town. And it was the city's medium security prison. So the kind of prisoners that you would see there were really there for crimes such as assault theft, public drunkenness, and any kind of low felony crimes.
And most of the inmates incarcerated at Craigie worked in the laundry room near the prison grounds. And if you're curious, Craigie got its name because it was located near the Craigie Bridge. And they said to themselves, you know what, what, John, why don't we name it after that? They are bridge.
Sounds good. Same at Craigie. I like the Craigie prison. I don't know.
I don't like that. That's not Craigie. Yeah. It doesn't really roll off the term.
You would say, like that's nothing but Craigie. Yeah. I mean, I kind of like it. It's kind of fun.
Craigie. Okay. Spend some time for Craigie. Sorry.
Yeah. It is. So as I mentioned, a lot of inmates worked in the laundry room. So regularly the inmates washed up to 50 loads of laundry, including their own uniforms and the uniforms of the correctional officers a day.
Okay. Yeah. So that's a lot of laundry. A lot of laundry.
But also a lot of inmates. So when the inmates were not doing their job of taking care of the laundry, they often did road work. Fun. Yes.
Yes. Nothing like clean up trash, fixing those potholes. And that's what they did. They would fill in potholes.
Any kind of minor repairs, they would even paint the lines. So they were responsible for those nine shallow lines. The United States Department of Transportation actually assigned them work. So when there were roads that didn't need any work, the inmates would usually end up picking up trash or doing something else by the supervision of the COs.
In 1931, when the prison underwent renovation, along with 50 other prisons in North Carolina. So there was a reform going on when they wanted to update a lot of these prisons. Yeah. So as a result, the renovation was used to expand and provide more space for inmates, particularly those assigned to road work and ashwell and surrounding areas.
The prison remained operating for 75 years until a new one was built just down the street. Yeah. And in 1987, the North Carolina State assembly approved about $30 million to rebuild prisons within the state. So again, it was like this one's old.
It's kind of dilapidated. We need to do something about new ones. It costs $8.5 million. And it was completed in 1989.
So the old craggy prison shut down at that point and was replaced by the new facility down the road. But it left the building unoccupied. And it still stands and it is dilapidated, needs a lot of repair and gives off a super hella creepy vibe. I haven't been riding in a really long time.
Yes. But get this. The laundry building is still operational. Like they still use it.
Yeah. They still use it to do laundry. Isn't that interesting? You mentioned the old.
Like you open the door. Just creak so it comes up with one door. Just I just, yes. I don't know.
Spooky in there. Yes. So there has been talk, however, about preserving the old craggy prison. Local officials say that it doesn't seem to be an attractive site for those visiting Asheville.
No. I mean, what? Built more house. Brewery.
The other brewery. The other brewery. Maybe the other brewery. Yeah.
And then craggy prison. I am shocked that somebody has not turned the old craggy prison into a brewery. I think this is really like maybe if someone out there has more money than we do, please give us a cut. But that might not be a bad venture.
That's the thing is, I really do think this is an opportunity just waiting to happen. Yeah. We can get in there. Well, they turned the, there's a jail old, the old Marshall jail in Marshall, North Carolina into a brewery.
Of course they did. It's, and it's called the jail. So people go to the jail and get up here. I'd love to go to the jail.
So they moved the jail to a different. Of course you did. I think this would be great. And we can have it.
Oh, and it's a hotel too. So you can sleep in the cells. Wow. Yeah.
It's actually really nice. That's neat. I think we need to do this for craggy. If you do ever go by there, it's a huge, huge, huge.
But I just feel like there's just so much opportunity there. So it's a goal line. That's what we're going to do. We have beers with like different names, like, you know, the shank iron bar.
Oh, this is medium security. So it's got to be like the tax evasion martini, the white collar. Oh my God. The whiskey white collar.
The minor drug offense. Margarita. Okay. The stolen purse.
You know, daiquiri. I don't know. We have a good time with it. Super fun.
Yeah, we could have a good time with it. So anyway, a lot of people don't think that this would be a very attractive site for visitors. But again, Hayley and I just think this is just territory that hasn't been explored. So right now, the building still stands, as we mentioned, it's cordoned off by fencing to prevent trespassers from getting access because we all know people like to come in and tag and, you know, cause more damage.
Oh, yeah. So there's a debate that pretty much rages on, like, should we restore it? Should we create it and make it a historical landmark? Should we just tear it down, put something else in its place?
And this has been ongoing for years. It's been closed down since 89. And nobody can decide what to do with it. Nobody knows what to do with it.
She is pretty. Make it a 100%. Yeah, really cool. So the thing is, old, craggy prison is sitting on a pretty hot area of real estate.
Yeah, I'm sure. And the historical sentiment, you know, is like, we need to preserve this. We need to keep it, you know, it's a, it's a symbol in our area of what used to be. And you've got others who are like, um, this is like prime time here.
Like let's knock this, you know, old bad boy down and put like 50 condos in this place. Or why don't we just renovate and make condos out of it? Yeah. They do that with a lot of ashrow buildings.
They do. Just say them. Hmm. And if maybe make it affordable.
Yeah. Not like, and I'm not talking affordable like less than a thousand dollars a month. Like, oh my god. Less than less than like make it to where normal human beings can actually usually afford it.
Rent an apartment. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
That is interesting. And it's kind of secluded. Like it's in a primary. It's also kind of secluded.
And they were saying that, you know, it kind of made sense for being a prison because you're sort of away from things, which is what you want. Anyway, but nobody really knows what's going to happen. It's still just kind of sitting there. It's sort of menacing.
If you've ever passed by it, there's like a image. There's some YouTube videos of it. And when you see it, it's like, whoa, but do know that if you like even drive up and like pull over, there will be like cops. Somebody's going to come and write it off.
Somebody's going to come. Yeah. And like, and they might like if you're just like, I just wanted to like see the building, like they probably aren't like, I heard about it on a podcast. Like I just wanted to drive by but like don't try to go.
Yeah, you don't get arrested for trespassing. Right. So yeah, don't don't sneak in. And also the building is old and dilapidated.
It's also dangerous. It's a hazard. Yes. Yes, for sure.
Hey, did you know that 17 people in 2016 were said to visit the old Craigie prison? So that's not a lot of people. No, but they were like thrill seekers, trespassers, you know, some minor damage has been sustained in the building and the laundry facility. Not the laundry.
Not the laundry. Yeah. So, you know, may not want to do anything with yourself. Yeah, don't mess up the laundry.
Don't mess up the laundry. No, unless you want to fold it and put it away. Right. Yeah, then go for it.
I would be down. So here's a question that a lot of people have. It's old. It's abandoned.
Is it haunted? Probably. Probably. Well, we hear all the time about all these prisons, abandoned prisons that are haunted.
And you got to think with all of the like a history of a prison, it would seem likely that it would be haunted. So there hasn't been any official hauntings or ghost stories. But wouldn't be surprised if there was some like just looking at the building. Yeah, it looks like.
Yeah, it's spooky. So, so this is not the same. So new Kraggy. Kraggy.
New Kraggy prison. It's also still in the Woodford area. Yes. And then there's also another prison in the Black Mountain area.
Right. What's that? There's like a correction. There's a correctional facility over in the Black Mountain area.
Um, or Swananola. Swananola. Swananola area. What is that one?
I'm glad you asked me. I know there's a neuro like sciency area there. That's actually your um, like black mountain health or children. All that area.
Prison. Um, it is the Swananola Correctional Center for Women. Yeah, that's okay. Well, all right.
Yep. And Black Mountain area. Um, yeah. So the new Kraggy is, this is open 24 hours.
Well, sorry. Hilarious. Yeah, it's um, it's a pretty terrifying looking building. Yes.
It's menacing. Now some people have said that they have seen ghostly apparitions, the windows, they've seen lights come on. Um, you know, so there have been some reports that they have seen these things. Okay.
So I wouldn't be surprised that they've heard like loud noises emanating from the building, but then you know, you can also explain certain things like loud noises could just be like an old creaky building. Right. You know, maybe it's a, you know, like, so I think there are things that can be explained. Um, but you know, some folks have said they have seen firsthand, maybe one of the 17 people in 2016.
Did anybody die in 2016? They were trespassing. Oh, no, no, those one of those people saw somebody. Not that we've seen.
So, you know, saying that they got like a creepy tingly feeling and that they felt like they weren't alone or that somebody was watching them or when you come into this place, you have that sense of that heaviness that you feel when you go into a place that's probably haunted. Oh, and like, I'm sure heavy things happened there. It's a prison. Yeah.
And for however many years, 70 something years, let's see, uh, 1924 to 1989, 65 years. Yeah. Yeah. That's a long time.
It's a battery. I'm sure how to. Oh, I'm certain of it. But this, uh, prison is just waiting for us.
The ghosts are just waiting for us. I, yes, it's a really cool area. Craggy brewery. Craggy brewery.
Craggy brewery. Coming soon. And maybe once the inmates get out, they'll come over. Yeah.
Yeah. This is it. Yeah. Maybe some people who spend some time at Craggy would come and, yeah, maybe some of the old inmates could share some of their stories or come work in the brewery.
Well, assuming they pass, um, pretty extensive background. Yeah. We don't want them to steal from us. No, I think ex-bellons are usually pretty solid.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, let's hope so.
So my, um, like my weird, like, dream that I have always wanted to open a, like a bookstore kind of coffee shop area. And I either wanted to have, this is my like nonprofit dream that I would have told them any to do. Um, I would like to either hire folks with, um, like intellectual or, you know, developmental disabilities to work. There, or ex-cons.
Hey, either one. That's, um, because I think, you know, that could be cool. That could be cool. Like ex-bellons making your coffee.
Yeah. So any stories? I have one cool story I'm sure they have about their lives and what wonderful lessons they might be able to teach us. Maybe the time I got shanked when I went to the yard.
I was like, I just, I just wanted a latte. I don't know. I think it would be fantastic. You want me to teach you how to make something to hurt somebody?
Like in the craft corner. A craft corner. I don't know if y'all know this, but at our breweries, local breweries, it's usually family friendly. So they do have little areas for kids.
So we could, we could have this little craft area where you learn how to make a present. Shanky, chunky, yo, come over to be like, Hey kids. Okay. So what's the difference?
What's the difference between the shank and the ship? I think there's a thing. I don't know. That's something to Google.
Is it the ship? Like you have a ship and the act of like using the ship as shanking? What is the, the verb, the difference? There's one of urban one of the ship.
Oh, that's actually a Google question. All right. The term shiv is slang for any sharp pointed object that is used as a knife and can be created of anything from a shard of glass to a hardened, sharpened toothbrush handle. Similarly, a shank refers to a makeshift knife like weapon.
And the two terms are often used interchangeably. So they're the same. So you can ship someone or shank someone. Hmm.
I don't know. Would you rather shiver shank? Shiver. Shiver sounds nice, but shank sounds trident.
Shank sounds like the trailer park version. It sounds like a shiv. It's just a little bit more sophisticated. We're a little bit more defined.
So come here, skank. I'm going to shank you. Come here, Viv. I'm going to shiv you either way.
I mean, either way. Sounds like a good night. Sounds like, and also we could teach self defense classes there. The felons could teach it because I'm sure they had to learn it.
I absolutely. And how to protect yourself against a predator. Yes. I think that would be a great education.
Fantastic. And what better to give folks who have been incarcerated in other chance at life on the outside? Who doesn't want that? Who doesn't want that?
I mean, you know, I agree. We've both been done people who've been in and out of prison. Sure. Yeah.
Yeah. Lots of people just so many in and out of prison. In and out of prison? Yeah.
And then some of them have successful lives now. Yeah. I mean, that's not a determination for how you're going to do it. But I do think this is an opportunity for money and opportunity to rebuild lives, serve lots of booze, and a family friendly environment where there is a craft corner.
Mommy, I want to make a shift. Okay. Okay. Okay.
Hold on. And then they can learn how to use it in the self defense class. Shanky Joe is coming to you. Give him just a minute.
Hey, boys and girls. Oh, we could have his own show. Oh my God. My name is Shanky Joe.
And I'm here to teach you how to make a shift or a changeable. There's a literary lesson attached to it. I'm like, Shanky Joe, tell us about your time in prison. He was at one time.
I went out in the yard and we were fighting over a basketball and I got stabbed in the neck. It was great. My God. The Shanky Joe brought to you by my God.
Holly and Haley. Anything else on Craggy Prison before we wrap this thing up? It's getting late. It's so late.
It's so late. So late. Really having a hard time. Yes.
So, Craggy Prison's most likely haunted. Most likely haunted. We don't know for sure, but based on what people have said, it's a cool tourist attraction. I'm going to post a picture on it.
And you'll get to look at it and it'll soon be run by Holly and Haley. And Shanky Joe. And Shanky Joe. If your name's Joe and you've been janked, please reach out.
Or you want to teach children how to make shanks? No, that sounds creepy. Please don't reach out. No.
How many times do we have to make first? Holly reversed a number. It'll call text me. Hey, could you hear like he had to leave a message because it was a weird number so you didn't pick up.
I mean, you say, Haley, it's a Shanky Joe. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm just going to say this. I am going to call you at some point from a random number.
I'll probably do it at work. And I'm going to leave you a message from Shanky Joe. I will. I'll look forward to it.
Haley, change a snap. That was one of our last episodes. Oh, God. I feel the emails rolling in.
Okay. How? How should they get in contact with us, Holly? Oh, I have to do this.
You do. I'm making you got to get off Shanky Joe. I wasn't on him. Oh my God.
Tell our information. All right, please find us. Email us. Start with that.
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Back to you, Ginger Snub. Let's give our shout out this week to Glen Burney in Maryland. Wow. We've been in Maryland a lot.
Yay. Maryland. I love you. Glen Burney.
All right, y'all. That was more than enough. I'm really sorry. But come to our brewery.
Come have a one nice beer and a shank. Oh my God. A shank with a shank. I gotta go home.
I'm excited.