Two Girls One Ghost
Episode 365 – Frightmare Manor | Appalachia’s Haunted Murder House
March 22, 2026

Overview

In this episode, co-hosts Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga take listeners into the dark and chilling history of Frightmare Manor, a haunted attraction in Hamblin County, Tennessee, with roots tying back to a real (or possibly legendary) 19th-century murder house. The episode weaves together personal memories about Halloween, local Appalachian lore, deep dives into Cherokee history, details of the alleged serial killer Jeremiah Lexer, and the ongoing haunted reputation of the property. The conversation explores not just history, but also raises questions about the line between fact and folklore, and the ethics of turning real tragedies into spectacle.

Major Discussion Points and Insights

Childhood Nostalgia & Appalachian Identity

• The hosts open by reflecting on the pronunciation and mystique of "Appalachia," their own Halloween memories, and playful banter about haunted houses and nostalgia for small-town autumns.
• Both recall their youthful adventures participating in and creating haunted attractions (06:14–09:51).

The Land's Deep History

• They ground the tale in the context of the ancient Appalachian landscape, emphasizing its Indigenous (Cherokee) roots ([12:14–13:16]).
• The forced removal of the Cherokee (Trail of Tears) and the area's bloody Civil War history are discussed as preludes to the darkness associated with the land ([13:16–14:56]).

"They lived in harmony with the land, very much believing the land was alive and held balance between worlds." – Sabrina (12:14)

The Legend of Jeremiah Lexer

• The narrative establishes a central underpinning: the terrifying story of Jeremiah Lexer—wealthy plantation owner, alleged serial killer, and the man whose crimes would become the backbone of Frightmare Manor’s legend ([15:00–23:18]).
  • From 1887–1902, as many as 30–100 locals disappeared.
  • Lexer, liked but known for mood swings, murdered his family with an axe on July 5, 1902, then died by suicide ([18:39–23:31]).
  • Discovery of a gruesome pit with 31+ bodies; the town allegedly suppressed this story to protect its reputation ([19:25–20:54], [26:09–26:55]).

"There was a pit filled with dismembered body parts, arms, legs, heads, torsos, all at various stages of decomposition." – Sabrina (19:25)

From Crime Scene to Haunted Business

• The house, abandoned for decades, hosted several businesses, most notably "The Attic" and a seafood restaurant—both allegedly plagued by hauntings ([28:36–30:13]).
  • Reports of plates flying, cold spots, shadowy apparitions.
  • Employees refused to work due to ghostly incidents ([29:51–30:14]).
• In 2009, Chris Wooden officially turned the property into Frightmare Manor, capitalizing on its bloody history ([32:38–33:36]).
  • The haunted attraction markets itself as an authentic site of terror, playing heavily on the real/legendary events.

Frightmare Manor Today

• Frightmare Manor is consistently ranked among the top haunted attractions in Tennessee, spread over 20 acres.
  • Three main walkthroughs: "Money Back Haunt" (based on the Lexer murders), "Carne Evil Outcasts" (clown horror), and "Backwoods of Rage" (torture/grave themes), plus games like "The Lexer Jump" (a free-fall to mimic Lexer’s own suicide) and "Nightmare Challenge" ([34:43–37:52]).
  • The Nightmare Challenge is notorious: participants reportedly eat disgusting items, sign waivers, and very few complete it ([37:54–40:55]).

"If you face your nightmares and survive, you get all your money back... But it will take extreme guts, determination, and self control." – Sabrina reading from the Frightmare Manor website ([37:54])

The Hauntings: Lore Meets Reality

• Numerous reports from employees and visitors:
  • Shadowy figures inside the manor, unexplained noises and moans, objects moving or falling ([41:00–45:45]).
  • Staff employ a buddy system due to the overwhelming sense of unease ([45:55]).
• The hosts discuss the blurring of real phenomena and haunted attraction special effects, questioning how one can even reliably separate one from the other.

"People report seeing shadow figures and apparitions inside the house. And this is, like, long before it was Frightmere Manor." – Sabrina ([41:00])

Ethical and Paranormal Questions

• The hosts question the ethics of using real tragedy (if true) for entertainment, and speculate on whether such energy can create new hauntings—via "tulpa" thought-forms or paranormal vortices due to repeated focus and high emotion ([54:25]).

"Given the history, Frightmere Manor is undoubtedly haunted... I do believe the hauntings and paranormal energy is very, very strong on that land." – Sabrina ([54:25])

Is It All True? Investigating the Legend

• The veracity of the Jeremiah Lexer narrative is openly debated ([49:21–54:25]):
  • Sabrina couldn’t find primary historical documentation, though many locals accept it as true, and newspapers retell the story (albeit in more modern times).
  • Some argue it’s a concocted legend to bolster the business; others believe it’s a suppressed dark truth, covered up like similar 19th-century murder cases (e.g., Lizzie Borden).

"Anytime you look up Jeremiah Lexer, it takes you to the story of Frightmare Manor... But I think it's because they've done so much press that that's like, what comes up." – Sabrina ([49:38])

Listener Story: A Personal Appalachian Haunting

(57:28–67:10)

• The episode closes as Corinne reads a chilling listener tale from Sam, who grew up in southeastern Kentucky near a cemetery and house steeped in their own murder legend—mirroring the themes of the main episode.
  • Haunting events include invisible forces, moving graveyard angels, and a protective female spirit now attached to the storyteller.

"Immediately, the angel turned around directly facing me, and my heart sank. No. Tears began flowing... All I could feel was something pure evil." – Sam via Corinne ([63:15])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We were bullied. It took peer pressure, worked eight years, and we finally caved [on 'Appalachia' pronunciation]." – Corinne ([02:24])
• "Tennessee's a spooky little bitch." – Corinne ([11:12])
• "Who would want to live there? No bodies piled up. That many people just tortured and killed, right?" – Corinne ([26:15])
• "Do you love ghosts? Do you want to be freed out of your pants business for you?... Because what if someone shits themselves from being so afraid? Like, that's the concession stand at the end." – Sabrina ([30:31])
• "You can't cut off people's penises and make them eat it." – Sabrina, responding to an absurd Reddit story about the Nightmare Challenge ([39:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:22–04:59—Casual intro, Appalachian nostalgia, Halloween childhoods
• 11:12–14:56—Tennessee/area’s haunted landscape and Cherokee history
• 15:00–23:32—Crime story: disappearances, Jeremiah Lexer, axe murders
• 26:09–30:13—Attempts to repurpose the manor, escalating hauntings and business failures
• 32:38–37:52—Rise of Frightmare Manor as haunted attraction, authenticity of its lore
• 37:54–40:55—Details and controversy about the Nightmare Challenge
• 41:00–45:45—Modern and historical haunting reports from the manor
• 49:21–54:25—Debating the truth behind Frightmare Manor’s dark past
• 57:28–67:10—Listener-submitted personal Appalachian cemetery haunting

Tone & Style

Corinne and Sabrina keep the tone playful, irreverent, and conversational—woven with dark humor and heartfelt emotion. They openly critique and unpack the sometimes-problematic themes of horror entertainment, all while genuinely honoring the strangeness and depth of haunted folklore.

For the Paranormal Curious

• If you’re fascinated by haunted landscapes, unsolved mysteries, and the power of folklore to morph into “reality,” this episode is a must-listen.
• Listeners are encouraged to send in stories, join the Patreon, or even work at Frightmare Manor to report back with first-hand ghost stories.

End note:
The episode masterfully blends ghostly storytelling, personal nostalgia, skepticism, and the persistent, intoxicating question: What’s truth—what’s lore—and does it matter if the spirits are real?

"Given the history, Frightmere Manor is undoubtedly haunted." – Sabrina ([41:00])