Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is the location of the famous "Lost Colony," and its history of mystery and tragedy has led to paranormal accounts and ghost tours, including claims of ghostly appearances and other unexplained phenomena around the Waterside Theatre. The legends often focus on the vanished colonists or the fate of Virginia Dare, with local tours specifically investigating these supernatural occurrences. The primary source of the hauntings is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the first English settlers, who vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the word "CROATOAN" carved into a tree. Reports include sightings of ghost-like figures and other paranormal activity, particularly at the Waterside Theatre, where the historic drama The Lost Colony is performed. One legend tells of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World, who was transformed into a white doe by a jealous witch doctor after she grew up with the Indians, according to NCpedia.