A young woman murdered inside a tavern and a body hidden within its walls. A ghost is said to haunt the building, more than two centuries later. King’s Tavern has stood in Natchez, Mississippi, since the early days of the historic Natchez Trace. Over the years, the legend of a woman named Madeline has become inseparable from its haunted reputation. In the final episode of The Devil’s Road, Southern Mysteries explores the history of the tavern and the mysterious discoveries linked to Madeline’s alleged murder.
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Episode Sources
- The Tensas Gazette (Louisiana), 1932. Historical account of King’s Tavern and its early origins.
- Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News, December 1970. Jeannette Harrod’s reporting on Annabel Young Maxie, the property’s family history, and its sale to the Pilgrimage Garden Club.
- Natchez Democrat, February 23, 1974. Thomas E. Young’s recollection of a reported apparition in the family home.
- Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News, July 3, 1977. Sandra Bell’s reporting on King’s Tavern, the Madeline legend, alleged discoveries, and experiences described by restaurant employees.
- The Vicksburg Post, July 5, 1977. Reprint of Sandra Bell’s King’s Tavern story.
- Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1938. Historic architectural photographs of King’s Tavern, Library of Congress.
- Natchez Area Paranormal Society. Research into the reported skeleton discoveries, the dagger, and the historical evidence surrounding Madeline.
- Rick Garner, November 3, 2000. Paranormal investigation report documenting reported experiences at King’s Tavern.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2016. Feature on King’s Tavern and its reported haunting.
- Business Insider, September 2022. Feature identifying haunted locations in each state, including King’s Tavern in Mississippi.
- Natchez (2025), directed by Suzannah Herbert. Documentary examining historic preservation, tourism, and representations of the antebellum past in Natchez.
- Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Historical background on Micajah and Wiley Harpe.
- National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway. History of the original Natchez Trace and the development of the modern parkway.
- National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway. Historical information about Witch Dance.
- Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Historical resources on Natchez, the Natchez Pilgrimage, and preservation efforts.
- Natchez Trace Association historical materials. Roane Fleming Byrnes and the campaign to establish the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Episode Music
Additionally, Out of the Mines and Burial Grounds, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.