The Country Squire Restaurant, Inn, & Winery

The origin of The Country Squire dates back to 1961 when founder Joe Nichols Jr., a native of Duplin County with a deep passion for Scottish heritage and regional history, converted a rustic rural homestead into a unique dining destination. To give the restaurant an authentic Old World atmosphere, Nichols spent years acquiring reclaimed historic building materials from around North Carolina and Scotland, including heavy hand-hewn oak beams, 18th-century heart-pine paneling, hand-carved stone fireplaces, and antique leaded glass windows salvaged from demolished colonial manors.

Over the following decades, the business expanded beyond its original dining rooms to encompass a charming 12-room country inn, extensive landscaped gardens, a rustic outdoor wedding gazebo, and in 2006, an estate vineyard and full-service winery specializing in Muscadine and European-style wines. Following Joe Nichols Jr.'s death, the historic estate was lovingly preserved by dedicated modern proprietors who maintained its vintage character, Scottish aesthetics, and celebrated culinary traditions.

Today, the Country Squire remains a premier dining and lodging landmark in rural Eastern North Carolina, drawing steak enthusiasts and wine lovers alongside curious paranormal investigators intrigued by its long-standing reputation for authentic, peaceful hauntings.

The most prominent ghost legend at The Country Squire centers on the original founder himself, Joe Nichols Jr. According to restaurant staff and longtime locals, Joe's devoted spirit never departed his beloved estate after his passing. He is widely believed to watch over daily operations with a benevolent, protective eye. Restaurant staff routinely describe seeing a tall, distinguished figure dressed in a vintage tartan blazer or tweed jacket walking quietly through the dining rooms after closing time, ensuring that tables are properly set and fireplaces are carefully tended.

Another popular legend involves the spirit of a young woman known affectionately as the Gentle Lady of the Inn. Local folklore holds that she is spiritually attached to one of the antique 18th-century heart-pine mantels salvaged from an old plantation home in Duplin County during the restaurant's initial construction. Guests staying in the inn's vintage suites report seeing a serene female figure in a long white colonial-era dress sitting quietly near the hearth or looking out the garden windows at dusk before fading gently into shadow.

In the Tartan Room and the Vintage Dining Room, diners have frequently reported hearing soft, disembodied Scottish bagpipe melodies or gentle piano chords floating through the corridors when no live musicians or audio systems are playing, adding an enchanting, ghostly, and romantic atmosphere to the historic establishment.

Employees, overnight inn guests, and restaurant patrons at The Country Squire have reported a wide variety of mild, peaceful paranormal occurrences over the decades. Servers closing down the dining rooms frequently report hearing heavy footsteps walking across empty hardwood floors, accompanied by the distinct sound of dining chairs being quietly tucked into tables in locked, empty rooms.

In the winery and wine cellar, staff members have witnessed wine bottles gently swaying on racks, unexplainable cold spots near the antique fireplaces, and the faint scent of pipe tobacco or fresh lavender perfume. On several occasions, night managers have observed wine glasses clinking together on overhead racks as if raised in a phantom toast.

Guests staying at the inn report light switches turning on and off unassisted, gentle taps on bedroom doors late at night with no one in the hallway, and televisions altering volume on their own. The encounters are universally described as welcoming and harmless.

The Country Squire complex is a rustic, labyrinthine structure built using a rich blend of salvaged 18th-century architectural elements and traditional Scottish country inn designs. The main restaurant features multiple uniquely decorated dining rooms—including the Tartan Room, the Pantry, and the Garden Room—adorned with exposed hand-hewn oak ceiling beams, heart-pine paneling, leaded glass windows, and rustic stone fireplaces.

Adjacent to the restaurant is the 12-room Country Squire Inn, offering vintage-style guest accommodations overlooking landscaped gardens, a central courtyard, and an on-site estate vineyard. The sprawling property also houses a wine tasting room, gift shop, and wine cellars set among mature trees and scenic rural North Carolina countryside.

The Country Squire Restaurant, Inn, & Winery is located at 748 NC-24 in Kenansville, Duplin County, North Carolina, situated conveniently between Warsaw and Kenansville, roughly an hour inland from Wilmington. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday, while the winery tasting room operates daily for visitors and wine enthusiasts.

Overnight lodging is available year-round at the Country Squire Inn, with advance reservations strongly recommended for weekend stays and special winery events. On-site parking is completely free for all guests. Visitors can enjoy estate wine tastings, casual or fine dining, and self-guided walks around the historic gardens and estate vineyards.

The Country Squire's haunted reputation stems from its rich collection of salvaged 18th-century historic building materials and the enduring legacy of founder Joe Nichols Jr. Its unique combination of historic charm, fine wines, phantom bagpipe melodies, disembodied footsteps, and gentle, welcoming ghost encounters makes it a standout dark tourism destination and culinary highlight in Eastern North Carolina, drawing visitors from across the region.