Connect with us

News

The Creepiest Urban Legend from Each of the 50 States Part 8

Published

on

Hello, my fellow creepy travelers, and welcome back to part eight of my 10-part series spotlighting the creepiest urban legend in each of the 50 states. We’re down to the final 15, but that doesn’t mean the stories are any less compelling than they were in the beginning!

What will the next state hold? Read on to find out, and don’t forget to let us know your favorites, as well, in the comments below!

Oklahoma: The Hornet Spooklight

When it comes to urban legends, Oklahoma has more than its fair share and I honestly had a hard time choosing one for this article. Cry-baby bridges are rampant across the state, and southeastern Oklahoma has a long history of Bigfoot sightings. Then there are the numerous people who have vanished among the dunes in what is now the state’s panhandle region dating back hundreds of years.

Creepy, right?

Still, there’s another phenomena that drew my attention repeatedly while researching this article. It’s called the Hornet Spooklight, and it has more backstories than you can shake a proverbial stick at.

In many ways, the spooklight, which is often seen along the border between Oklahoma and Missouri, is not unlike other “ghost lights” or “fairy lights” seen in various parts of the globe. Most of these can be explained away with atmospheric electrical charges, gasses, etc. The spooklight, however, has never been fully explained by any of those methods, however.

The earliest mentions of the lights go back to the late 1800s and it has been seen continually ever since, and so naturally, it has sparked numerous urban legend-like explanations. Some say it’s the ghost of a Civil War soldier, and others say they’re the spirit of Native American lovers tragically separated who still search for each other in the dark. My favorite, however, involves a miner who lost was decapitated in an accident and who wanders the hills with his lantern held aloft still looking for his lost head.

In 2014, a college professor and a team of students concluded that the spooklight was actually the reflection of car headlights. This is all fine and good, but someone should probably remind the professor that replication of a phenomenon is not concrete proof. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure that there were no cars and therefore no headlights in 1866.

Either way, if you’re ever in Oklahoma, you should check out the mysterious spooklight for yourself!

Oregon: Witchcraft at Malheur Butte

Malheur Butte is a dead volcano and has been for millions of years. That hasn’t stopped local legends from cropping up about the location.

It is said that witches once used the Butte’s summit as a location for dark rituals and that now, if one should find themselves near the location at night, they should be on the lookout for dark, imp-like creatures that roam the surrounding area. Some say the creatures are demon; others say they’re Fae beings of one sort or another.

Either way, the area is said to give off a peculiar vibe to visitors, and it’s one place I’d definitely like to see for myself!

Pennsylvania: The Bus to Nowhere

urban legend bus to nowhere

I love this urban legend so much for two reasons. First and foremost, it’s genuinely creepy in a tragic sort of way. Second, it seems to have been born only in the last decade but has definitely taken on a life of its own despite its recent emergence.

It is said in Philadelphia that there is a bus that only appears to those who find themselves in the grip of profound grief and depression. The bus will appear out of nowhere to that person and once they climb aboard, they will find themselves surrounded by other lost and despondent people. Perhaps their spouse left them. Perhaps they lost their job and have no prospects for the future. The thing they all have in common is a need for escape.

No matter their circumstances, they now ride the bus until the day they’ve finally dealt with their grief and are ready to move on, at which time they can stand up and pull the cord for the driver to let them off. Once they step off the bus, they don’t remember their ride. In fact, they don’t even remember the bus, though some have ridden it for days, weeks, even years.

As I said before, I love this story. There is something tragic and beautiful about it, though it is undeniably creepy. As for where the story began, it seems to have emerged from a blog written by Nicholas Mirra in 2011, and since that time–much like Slenderman and the Russian Sleep Experiment–it has taken on a life of its own with some locals swearing that it truly exists.

Rhode Island: Dolly Cole

Photo via Flickr

In Foster, Rhode Island, legend says, there was once a woman named Dolly Cole. Depending on which version of the tale you read, Cole was either a natural healer or she was an evil witch, possibly a vampire, and a prostitute. Cole’s legend most likely was wrapped into some of the vampire panic that went on in New England during the 18th and 19th centuries during which time outbreaks of consumption aka Tuberculosis were blamed on vampires slowly draining the life of their victims.

Regardless of which version of the story you read, the outcome was the same.

The townspeople came to distrust Cole and went out in a mob to her house in the woods with intention of being rid of her once and for all. They set fire to the home, not realizing that Cole was not inside but her young daughter was. It’s said that the girl died in the fire and upon discovering this, Cole laid a curse on the land and people of the area.

Since that time, sightings of Cole’s spirit pop up from time to time. It’s said those who find themselves face-to-face with the spirit are left in a terrified, nearly inconsolable state.

South Carolina: The Ghost Hound of Goshen

Legend says that in the 1800s, an innocent man was hanged for a crime he didn’t commit, and he was subsequently buried in Ebenezer Church Cemetery near the township of Goshen.

The man’s dog laid atop his grave, refusing to move until the hound also died.

Since then, a large, ghostly white dog is said to wander old Buncombe Road, a five mile stretch of road that runs from the cemetery to an old plantation house.

Some say no matter how fast you’re driving the dog will run alongside your car. If you stop, he will sit in the road in front of your car and turn its head to sky, howling in his despair. According to legend, seeing the dog is a sure sign that someone you love will soon die.

Of course, it’s only an urban legend….but would you take the chance to find out?

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title