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The Secrets of the Ghost Village Kuldhara in the Desert

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According to legend, the villagers of Kuldhara just left their homes overnight for mysterious reasons. But before they left, they supposedly left a curse upon the village, making it a deserted place forever alone in the desert. 

There is a mysterious and eerie world in Kuldhara, a deserted village located in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. This northern ancient village has been abandoned for over two centuries, and it’s said to be cursed by a powerful spell that has kept it uninhabitable for generations. Many people believe that the ghostly spirits of the villagers who once lived here still haunt the deserted streets, making it one of the most haunted places in India. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

The stories behind Kuldhara’s abandonment are shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Some say that the villagers fled overnight, leaving behind their homes and belongings, while others believe that a powerful curse was cast upon the village by a wealthy landlord. Whatever the truth may be, one thing is for sure – Kuldhara is a place full of secrets and tales yet to be uncovered. 

Historical Significance of Kuldhara

The village was once a prosperous community of Paliwal Brahmins who were known for their business acumen and agricultural skills. There are written records of the village all the way back to the 13th century. 

The Paliwal Brahmins is a class in Hinduism that focuses on priests, teachers, physicians and even kings. The people in the village were mostly bankers, farmers and traders in agriculture. 

A Brahmin family: Bombay; photo by Taurines, c.1880. Brahmin is a hindu caste. Legends say that the Paliwal Brahmins are descendants of Maharaj Haridas, who lived around 6000 years ago. They were priests for Queen Rukmani and played a role in her love marriage with Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna was pleased with him and granted him money and land in Gujarat. Today, Paliwal Brahmins can be found scattered across India, speaking various local languages. Brahmins are often well-educated, which is why they are well-represented among overseas Indians.

They were the first to introduce the concept of underground water conservation in the region called a “khareen”, which allowed them to thrive in the arid desert environment. Water from the local Kakni river and wells supplied the village with fresh water. 

Read more: Check out all of the haunted cities around the world

Kuldhara also played an important role in the history of the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. The village was strategically located on the trade route between India and Central Asia, making it an important center for trade and commerce. 

The streets were neat, all leading to a mother goddess temple in the center. The buildings are well preserved in the dry desert climate and in some places it looks like the inhabitants just left. 

Theories Behind the Village’s Abandonment

Theories behind Kuldhara’s abandonment vary. What we do know is that in the 19th century, some pinpoint it to 1825, the people left, although the reason remains a mystery. 

Some believed in the 20th century that the villagers left due to the tyranny of Salim Singh from the Jaisalmer State called the Diwan, known for his corruption and unethical practices. He was an official or minister that demanded high taxes from the village. Some legends claim the taxes were so high that the villagers had to move as they didn’t have the money to live there anymore. 

Some say that he wanted to marry the daughter of the local chief. When he tried to make her marry him, she denied him and this was something he just couldn’t accept. He sent an ultimatum to the village that demanded that the villagers had to accept his marriage proposal, or he would destroy them. Whether he meant by extra taxes or sending soldiers on them varies according to who is telling the legend.  

Instead of adhering to any of his words, the village chose to leave and protect the daughter’s honor rather than hand her over to the vile man. As well as many of the 85 of the surrounding villages 

After it was abandoned though, strange legends started being told about the once prosperous village. It is said that as the villagers left their home, they put a curse on the land so it would remain deserted. 

People that have tried to settle in the area have left again after experiencing paranormal activity. 

Draught Drove them Away

What we do know though, is that it wasn’t an overnight thing, like the last legend would imply. in the 18th century we recon there lived around 800 people there. In 1890 only 37 and today, only the ghosts remain. 

While others believe that a severe drought and famine forced them to leave. There is evidence to show that by 1815, many of the wells had dried up and in 1850 the only wells functioning was the great stepwell in the village and two other deeper ones. 

The Ruins of the Desert City: The ruins of the village stretches far across the desert. The ruins include three cremation grounds, with several devalis that are memorial stones or cenotaphs. //Source: Pradeep717/Wikimedia

This could go well together with the taxes as well though, as they did not have the money to pay it because the return for the agricultural work dwindled together with the water. 

Some even speculate that the villagers were forced to leave due to an epidemic or an invasion by an enemy tribe. New evidence from 2017 shows that it might have been an earthquake that forced the majority of the villagers out. 

The Legend of the Gold

The legends keep piling up. Did the villagers curse their village themselves or was it the work of a group of wandering Sufi mystics?

Read also: Check out The Ghosts that Drove the Villagers of La Cornudilla out of Town, The Ghost of Khar Khot, The Black City in the Gobi Desert, Lac de Paladru and the Ancient City of Ars or The Lost City of Dode said to be haunted.

Another legend is that the village is a place where there is a buried treasure. According to this story, the villagers couldn’t carry all the gold and silver when leaving. Because of this they decided to bury it under the village. 

Attempts to Revive Kuldhara

Over the years, several attempts have been made to revive Kuldhara. In 2007, the Rajasthan government announced a plan to turn Kuldhara into a tourist destination by restoring some of the abandoned homes and buildings. They also promote the deserted ghost village as haunted in order to attract tourists. 

One could ask if the village really is a haunted one, as most stories seem to come from the visiting tourists, not the locals in the surrounding area.

How it could have been: This is a model house, constructed in the ruins of kuldhara, showing how the buildings and houses could have looked like. //Source: nevil zaveri/Flickr

The deserted streets of Kuldhara are said to be haunted by the ghosts of the villagers who once lived here. Visitors have reported hearing strange noises, footsteps, and whispers in the abandoned homes. Some have even claimed to have seen the apparitions of the villagers, dressed in traditional attire, wandering the streets at night.

The Deserted Kuldhara City in the Desert

Kuldhara is a place full of mystery and intrigue. Its haunted reputation and tragic history have made it one of the most fascinating places to visit in India. The deserted streets and abandoned homes of Kuldhara are a reminder of the tragic events that took place here, and it’s important to respect the history and culture of the village while exploring it.

While the stories of Kuldhara’s abandonment and haunting may never be fully understood, they continue to intrigue and captivate visitors from all over the world. Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or a skeptic, a visit to Kuldhara is an experience like no other. So, pack your bags, and head to Rajasthan to uncover the ghostly secrets of Kuldhara.

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References:

Kuldhara Village, Jaisalmer: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips 

Abandoned For Centuries, “Haunted” Rajasthan Village Has A Tale To Tell 

Kuldhara Village Jaisalmer (History, Distance, Images & Location) 

kuldhara village near jaisalmer | Times of India Travel 

Kuldhara – Wikipedia 

Kuldhara Village | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan | Attractions – Lonely Planet 

India’s Haunted Village: Why was Kuldhara Abandoned? – Historic Mysteries 

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The Ghost of Edgar Watson and the Shadows of the Swamp

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For years the notorious outlaw Edgar Watson lived in the Everglades where his workers had a habit of ending up dead or disappearing around payday. When the authorities ignored their plea, the villagers took law into their own hands, and are now forever haunted by the man they took out. 

In the year 1910, the humid air of Chokoloskee witnessed a chilling event—the demise of Edgar Watson, a plantation owner with a sinister reputation. Watson, a man known for his malevolent deeds, was not only a ruthless serial killer but also a plantation owner who showed no mercy to his own servants, most of whom were black, Native American or some form of vulnerable migrant with no place to go. His blood-stained legacy extended to anyone who dared trespass on his property.

The Everglades in Florida is a 1.5 million acres of marshy swampland of alligators and crocodiles and other deadly things, like people. Like a last frontier you find the small town of Chokoloskee at the edge of the chain of islands and mangroves called The Ten Thousand Islands. 

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from USA

Since 1965, there have been 175 unsolved murders around these parts and that is only those bodies that were found.  Who knows how many missing bodies are just waiting to be discovered or have already been taken by the alligators and sharks? 

Ever since settlers came to this place, it has been known for being a place for outlaws far from the long arms of the authorities and the Everglades has been a place where people disappear and some never return from. 

Chokoloskee Island: Looking like a picturesque place with its lush and sunny beaches, this part of the Everglades are so remote and a place that attracted people on the run from authorities and those living a life that didn’t do well in the light of day. // Source: William “Patrick” Ma…/Wikimedia

The History of “Bloody” Edgar Watson

Edgar Watson was born in 1855 in South Carolina and seemed to be violent from his early years, thought to him by his abusive father. After he murdered two people he went on the run from Florida to Oklahoma, renting a place from Belle Starr, another well known outlaw known as the Bandit Queen of the Old West. 

Edgar Watson: Notorious outlaw from the Old West and fugitive in Florida, Watson is thought to haunt the town that took law and order into their own hands.

According to legend, he shot Belle in the back as she was riding her horse, killing her as well. He feared that she was about to turn him into the authorities for a murder he did in Lake City. And although he was tried for her murder, he was not convicted. 

Even though he was a wanted man in Florida, he returned in 1891 and murdered another man in what he claimed was self defense. This is also when he went into the Florida Everglades as a fugitive, a perfect place to hide and dispose of dead bodies that seemed to pile up around him.

On his land by the Chatham Bend area he started up a sugar cane syrup business that was quite successful and he started to hire people. He hired a lot of African-Americans and Native Americans as well as vagabonds, migrants or other fugitives to work for him at his farm. When they wanted to get paid, however, legend is he murdered them instead and threw their bodies into the river. 

This is said to have gone on for 15 years and rumors started to be told about what really happened there, but there was no definitive proof. Bodies started to wash ashore close to the small town of Chokoloskee. When a runaway worker told them what was going on they also found the body of a woman named Hannah Smith whose foot was revealed in the swamp after a hurricane blew through the Everglades. The worker claimed that there were plenty more. 

They all knew about Edgar “Bloody” Watson and knew he was carrying a gun under his black trench coat and some of his runaway workers told horrible tales. The authorities didn’t want to get involved because they didn’t think it was their jurisdiction. So the people of Chokoloskee were left to their own devices. 

In 1910 he was attacked by the townspeople at the Smallwood Store, the last frontiers of Florida. This was both a trading post, post office and a market for all things people could need in this remote part of the world. Everyone was armed and they shot and killed him when he tried to pull the gun at them back. This is said to have taken place on the sandbar right below the store. 30 rounds of bullets went into his body, although the first shot went right between the eyes. 

The Ghost of Chokoloskee

Ever since then the Everglades have gotten another haunted legend to go with all the others and today Edgar Watson is remember as a notorious outlaw and murderer. The place is still remote and the town has around 300 people living in Chokoloskee. Some say that there are more ghosts than living people in the town. 

The legends claim that Edgar Watson is still haunting the area. Around 50 skeletons have since been found around his old property according to the local legends, although not verified at all. How many that were murdered or if there were any at all is not known for sure.

The Smallwood Store closed in 1982 but is still open as a history museum and especially around this building people swear to have seen him, and according to legend, there is still blood splatter on the walls from the shoot out. 

The people working in the museum have been called up in the middle of the night by people claiming to have seen movement inside of the building. But when investigating, there is nothing. Could it have been the ghost of Edgar Watson? Or perhaps one of the other ghosts rumored to roam the island?

The Haunted Shop: The Smallwood store has stood in isolation on the southern tip of Chokoloskee Island for more than 100 years. This was the place where the villagers finally took the life of Edgar Watson and where he is thought to haunt in his afterlife. // Source: Wikimedia

Other Ghosts Haunting the Smallwood Store

Another ghost said to linger in the store is the ghost of C.G McKinney who started the first post office as well as the first school on the island. He moved to this place after he abandoned his wife and his five children and ran off with the nanny. They settled on Chokoloskee Island and had five more children, naming them the same as his previous set of children. 

The last ghost said to haunt the place is a boy that is said to have once been a pirate. He is said to have died when he got trapped in his fishing net at the age of 120. He is said to come to the market in search for a new net in the middle of the night. 

So if you see the lights switched on out in the remote parts of the Everglades, perhaps it is just a nightly walk of the outlaw Edgar Watson.

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References:

Ted Smallwood Store – Wikipedia 

Smallwood Store 

History – and ghosts – at Smallwood’s Store in Chokoloskee 

Edgar J. Watson’s Island Graveyard of Horror – Chokoloskee, Florida 

Creepy Stories in the Everglades 

Chokoloskee, Florida – Wikipedia 

The town that killed an outlaw | Florida Originals Chokoloskee – Ghost Town

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The Gray Lady at Ard na Sidhe Country House

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Ard na Sidhe Country House in Ireland means Hill of the Fairies, but is said to be haunted  by a Lady in Gray that is said to be the ghost of one of the former residents. 

The origins of Ard na Sidhe Country House are shrouded in history and mystery and the very name of the house means: Hill of the Fairies. In spite of its fairytale-like name, it is said that the country house in Killorglin in County Kerry is also haunted by a Lady in Gray.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

Originally conceived by Lady Gordon, a distinguished lady of Irish lineage, the Ard na Sidhe Country House’s construction began in 1913 on the 32 acres of natural woodland on the shores of Caragh Lake.  This ambitious project aimed to create “The House of my Dreams,” a vision that would forever alter the Kerry countryside. Lady Gordon’s dedication to authenticity saw her enlisting local workmen and utilizing Irish materials, except for the Westmorland roof slates, imparting a timeless character to the house.

The Ghostly Whispers inside of the Ard na Sidhe Country House

Ard na Sidhe’s rich history and spectral tales cast an irresistible spell over visitors. In particular, the ghost of Bess Stokes, an ancestor of Lady Gordon, is said to wander the estate’s hallowed grounds, the hidden pathways and secret glades. 

The ghost of Bess Stokes is said to still be seen as an old lady in gray — standing at the gate near the ruined cottage she had built. 

Not much is known about her life except she turned pretty old, but never gave up partying. The descriptions we have of her in written form is when someone described her as one to have “taken the floor ” at a party she had given to celebrate her hundredth birthday.

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Houses around the world

Her presence adds to the mystique of this storied residence. As you traverse its historic halls, listen closely—perhaps you’ll hear the gentle whispers of its spectral inhabitants, forever entwined with the allure of Ard na Sidhe Country House.

Ard na Sidhe Country House in the Modern Day

In the hands of Dr. Liebherr, Ard na Sidhe’s legacy continued to flourish when he acquired the estate in 1958. Just two years later, it opened its doors to welcome guests, blending the past’s grace with contemporary comfort. 

Ard na Sidhe Country House invites guests to relish its timeless charm as a hotel and glimpse the spirits of the past, perhaps still wanting to take to the floor for an eternal party.

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References:

History of Ard Na Sidhe Country House, Killorglin, Co. Kerry Full text of “The Winds Of Time”

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Free Ghost Stories Perfect for Summer Reading

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Who said that ghost stories only happen around Halloween? Summer horror can be just as chilling. Here is a list of horror short stories found in the public domain that are free to read, perfect for a hot summer day.

Although the nights are shorter during summer and the sun vanquishes the long shadows, the time is no less haunted. The ghosts under the midsummer sun can be just as scary as those appearing on a stormy winters night. With the rise of summer vacationing in the Victorian area, there was also a flux of ghost stories set in this time. This opened for more stories centered around renting a haunted summer cabin, ghosts in the rose gardens and travelers finding strange places where monsters lurk.

Read Also: Wrong Season? If not summer, have a look at Top Free Horror Stories In The Public Domain To Read For Halloween

These stories, set during the warm and often deceptively calm summer months, create a stark contrast to the chilling ghostly encounters they depict, enhancing their eerie and suspenseful atmospheres. Here are some of the short stories of ghost stories and haunted places in the public domain you can read for free perfect for the summer days.

The Open Door by Charlotte Riddell — A haunted house mystery

The Open Door recounts a man’s unsettling visit to a manor house in the summer, where he is cautioned about the mysterious door that leads to a haunted room. It’s a classic ghost story written about someone vacationing in a haunted house during the summer that the Victorian popularized. Written by Charlotte Riddell in 1882 under her pseudonym Mrs. J. H. Riddell, known for her chilling horror tales.

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The Open Door by Charlotte Riddell

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The Wind in the Rose-bush by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman — A ghostly encounter by the roses

This short story was first published in 1913 in The Wind in the Rosebush and Other Stories of the Supernatural. Her books dealt with Puritanism, and she was one of the first women in America to be elected to the National Institute for Arts and Letters. She was distantly related to another American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Set during the late summer, this story involves a about a spinster Rebecca Flint who has come to Ford Village to take her elder sister’s daughter with her back to Michigan. But something about the village is strange and she encounters strange and ghostly things surrounding a rose-bush in the garden.

Read the text version:

The Wind in the Rose-bush by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

Listen to the audio version:

https://ia601003.us.archive.org/5/items/wind_in_the_rose-bush_1803_librivox/wind_01_freeman_128kb.mp3

The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford — Ghostly tale of a summer crossing the Transatlantic

“The Upper Berth” is a short story written by F. Marion Crawford, first published in 1886. The story takes place aboard a transatlantic ocean liner in June. A passenger named Brisbane travels this distance frequently. When the steward behaves oddly while taking his luggage to his stateroom, number 105, he thinks it’s odd, but continues his travels. In the middle of the first night his roommate suddenly leaps down from the upper berth and runs out of the cabin. The morning after he finds out that his roommate has gone overboard. According to the rumors, he was the fourth person staying at that very upper berth to have done the same.

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The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford

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The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford

The Haunted Orchard by Richard Le Gallienne — The haunted summer in the apple orchard

“The Haunted Orchard” by Richard Le Gallienne is a ghost story that takes place in the countryside during the summer. The story follows a man who rents a country house in order to get some rest and inspiration for his work. The house has an old orchard that immediately captures his interest due to its neglected state and the eerie beauty of the overgrown apple trees. He begins to notice a mysterious presence in the orchard. One night, he encounters the ghostly figure of a beautiful young woman among the apple trees. She seems to be searching for something or someone and is clearly tied to the orchard in some tragic way. The story delves into the themes of lost love and lingering sorrow, as the man becomes more involved in uncovering the story behind the haunting and the tragic past of the ghostly figure.

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The Haunted Orchard by Richard Le Gallienne

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https://ia803409.us.archive.org/24/items/ghost_stories_003_librivox/gs003-haunted_orchard_gallienne_py.mp3

The Giant Wistaria by Charlotte Perkins Gilman — A haunted house tale of a summer vacation

Charlotte Perkins Gilman‘s short story The Giant Wistaria from 1891 is less known than her iconic story The Yellow Wallpaper, a feminist classic and deals with patriarchal values and the repression of women’s sexuality and motherhood. It starts off with a story about an unwed girl with a child and the family discussing what to do with her. The father wants to marry her to her cousin and leave the child behind when they leave the country. Years later, a young couple rents the house and starts to joke around with it being haunted. And perhaps they are right.

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The Giant Wistaria by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce — A horror story about being buried alive a summer night

The short story One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce tells the story about a man realizing how he has been buried alive and how he has to deal with it and accept his fate. The story was first published in Cosmopolitan in 1906, and written by a writer who disappeared and was as mysterious as his stories.

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One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce

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https://ia800607.us.archive.org/25/items/short_story_collection067_1706_librivox/shortstorycollectionvol067_onesummersnight_bierce_dg_128kb.mp3

The Sand-Walker by Fergus Hume — The tale of a ghost haunting the beach of the English sea town

The Sand-Walker is a short story written by Fergus Hume. It was first published in the collection: The Dancer in Red, and Other Stories in 1906. It’s about a man coming to the beaches in England one summer where he is warned: Whatever you do, don’t go on to the beaches at dusk, or the Sand-Walker will come to your window at night.

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The Sand-Walker by Fergus Hume

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The Phantom Rickshaw by Rudyard Kipling — Horror story from monsoon season in India

“The Phantom Rickshaw” by Rudyard Kipling is a haunting tale set in colonial India at the end of the monsoon season, where British officer Jack Pansay is tormented by the ghost of his former lover, Agnes Keith-Wessington, whom he had callously abandoned. Following her death, Pansay begins to see her spectral figure riding in a rickshaw, relentlessly haunting him. His repeated encounters with the ghost drive him to the brink of madness, as his fiancée and friends dismiss his experiences as delusions. The story explores themes of guilt, psychological torment, and the supernatural, blending an eerie atmosphere with the complexities of colonial society.

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The Phantom Rickshaw by Rudyard Kipling

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The Rival Ghosts by Brander Matthews — Ghost story told a summer crossing the Atlantic ocean

The Rival Ghosts by Brander Matthews was written in 1884 and published in the collection Mystic-Humorous Stories. It tells the story about a group of passengers crossing the transatlantic by ship and debating if Europe or the States have the best ghost stories. They gather around one that has tales about both with a humorous twist.

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The Rival Ghosts by Brander Matthews

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The Horla by Guy de Maupassant — A horror story about being posessed by an entity

“The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant is a psychological horror story that delves into the mind of an unnamed narrator who becomes convinced he is being haunted by an invisible entity. The story has been cited as an inspiration for Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu“. Set in the oppressive heat of a French summer, the narrator’s initially peaceful life is disrupted by a series of unsettling events, leading him to believe that a supernatural being, the Horla, is draining his life force and controlling his actions. As his paranoia deepens, he struggles to discern reality from delusion, culminating in a descent into madness. The story explores themes of mental illness, the supernatural, and the fragility of human sanity.

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The Horla by Guy de Maupassant

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A View From a Hill by M.R. James — Ghost story about a pair of haunted binoculars that sees things that are not there

“A View from a Hill” is a captivating short ghost story penned by M.R. James and originally published in 1925. The narrative follows Fanshawe, a scholarly figure who embarks on a summer retreat to the English countryside, hosted by his friend Squire Henry Richards. During his stay, Fanshawe stumbles upon a pair of binoculars crafted by a man who met an untimely and enigmatic demise in years past. These binoculars possess a peculiar quality, allowing Fanshawe to behold objects that have long since ceased to exist. This intriguing premise sets the stage for a tale of mystery and suspense, as Fanshawe becomes entangled in a realm where the boundaries of time and perception blur. As the storyline unfolds, readers are drawn into a world where the supernatural seamlessly intertwines with the ordinary, creating an atmosphere of eerie fascination and spine-tingling intrigue.

Read the text version:

A View From a Hill by M.R. James

Listen to the audio version:

https://ia802504.us.archive.org/24/items/ghohor060_2205_librivox/ghohor060_viewfromhill_james_rb_128kb.mp3

The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson — A summer vacation in a haunted tower

“The Room in the Tower” by E.F. Benson is a chilling ghost story that centers around a recurring nightmare experienced by the narrator. In his dream, he visits a friend’s house and is always assigned to sleep in a foreboding tower room, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of dread. One summer, he finds himself invited to a real-life version of the house from his dreams. Despite his apprehensions, he is given the very room he fears. As night falls, the nightmare becomes a reality when he encounters the ghost of a previous occupant, revealing a dark and terrifying past. The story masterfully blends psychological tension with supernatural horror, leaving a lasting impression of unease and fear.

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The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson

Listen to the audio version:

https://ia804603.us.archive.org/18/items/horror_005_0809_librivox/roominthetower_benson_ms.mp3

The Wood of the Dead by Algernon Blackwood — A horror story about a mysterious forest

“The Wood of the Dead” is a story written by Algernon Blackwood. It appeared in his first collection, The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories, in 1906. The story is set during a summer where a person is making a solo summer walking tour of England’s west country and has stopped for a meal at a village inn. A local man tells the traveler to meet him at midnight in “The Wood of the Dead”. According to local lore when a person entered the nearby wood singing, he knew that person would soon die. Instead of continuing on his journey, the traveler decides to have a closer look at The Woods of the Dead.

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The Wood of the Dead by Algernon Blackwood

Listen to the audio version:

https://ia800109.us.archive.org/20/items/short_ghost_and_horror_collection_030_1803_librivox/short_ghost_and_horror_collection_030_19__128kb.mp3

Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance by M.R. James — Summer spent in a haunted house with a mysterious maze

“Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance” is a ghost story by British writer M. R. James first published when he included it in his 1911 collection More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. The story is set in the late summer in England, when Mr Humphreys, arrives in Wilsthorpe. He has recently inherited an estate from his uncle, who died a mysterious death and the history of the strange maze and temple next to his new home.

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Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance by M.R. James

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The Dead Valley by Ralph Adams Cram — A horror story about a haunted village in a valley

“The Dead Valley” by Ralph Adams Cram from 1895 is a chilling tale that unfolds amidst the haunting landscape of rural New England. Set in the secluded valley of a decaying village, the story follows a young traveler who stumbles upon the eerie remnants of a once-thriving community. As he delves deeper into the desolate surroundings, he uncovers dark secrets and encounters malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows. Through vivid imagery and evocative prose, “The Dead Valley” explores themes of isolation, decay, and the supernatural, leaving readers captivated by its unsettling portrayal of a world teetering on the brink of madness.

Read the text version:

The Dead Valley by Ralph Adams Cram

Listen to the audio version:

https://ia801307.us.archive.org/31/items/ghostandhorror10_1008_librivox/13ghohor010_deadvalley_ralphadamscram_gds.mp3

Free Ghost Stories Perfect for Summer Reading

This was just a small collection of some of the horror short stories found in the public domain that are free to read and are perfect for reading on a hot summer day or night. Have you read them all? Perhaps you know a couple of good ones that would be great for the list?

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The Ghost Girl on the Arrabassada Road

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There is a ghost girl hitchhiking on the Arrabassada road in Spain. On a sharp turn in the road people claim to have picked up a vanishing hitchhiker that keeps reminding them to slow down on the dangerous road before disappearing when they have safely passed the bend. 

Spain is widely known for its beautiful landscapes, rich history and delicious food, but there’s one road that has a different reputation altogether. This road in Barcelona, is infamous for its haunting presence. The road is believed to be haunted by a ghost that lingers there. This ghost has caused several accidents on the road, making it one of the scariest roads in Spain.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

This stretch of road between Sarria-Sant Gervasi and Horta-Guinardo in Barcelona are tales of a ghostly hitchhiker. This urban legend was one of the ghost stories presented in Llegendes de Barcelona by Per Joan de Déu Prats, but the core of the story would be familiar globewide. 

The Girl on Revolt de la Paella

Reports about a girl passing cars have been picked up by the Revolt de la Paella, which is a sharp bend of the Arrabassada road. The girl is said to have been wearing a white dress. 

According to the legend it is said that after picking up what the drivers think is a hitchhiker, she gets nervous as the car is closing in on a specific course and she tells you to be careful and slow down because it is dangerous. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Roads all around the world.

She is even said to have stopped cars and saved the driver from a crash from an oncoming vehicle. She then tells the driver that this was the place she died and she spends the rest of her afterlife trying to save others from suffering her fate. 

After the drivers are able to pass the sharp bend safely, she vanishes into the thin air, her job done. 

Revolt de la Paella: On this sharp bend on the Arrabassada Road in Barcelona, Spain, it is said that a woman is haunting the road. In this classic vanishing hitchhiker story, a ghost is getting into cars only to mysteriously disappear.//Source: Joan Andrés de Barcelona/Wikimedia

The Vanishing Hitchhiker on Arrabassada Road

There is also the story about a young man who picked her up on Arrabassada Road, one of those thinking she was just a normal girl hitchhiking. She asked him to let her out right before they reached the curve for some reason. Although the young man didn’t understand, he followed her advice and stopped the car. 

Because they stopped he was saved from a collision of a truck he would have hit if he had not stopped to drop her off. 

Read more: Revisit the urban legend of the Vanishing Hitchhiker 

After this incident it is said he attended a party where the host of the party looked a bit like the girl he had picked up that night. 

Turned out to be the niece of a lady that got killed in a car collision on the same curve he had been in danger of crashing himself. 

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References:

Carretera de la Rabassada – Viquipèdia, l’enciclopèdia lliure

13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

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Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 Disaster and Ghosts

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In 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades killing most of the passengers. Years after the crash, people talked about seeing the ghosts of the crew, not only around the crash site, but on other flights of Eastern Airlines. 

In December 1972 one of the worst plane crashes in US history happened. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was headed to Miami from New York, but due to an electronic failure and pilot error, it crashed in the Everglades on the 29th. It most likely happened because when the autopilot was accidentally shut off for a moment as they were investigating a burned out indicator light.

The plane was a very new model, only put into production four years prior. The crew was an experienced one with Captain Robert Albin Loft as the pilot. With him, he had his Flight Engineer, Donald Louis Repo. 

The last transmissions of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 were:

Stockstill: We did something to the altitude.

Loft: What?

Stockstill: We’re still at 2,000 feet, right?

Loft: Hey—what’s happening here?

In less than 10 seconds after this exchange and message, the jetliner crashed and a huge scandal and tragedy of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 started.

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from the USA

This glip caused them to lose too much altitude and they crashed. A couple of days after it hit the Florida wilderness, the wreckage were pulled from the swamp. 96 of 163 people on board were killed in the swamp upon crashing and these people are said to still haunt the area. Back when it happened it was the second most deadliest crash in US history, although it today ranks among the top 16 or thereabouts. 

The Haunted Crash Site in the Everglades

Right after the crash came the ghost stories. After a frog hunter Robert Bud Marquis saw the crash and tried to pull people out from the burning wreckage, that night and the following day, saving dozens of lives. 

The place was a terrible inhospitable place though and rescue workers had troubles finding their way, alligators, snakes and other swamp horrors made it all more difficult, many died upon impact, some of injuries, and some drowned in the murky water. 

Haunted Plane: Wreckage of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 how it crashed in the Everglades in Florida. Many died and many have claimed to have seen its ghosts.

Hunters, poachers and hikers in the swamp started to swap tales about seeing strange things around the crash site of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. 

Marfa lights are said to have just happened to pop up in the swamp and ghost were looking at those walking through the area. Things wearing rags swam in the swamp.  

The Haunted Eastern Airline

What is also a peculiar thing about this particular haunting, was how the ghosts from Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 traveled. Paranormal events were soon experienced on other Eastern Airlines planes that used parts cannibalized from the wreckage of Flight 401. And according to the stories, there were a lot. 

Crew members and passengers claimed to have seen ghosts on other L-1011s like the one that went down. This was especially reported the following year after the crash and were less and less told as the years went on. 

The odd occurrences were documented in the 1976 book “The Ghost of Flight 401,” and the airline eventually replaced all the parts salvaged from the doomed flight.

Especially the pilot and flight engineer Bob Loft and Don Repo is said to have been spotted in the swamps as well as on airplanes from Eastern Airlines flights when there was a problem. Almost as if to help out.

The Mystery Passenger

Robert Albin “Bob” Loft (1917-1972)

On one occasion, the captain was asked to see a passenger wearing a pilot uniform in 1973 as the Tristar flight was bound to Miami from JFK. One of the vice presidents were travelling with the flight and noticed a pilot in full uniform and went to talk to him. During their conversation, he realized he was talking to Bob Loft who vanished into thin air right before his eyes. He went to get a crew member and they conducted a search, but the ghost passenger was nowhere to be found.  

Seeing his apparition and mistaking him for a live passenger has happened more than once. One time, the passenger was travelling first class and the flight attendant had said he was unresponsive when they talked to him, only smiling. Also, he wasn’t on the passenger list. The man was no longer there when the flight attendant returned. The pilot recognized him at once as Bob, his former colleague from Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. 

The Face of the Ghosts

Another flight from New York to Miami, one of the flight attendants opened a overhead locker and found Bob’s face looking back at her. 

Donald Louis “Don” Repo (1921-1972)

Seeing their faces has been one of the things repeated and another flight from JFK to Mexico City a flight attendant named Fay Merryweather saw Don’s face on the oven door. The face had reportedly warned them about fire on the plane. When the plane returned to New York an engine failed and had to be shut down before it went up in flames. 

Another time on a flight from Atlanta to Miami on a N318EA, the crew heard knocking from what was known as the hell hole. They were having a meal at 39 000 feet and nothing should be knocking on the trap door. Reluctant to open the door, they did and Don was found under the floor after knocking and they found a problem that could potentially have caused serious troubles. 

Even Repo’s son believed the haunting and claim that his father attended his wedding night, leaving Eastern Airlines merchandise in their hotel room even though they hadn’t told anyone about where they were staying, 

Helpful Ghosts from Eastern Air Lines Flight 401

One time everyone was said to have seen the appearance at the side of a pilot who was worried about the weather. The ghost said that they would all be well because they were watching over them. 

Another time during take off the voice spoke through the loudspeaker, reminding the passenger to wear their seat belts. None of the crew had used the microphone. Once a motorist were doing checks and the ghost of Repo came to him in his uniform. He told there was no need to do checks as he had already done it before vanishing. 

A captain going from Miami to Atlanta was checking the instruments before his flight. He then saw the same and the ghost told him, there would never be an incident like that again as they wouldn’t let that happen. 

Airline Scandal and Action Taken

Still, sometimes still reports about people sightings ghosts on Eastern flights happen, their description sounding very much like the 55 year old Bob and Don. Although it was mostly an assurance, it did disrupt air traffic. Like when a crew member saw Don warning them about a faulty electrical circuit and Bob being seen doing his usual pre-flight checks, unnerving the pilot so much that he canceled the entire flight. 

The gossip about this particular ghost sighting was so severe that the management warned staff about them losing their jobs if they spread these ghost stories about Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. It is also said that entire flight log pages with haunted incidents were torn out. The airline even thought about taking legal action if the reports didn’t stop.

Publicly they went out to deny all haunted rumors, but just to be sure, they reported to have removed all the salvaged parts they had used. It is also said that the vice president of the Eastern Airlines was annoyed as well as worried about the rumors and made an internal investigation. The Flight Safety Foundation found the cause of the ghost sightings to be true worries, so he had an exorcism performed. As the report said: “The reports were given by experienced and trustworthy pilots and crew. We consider them significant”.

It is said that the vice-president went on a plane in 1979 to prove that there was no plane present on the plane. But when he boarded, he found the ghost of Loft in the seat next to him. Screaming the ghost disappeared, but ever since then, the two ghosts were never seen again. Or were they?

Salvaged Parts Today

Today, Eastern Airlines doesn’t operate anymore. It is said that they took the parts out from the planes, but is this true? The flights went further and further, sometimes to flights bound to Asian countries. It is said that the ghost sightings stopped, but there are still reports about people seeing the pilots onboard flights to this day.

The salvaged parts of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 have become something paranormal investigators and collectors are interested in. One of the parts can still be found in Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. 

There is also an original floorboard from the Flight 401 found in the archives at  History Miami in South Florida, believed to be cursed. 

Skeptics about the Haunted Rumors

After the crash and the following ghost stories, the story about the ghosts from the flight seeped into popular culture. Movies, songs and books have all taken part of keeping the legend alive. But was the mass media stronger than the actual ghost rumors?

There is some debate about just how big the haunting was though, or if the rumors of it were blown out of proportion. In Robert J. Serling’s 1980 book From the Captain to the Colonel: An Informal History of Eastern Airlines it was even claimed that none of the salvaged parts were used in other aircraft.

It is also said from Jim Ashlock who worked in public relations for the airline until it was put out of business that Fuller, the author detailing the hauntings in his book, made everything up. It is worth knowing that he usually wrote about UFO cases.  

According to the same book, the rumors about seeing Bob came from a joke from a pilot that did an emergency landing and said he thought Don Repo’s ghost was on the plane.

Although it definitely lessened and the haunting from Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 faded since the initial incident, there are still reports about sightings, even from the 2020s. Like a flight from Chicago to Miami in 2020. Although it was a Boeing 737, the haunting was said to have taken place when the plane was going over the Florida Everglades.  According to this passenger, a man in pilot uniform, with an ID badge saying Robert Loft, saying his name was Don sat in the seat next to the passenger, even though there was no one assigned to this seat. 

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References:

The Ghosts Of Flight 401….. 

Grounding the Ghost of Flight 401 

Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 – Wikipedia 

Ghosts On A Plane? The Story Of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401

Florida Time: The Ghost of Flight 401 

Ghosts of Flight 401 

Official Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 – History, Photos, Survivors and Tribute – Survivor Stories & Memorial 

The Ghosts of the Eastern Airlines flight 401 ✈️☁️

My Flight Was Haunted By The Ghosts of Eastern 401 

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The Mystery of D’Souza Chawl

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Deep in the D’Souza Chawl there is a well that had to be sealed after a woman fell out and drowned in it. Her ghostly screams trying to get out of the well are still heard, and residents in the chawls claim to have seen a ghostly silhouette around the neighborhood. 

In the heart of the bustling city of Mumbai lies a small and unassuming residential area known as D’Souza Chawl close in Mahim neighborhood close to the Canossa primary school in Mumbai. But despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, this neighborhood has been shrouded in mystery and speculation for years. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Rumors of paranormal activity and ghostly sightings of a drowned woman have plagued the area, leading many to wonder if D’Souza Chawl is truly haunted. 

The Legend of D’Souza Chawl

A chawl which is a Marathi word: चाळ) is a type of residential building found in western India. Usually low quality housing and chawls are generally associated with poverty or perhaps now with the  burgeoning middle-class communities. The first chawls were constructed in the early 1700s, as housing for industrial workers, especially around the textile mills.

Indian Chawls: This type of housing is known around Mumbai as a chawl, known for their simple community based structures around the textile mills and throughout the city. // Source: Adam Cohn/Flickr

D’Souza Chawl has a long and storied history dating back to colonial times in the now wealthiest city in India. Built in the early 1900s, the chawl was originally home to migrant workers in the mills and the likes in Mumbai. With its seemingly unremarkable three-storied building housings, you wouldn’t necessarily believe this also houses one of the more well known paranormal spots as well. 

Haunting Experiences of Residents and Visitors

Over the years, the community grew, and many more families moved in. However, over time, the chawl began to develop a reputation for being a hub of supernatural activity. The residents of D’Souza Chawl have reported experiencing a range of strange and unexplained occurrences over the years. 

Visitors to the area as well as the residents have also reported feeling a sense of unease or discomfort when visiting the neighborhood. Some of the most common experiences reported include hearing footsteps in empty hallways, seeing apparitions, and feeling a sudden drop in temperature. Many people have also reported feeling as though they are being watched or followed when walking through the chawl. But who is haunting this neighborhood?

The Haunted Well at D’Souza Chawl

Once, the community living in D’Souza Chawl dug up a well in the Chawl as the residents were lacking water resources when they found underground water in the center of the Chawl. The well was not secured though with no boundaries to it, making it dangerous, 

According to the ghost story told in the neighborhood, a woman living in D’Souza Chawl went by herself to get water in the well. She was thirsty in the dark night and fell into its depths. She cried for help the whole night as she tried to get out from the dark and cold well, but ended up drowning before anyone even noticed she was gone. 

Read Also: Banchō Sarayashiki — the Ghost of Okiku who also was drowned in a well.

The next day the drowned lady was found and the well was sealed to prevent further tragic accidents. The locals didn’t want to use the well after this either, and they tried to move on from the event.

Although her family are said to have left the chawl quickly after, her spirit lingered. Today, people still hear the lady’s scream close to the well and think that her spirit is now haunting the residential area. There are also people reporting about seeing a woman’s figure that just disappears into thin air.

Although people claim her spirit is harmless and that she has never harmed anyone, people are advised to stay away at night.  

The Ghost of the Guard

When the incident with the well in D’Souza Chawl is said to have happened though is uncertain. Also who she was, and where her family went. The details are hazy, but not as hazy as the other ghost lingering. 

It is also said that a guard is haunting the Chawl at night. People spot him near one of the trees where he appears at night to guard the area. He as well as the woman supposed to be haunting the D’Souza Chawl, remain nameless for the rest of eternity.

Is D’Souza Chawl Really Haunted?

While many people have reported experiencing strange occurrences in the area, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that these experiences are the result of supernatural activity.

However, it is clear that the stories surrounding D’Souza Chawl have captured the imaginations of many, and have become a well known story in Mumbai, as well as India. Whether or not the chawl is truly haunted remains a mystery, but there is no denying that it is a fascinating and intriguing place to explore.

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References:

D’Souza Chawl, the Most Haunted Place in Mumbai – HubPages 

D’Souza chawl – Most Haunted Place in Mumbai 

India’s Most Haunted: D’Souza Chawl in Mahim | India.com 

Chawl – Wikipedia What is the mystery of D’Souza Chawl in Mumbai? – Quora

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The Legend of the Badlands Banshee Haunting the Prairie

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From the Dakota prairie a legend of a wailing woman is said to haunt the area known as the Badlands. It is said that the Badlands Banshee will find those staying in her barren domain after dark. 

Deep in the Lakota’s Mako Sica, more commonly known as the Badlands is a landscape of sandstone with rugged terrain and goes from impaling cliffs to deep canyons, and amidst them all, we find the legend of the Banshee of the Badlands. 

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from USA

The Badlands in Dakota are often described as hell without fire, because of its barren terrain and the smoke seeping from the earth. This is where the word comes from as it was “bad land to traverse“. Despite of this, there are plenty of people that have traveled through these lands, and come back with the tale of an encounter with a wailing woman.

The Banshee of the Badlands

Banshee: The Banshee is an Irish entity from folklore that takes the form of a female wailing spirit. It is said that if you hear a banshee cry you will soon suffer the death of a beloved. Although the Banshee is Irish, most cultures have stories about the spirit of these wailing women.

The most retold version of the legend tells three cowboys traveling through the Badlands many years ago and stopping for the night around a campfire, the only light in the barren landscape as their herd is grassing. 

This area used to be at the bottom of the sea, but is today filled with rattlesnakes and coyotes while the bison grass on the prairie. This also used to draw the settlers from Europe to farm and cowboys would lead their flock over the grassland. 

Settling in for the night, the three cowboys noticed that something was wrong, and that someone was watching them from afar. Suddenly they saw through the darkness, a woman, almost translucent. She was described as pretty before turning scary and it’s clear, this is not a human, at least not a living one. Without saying anything else she unleashed a blood-curdling scream, her jaw twisting unnaturally wide, her eyes darkening. 

The horror of the night was far from over though and they heard a music from a fiddle coming through the night, although no one was playing and the night went on like this and the woman disappeared as the music grew louder. 

Eventually two of the cowboys fell asleep, exhausted by it all. The next morning when they awoke to blue sky and the music silenced. They found one of them missing and followed his footprints of his heavy boots, leading all the way to a steep cliff before vanishing right in front of the edge.

The cowboys quickly left as they didn’t want to be the Banshee’s next victims.  

Behind the Prairie Legend

So who, or what even is the Banshee of the Badlands? There are two battling versions as to who she was when alive, some claim a native woman killed by a settler, or vice versa. The first written account from this legends is from Charles M. Skinner from 1896 in his collection called Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, but it suggests that this is a much older story. 

Read More: Check out The Banshee Curse Haunting Duckett’s Grove to read more about ghosts called Banshee.

People claiming to have seen her, have approached her, unsuspecting of her supernatural presence. Until asked a question, the Badlands Banshee is said to have simply silently observed the people passing through her domain. But when they talk to her, she will unleash her terrifying scream. Her terrifying shrieks differ from the wolves and prairie dogs of the desert pierce through the Badlands’ silence, echoing into the depths of the night. 

Stories says the Badlands Banshee looks beautiful from afar, bathing in a ghostly blue light, but when she starts to scream, her eyes blacken into a dark void and opens her jaw unnaturally wide when she screams. According to others though, she looks weathered and gestures to people passing through the Badlands as if she needs help or want to speak with them. 

Bison grassing in the Dakota Badlands Prairie

Haunting the Watch Dog Butte

According to reports, her haunting is particularly often around Dog Butte or Watch Dog as it’s called and that it was here that the woman behind the ghost died all those years ago, one of the sandstone cliffs defining the landscape in the Badlands.

How did the Badlands Banshee die though? Was she pushed from one of the buttes as some of the versions of the legends suggest?

It is also said that the Badlands Banshee had a lover who died with her, and that is the reason why she screams, like her name and legend claims. 

According to legend, cattle refuse to graze near the butte, as they have sensed with a sort of sixth sense never to go near her domain. Also the cowboys herding the flocks reportedly also avoid the place as it is thought to be haunted by the Badlands Banshee.

Skeleton Companion Playing the Music

But what about the music that the tale of the three cowboys encountering her? To further amplify the terror, the Badlands Banshee is said to occasionally bring a spectral companion—a ghastly skeleton that revels in the eerie tunes of music around the campfire. 

According to the story, the skeleton companion searches for music and if he hears it, he will sit down and listen to it, and it is even said that the skeleton will play a violin if he sees it and plays it all night. 

It is said if you hear the music grow fainter as the day starts to light up the sky, never follow the sound! Apparently, the skeleton will only lead you astray to rocky pitfalls you will never escape from, like what happened to the one cowboy. Much like what is said happened to the Badlands Banshee herself. 

The Haunting of the Badlands Banshee

Today the Badland National Park where the legend of the Badlands Banshee has spread is managed with the National Park Service as well as the Oglala Lakota tribe in the south of the park. 

So what is the Badlands Banshee? a ghost or a monster? Who was she when alive? Is this from old native american folklore, or a story the Irish settlers brought with them from Europe to explain the piercing shrieks coming from an unknown animal across the prairie?

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References:

12 Haunted National Parks | Shaka Guide 

Banshee Of The Bad Lands – Legends of America 

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The Spirits at Rosses Point on the Rugged Shores

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Smugglers, Pirates, Fairies and ghosts, they all linger in the shallow water at Rosses Point. A place where the Irish writer Yeats even claimed had to be one of the most haunted places in Ireland. 

Ireland’s lush landscapes have long been intertwined with tales of the supernatural. While ancient castles and grand manors often take center stage in ghostly stories, the restless spirits of Sligo have found their haunt in the untamed beauty of Rosses Point, a coastal gem in County Sligo.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

Rosses Point is at the entrance to Sligo Harbour where many people from the sea met their end. With its rugged cliffs, windswept shores, and mesmerizing sea views, has become a favored haunt for these ethereal beings.

The Hauntings at Rosses Point

Sligo Bay has witnessed over 60 shipwrecks throughout history and many think that the victims of the wrecks are haunting the bay to this day. 

Rosses Point: The entire area is said to be haunted by the wrecked sailors that met a watery grave off the coast of Rosses Point and Sligo Bay.

Among the souls lost to the tempestuous Atlantic Ocean, many were seafarers and pirates with regrets and lost treasures. It’s no wonder that the restless spirits chose this coastal haven as their final resting place.

One of the more haunted places we know of here is the smugglers’ den, Elsinor House, that the writer Yeats used to stay in. 

Yeats’ Connection at Elsinor House

Rosses Point enjoys a poetic connection to the legendary W.B. Yeats, who claimed that nowhere else held as many spirits as this coastal haven. Yeats was himself very interested in the paranormal and ghost stories.

As a young boy, Yeats spent summers at Elsinor House, a residence that once belonged to his grandparents together with his brother. The house was built by the smuggler John Black or Black Jack. The house is still standing, but now the house has fallen into disrepair. 

Elsinor House: The old house was after stories, built as a smugglers den, but ended up being a quaint summer house, although it came with haunted rumours. Today the house has fallen into disrepair.

Here, he would have listened to the haunting tales of the souls lost to the unforgiving sea, stories that would later inspire his own poetic musings. One of the stories from the house is that it is haunted by the smugglers that once used to come to this place with their goods. 

According to the ghost stories, the ghost of the smugglers that died at sea comes at night, tapping on the windows, only shadows in the stormy night outside the windows. 

Dead Man’s Point

Among the chilling tales of Rosses Point, one stands out—the origin of its eerie name, Dead Man’s Point at the very tip of the point before it, nothing else but the Atlantic Sea. 

Legend has it that a sailor was laid to rest in a shallow grave, but doubt lingered as to whether he was truly deceased. In a macabre twist, the captain decided to leave the comrade a loaf of bread and a shovel alongside the grave, just in case the sailor awoke from his slumber in the afterlife.

As you wander along the windswept shores of Rosses Point and gaze out across the mighty Atlantic, remember that the beauty of Ireland’s coastlines is not merely skin deep. Beneath the crashing waves and whispering sea breeze lies a world where the spirits of seafarers and pirates roam freely, keeping a watchful eye on the untamed shores they once called home.

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Rosses Point – Wikipedia 

Rosses Point History and Folklore

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The Ghost of Catalina in Casa Lercaro

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In a dark mansion on sunny Tenerife, there is a legend of a ghost haunting the grounds. Catalina, the daughter of the man of the manor supposedly threw herself down the well when she was forced to marry someone she didn’t want to. Now she wanders her afterlife like a ghost. 

The Spanish mansion from the 16th century was abandoned for years before turning into a museum, and for good reason. It is haunted by a ghost that many people have seen and heard. The mansion is situated on a sunny island in Tenerife, Spain. The mansion’s walls bear stories of past battles and horrific tragedies that took place within its walls, and it’s no surprise that the ghost of a former resident still lingers within.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Deep within the historic walls of this captivating mansion, whispers of a tragic past echo through the corridors, leaving visitors intrigued and trembling in fear. The ghostly presence of Catalina, a young woman tormented by a love affair gone wrong, is said to wander the halls, her sorrowful cries sending shivers down the spines of those who dare to listen.

The History of Casa Lercaro in Tenerife

The Canary Islands are known for their beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and rich history. However, they are also famous for their ghost stories that have been passed down through generations. These tales of haunted houses, restless spirits, and supernatural phenomena continue to captivate locals and tourists alike. One such story that stands out is the haunting tale of the Ghost of Catalina in Casa Lercaro.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses

Casa Lercaro, located in Tenerife, is a historic mansion with a dark past. The mansion was built in the 16th century and has witnessed countless events over the years. It served as a witness to battles, political intrigues, and tragic love stories. The walls of Casa Lercaro hold the secrets of the past, and it is said that the spirits of those who lived and died within its confines still roam its corridors.

The Tragic Life and Death of Catalina Lercaro

One of the most tragic stories associated with Casa Lercaro is that of Catalina Lercaro, a young woman who was forced to marry a much older man against her will. Catalina was known for her beauty and vivacious spirit, and her arranged marriage crushed her dreams of true love. She longed for freedom and happiness, but fate had other plans for her.

She was the daughter of Antonio Lercaro who thought the marriage would benefit the business. He was the lieutenant General of Tenerife that built the mansion in 1593 on Calle San Agustín 22.. She decided to take her own life rather than have people dictate how it would be. Some say she threw herself down a well at the property, some say she jumped from the high point of the mansion or off a cliff. 

The ghostly presence of Catalina is now one of the most famous and well-known spirits in the Canary Islands. Her apparition has been witnessed by many, with some claiming to have heard her sorrowful cries echoing through the halls of Casa Lercaro.

The Catholic Church’s Denial: A Haunting Reflection

The tragic circumstances of Catalina’s death led to the denial of her a Christian burial by the Catholic Church. Taking one’s own life was considered a grave sin, and those who committed suicide were often denied the rites of a proper burial. Catalina’s body was instead buried in one of the rooms of Casa Lercaro, forever binding her spirit to the mansion and ensuring her restless presence would be felt for generations to come.

The well she supposedly died in was walled up and her family picked up their roots and moved away to La Orotava for a new start, and hopefully never make the same mistakes again. 

Read More: Other ghost stories about women throwing themselves down a well and dying are Minxiong Ghost Mansion, The Grey Lady of Stavern at Hotel Wassilioff and Banchō Sarayashiki — the Ghost of Okiku

But Catalina was left and witnesses claim to have heard her footsteps. They hear it most often on the top of the house, between section VI in the museum and leading to a cabinet with an image of Jesus. 

The Abandoned Mansion: A Silent Witness

Casa Lercaro, once a grand mansion, was long abandoned and forgotten. The building was  closed off with a wall, keeping curious visitors at bay. It had a couple of uses though over the years, everything from being used by the university and the military. 

The eerie silence that surrounds the mansion only adds to its haunting atmosphere. The ghost of Catalina is said to roam the empty corridors, her presence felt by those who dare to venture near. It is a place where the past and present intertwine, leaving visitors both intrigued and trembling in fear.

Now the old mansion has been turned into a museum, and when a local newspaper ran a story about the ghost in the mansion, the staff had plenty of stories to tell. It seems like it is especially the new ones that notice the hauntings the most. Perhaps a prank from their colleagues? Perhaps Catalina seeks those that stick out?

Workers that have kept the house standing have also claimed to have noticed something odd. On more than one occasion they have seen a young woman watching from afar, but only when the museum was closed and they were supposed to be the only ones there. 

The Enduring Allure of the Ghost of Catalina in Casa Lercaro

The ghost of Catalina in Casa Lercaro continues to captivate the imagination of those who hear her story. Her tragic fate and restless spirit serve as a reminder of the power of love, loss, and the enduring allure of the supernatural. Casa Lercaro stands as a testament to the past, a place where history and mystery intertwine. 

The once abandoned mansion in Tenerife holds the secrets of the past, with Catalina’s spirit lingering within its walls. Her tragic life story, denial of a Christian burial, and the eerie ambiance of the mansion all contribute to the enduring allure of this ghostly legend. 

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References:

The Ghost of Catherine in La Laguna

The 10 most famous haunted houses in Spain — idealista

Mysteries, myths and legends of the Canary Islands – The Ghost of La Laguna | Everyone’s Favourite Tenerife blog