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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. 

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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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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.

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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 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. 

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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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Ledgelawn Summer Estate and the Bridal Ghost in the Attic

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In a former summer house for the rich and wealthy in Maine, the Ledgelawn Summer Estate has long been thought to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Margaret, the jilted bride haunting the house wearing her wedding dress.

Built in 1904 in the seaside town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Ledgelawn Summer Estate was one of the original grand summer estates from the Gilded Age in the harbor for the elite that used to spend their summer here by the sea. 

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Ledgelawn Estate is a 21-room shingle-style cottage on Mount Desert Street, found close to the church. They used to call these estates for the cottages where the rich summered and it is said that this building is the most haunted one in Bar Harbor and a story all the locals know about.

Bar Harbor: On Mount Desert Island in Maine you will find Bar Harbor where the Ledgelawn Summer Estate is. There are many places in this picturesque said to be haunted.

The Haunted Ledgelawn Summer Estate

The red building built for the wealthy summer visitors in 1904 was built upon something older, equally a mystery as the supposed haunting. It is said to be haunted by the woman in white known as Mary Margaret. According to legend, she was jilted just about to get married. 

Most of the variations of the stories tell that Mary Margaret was a dark haired beauty from that time, a member of the rich and powerful Astor family, or at least related to them.

Her soon to be husband took off right before their wedding and left her alone. Mary Margaret took this so hard and went straight up to the third floor, dressed herself in her wedding dress before hanging herself from the rafters in the attic with her wedding veil.

It is said that when her family found her, her face was so bruised, they almost didn’t recognize her. Her lips curled up to a smile. She has ever since then lingered and haunted the Ledgelawn Summer Estate through the years. 

The Haunting of Mary Margaret

Although her death is said to have happened in the attic of Ledgelawn Summer Estate, she is most often seen on the third floor. Her ghost is said to be transparent and floating about, returning to the place she died again and again.

The former summer estate used to be an inn and there is a particular one story from this time that is retold. Back then, the place used to be called Ledgelawn Inn and it was said that room 326 was the place she most often appeared. 

Guests checking in or staff working there would often get an ominous and gloomy feeling before claiming to see the ghost of a woman floating at the foot at their bed or even a ghostly wedding veil was coming from the ceiling and swaying in the night. 

According to this guest, the ghost got into bed with him. Scared of what happened he tried to ignore her lying next to him and simply rolled over, petrified and didn’t dare to open his eyes. 

The Ghost of a Maid in Ledgelawn Summer Estate

Ledgelawn Summer Estate: Source

The dramatic ghost of Mary Margaret is supposedly not the only ghost said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate. Apparently there is also a former maid most often called Catherine said to be haunting the former summer house and former inn. 

It is said that she had an affair with the owner of the house at the time and became pregnant while working there. The story is often been told to have happened in the 1930s. She died after falling down the stairs in the back. If she fell or if she were pushed is up for debate and was hushed up at the time. 

In addition to the women said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate there is also a child said to haunt the cupboard he hides in. According to the stories, he drowned somewhere in Bar Harbor. 

The Truth Behind the Legends

So how true is this very specific story said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate? The historic inn was bought by a firm in 2010, ending its time as an inn. 

The story behind the house is that Ledge Lawn was built by Samuel Willard Bridgham and Fanny Shermerhorn in the beginnings of the 1900s. Fanny was related to the Astors, a family filled with money and scandals. Samuel and Fanny though were known to be kind people, didn’t have any children and other mysterious deaths happening inside of their home. 

So what about the ghost that people keep seeing? Could it just be a trick your mind plays you when staying in an old building, and a local story told for fun in a sleepy seaside town. Or could it be something that the history didn’t record or where the details and facts have become distorted over time?

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References:

American Ghost Walks – Bar Harbor | Culture & Tours | Family Friendly Activities 

The Haunting of Ledgelawn – by Carrie Jones 

Resort company buys historic Bar Harbor inn 

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Bass Harbor Head Light’s Murder Mystery Ghost

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After a construction worker mysteriously disappeared when building the Bass Harbor Head Light in Maine, it is said he remained by the lighthouse, haunting the place and every keeper’s family that lived there. 

The lighthouse found on Prospect Harbor southwest on Mount Desert Island in Maine, is not the only lighthouse thought to be haunted in Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Head Light is seen today as an iconic landmark. 

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On the rocky coastline of Mount Desert Island they built the Bass Harbor Head Light lighthouse in 1858 on the cliff side overlooking the shore guiding boats into Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay. 

The lighthouse is built in Tremont, considered to be one of the quieter parts of the islands, but still draws people to have a look at the view. And if we are to believe the rumors, the lighthouse have also attracted ghosts.

The Ghost of Bass Harbor Head Light

The ghost story said to haunt the Bass Harbor Head Light comes from the time of building the lighthouse back in 1858, even before the first keeper moved in.

During construction it is said that a builder vanished without a trace. What happened back then we don’t know. Did he just quit his job and left for something else? Was this actually a case of a missing person case, or worse, murder?

When he left, it was said that they found a bloody axe on the rocks but no body was found. Was he murdered and his body buried inside of the foundations of the lighthouse as the legends go? 

In any case, ever since then, he has haunted the lighthouse, even before the first keeper moved in. 

People have claimed to see his ghost around and heard noises and experienced things they can’t account for. Some of the reports claims to have seen a man sitting on a stump outside when it snows. 

Other Ghosts Haunting the Lighthouse

There is not only a potential murder mystery that is haunting the lighthouse. According to some there are also claims that a deer moving through the snow before vanishing into thin air. When inspecting the snow, there are no footprints to be found. 

A woman has also been haunting the lighthouse if we are to believe the stories. She has been seen sitting in a rocking chair inside of the keeper’s house.

The Curse of the Lighthouse

Not only are the lighthouses rumored to be haunted by a ghost, but it is also said to have a curse, or at least bad luck to the keepers that have lived in it. 

It is said that every light-keeper or some in his family has had tragedy following them in the lighthouse of illnesses and accidents. Truly the work of a haunting or curse, or simply how life worked in the remote and harsh climate of Maine?

In any case, more than 10 deaths have been attributed to this and are said to have ended just because the lighthouse became automated. 

A New Era for the Lighthouse in Bass Harbor

The keepers’ house used to be a private residence for a local Coast Guard member and his family, with most of the grounds being private up until 2012. Today new keepers have moved in to take care of the historic landmark

Read Also: The Paranormal Activity At The St. Augustine Lighthouse 

Most of how they built the lighthouse has been preserved and it looks pretty much the same as it did when constructed and the missing construction worker vanished. Due to the extreme popularity of this iconic lighthouse, parking and crowds can be an issue during the height of tourist season.

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References:

Bass Harbor Head Light history – NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSES: A VIRTUAL GUIDE 

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse | monsterminions 

Acadia National Park navigates new era for iconic lighthouse 

Bass Harbor Head Light | Tremont, Maine’s Striking Landmark – New England 

New England Legends Extra: Haunted Bass Harbor Light – Maine 

Bass Harbor Head Light – Wikipedia 

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The Haunted Prospect Harbor Lighthouse

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The Prospect Harbor Lighthouse with its Gull Cottage in Maine is said to be haunted by the ghost of the last caretaker with the scent of his tobacco still lingering. 

North in the Acadia National Park in Main you will find the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse south in Gouldsboro on the Schoodic Peninsula. The whole area is often covered in a thick fog coming in from the sea as one of the foggiest places on the Maine coast. 

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No longer seen as essential for the safety of passing ships along the coast anymore, the location has turned into a summer retreat for people in the U.S army. 

The Prospect Harbor Lighthouse

The fishing harbor around these parts has been there since the 1800s and in 1849 they built the granite lighthouse, rebuilt in wood in 1891. For years it guided the busy fishing harbor fishermen and schooners to safe haven. 

Albion Faulkingham, the light’s last keeper, served from 1930 until the light was automated in 1934. After this they had a caretaker more than a keeper. 

Read Also: The Paranormal Activity At The St. Augustine Lighthouse 

Eventually the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse was not used as much and fell into disrepair of water damage and rot before being restored in 2004 with the help of the U.S Coast Guard and Lighthouse foundations. 

It is not open to the public per se as it is an active military base and you can’t reach the lighthouse grounds. But many that have been passing have claimed to have snapped a photo of the ghosts residing there and still today the lighthouse continues to shine the way and the light remains an aid to navigation on the grounds of an active military installation. 

The Gull Cottage

This cottage by the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse is now used for Navy personnel and is another place in the park said to be haunted. The cottage used to be the light-keeper’s quarters and if we are to believe the rumors, it seems that a former keeper is the one haunting it. 

Guests that have stayed at the cottage claimed to have seen ghosts and there are some signs left by them like the smell of tobacco lingering in the air or seeing doors opening and closing. 

Prospect Harbor Lighthouse: The Lighthouse as well as Gull Cottage in Acadia National Park said to be haunted.

Over the years, those who have encountered the ghosts have given him the nickname Captain Salty. Who was he in real life? Many attribute the alleged ghost leaving a scent of tobacco in the cottage to “Grandfather Ira” Workman, the caretaker after the lighthouse got automated. 

He passed away from a heart attack as he was lighting his pipe on New Year’s Day in 1951 and if we are to believe the rumors, the pipe never really went out. 

The Haunted Statue in Gull Cottage

Another part of the haunted rumors is the story about the statue that seems to be moving by itself inside of Gull Cottage. 

Inside the cottage there is a small statue of a sea captain out of reach on a high ledge on top of the stairs. According to reports it is said that he moves to face the stairs or the sea, all by himself. Could thisi be the same ghost leaving the scent of tobacco? 

But could this have already been exposed as a hoax? According to Robert Kord’s writing in the Machias Valley News, he was the one moving the statue around when he visited the Gull Cottage in 1997. 

“I kept moving these wooden figurines around the place in an effort to scare anybody. “Our Prospect Harbor grandchildren visited, and my techniques worked pretty good on the granddaughter.”

True or not, the story took hold and were continued to be told even when the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse fell under the American Lighthouse Foundation not the Coast Guard in 2000 when it was leased out.  

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References:

Northern Acadia Park and Haunted Prospect Harbor Lighthouse 

Prospect Harbor Lighthouse, Maine at Lighthousefriends.com 

Prospect Harbor Point Light – Wikipedia 

Prospect Harbor Light history – NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSES: A VIRTUAL GUIDE

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Acadia’s Anemone Cave known as The Devil’s Oven and its legends

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Today the traces of Anemone Cave, otherwise known as the Devil Den or The Devil’s Oven, have almost been erased from the park. Dangerous because of the tide submerging the cave completely, stories about strange things happening around the cave have been told for centuries.

Hidden along the foggy shorelines of Mount Desert Island within Acadia National Park, a foreboding sea cave known as Anemone Cave, or otherwise called, The Devil’s Oven stands as a silent witness to centuries of mysteries and eerie legends. 

Acadia National Park is a stunning natural reserve located primarily on Mount Desert Island, the largest offshore island outside of Maine, United States. Established in 1916, it encompasses over 49,000 acres of rugged coastline, lush forests, granite peaks, and pristine lakes. 

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

Acadia National Park is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also a place of profound natural beauty and ecological significance. 

Taken off the Maps of Acadia National Park

The Haunted Devil’s Oven is located near DeGregoire Park, in Bar Harbor, Maine and it is said you have to make sure to be there at low tide to not be completely submerged under water. 

Years ago the Anemone Cave was marked on the trail of the National Park’s maps. Today signs are removed and the name disappeared from the map and even the railings have been removed to deter people for seeking its slippery path, for a good reason, and only those with knowledge of its whereabouts or searching for it on the internet can find it. 

It is said to be to protect the tiny lives of the anemones as well as hikers were often injured or trapped by the tide in the caves. There have also been at least one death in modern time. But although it was removed from the map, it is still there as the legend surrounding it. 

Anemone Cave History

This hidden alcove has long been shrouded in tales of the supernatural, with whispers of a portal to the underworld echoing through the annals of Mount Desert Island history. 

Anemone Cave got its name from the anemones, but that is only in recent years as it has been known as both the Devil’s Den and Cave of the Sea among other things. The origin of the ominous name, The Devil’s Oven is uncertain, but it is said that the cave itself looks like a skull and the paranormal stuff are said to happen both at high and low tide. 

Read More: Check out The Mysterious Gouffre de Padirac Caves, The Haunting Santuario de la Virgen de Balma in the Mountain Rocks, The Ghost of Kathleen who Loved St. Kevin in Glendalough and The Haunted Mystique on the Cliffs of Wenlock Edge for more haunted caves with strange legends attached to them. 

Even in contemporary times, The Devil’s Oven continues to evoke a sense of unease and spectral energy. Nighttime visitors have reported witnessing inexplicable lights gleaming and flashing from the depths of the Anemone Cave, casting an eerie glow along the coastal expanse. 

Religious Sacrifices inside of the Cave

This is not only a modern phenomenon though, but all the way back to when European settlers came about and even further in Native American stories, something was amiss with the caves. Those who venture near during daylight hours speak of hearing haunting cries and strange chants carried by the ocean breeze.

There is a claim put forth in the book named Ghosts of Acadia, where the author Marcus Librizzi says that the cave was used by the Native Americans where they held terrible and grotesque rituals and sacrifices where they drowned people slowly by the tide according to legend. 

A Warning to Visitors Seeking the Anemone Cave

For the intrepid souls seeking to unravel the mysteries of The Devil’s Oven, a cautionary note lingers. The sea cave is accessible only during the ebb of low tide, a precarious journey fraught with maritime challenges. Owing to the surge in drownings and perilous sea rescues, the National Park Service has removed all railings and signs leading to the Anemone Cave, emphasizing the need for caution and even experienced climbers have died.

As you contemplate the allure of The Devil’s Oven, consider not only the haunting rumors that enshroud its existence but also the inherent risks that accompany the quest for the supernatural. In the shadowy realm between legend and reality, Acadia National Park harbors secrets that beckon the curious yet cautionary tales that echo through time.

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References:

THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE 

History of Visitor Use and Management of Anemone Cave, Acadia National Park, Maine 

This Ancient Sea Cave Isn’t On Any Map Of Acadia National Park For Good Reasons 

Hauntings and Mysteries in Acadia National Park 

ABANDONED TRAILS OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: ANEMONE CAVE – THE DEVIL’S OVEN

REAL HAUNTED PLACES IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

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Bloody Lane’s Ghostly Echoes at Antietam National Battlefield

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The Battle of Antietam was one of the bloodiest battles during the American Civil War and has been made into a memorial place called Antietam National Battlefield. Ever since that bloody day it has been said to have been haunted by the ghosts of the fallen soldiers. There are many spots said to be haunted, but none more than the Bloody Lane. 

In the quiet expanse of Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland lies a chilling tale etched in the blood-soaked soil of history—the haunting specter of Bloody Lane. 

The Antietam National Battlefield is on fields on the Appalachian foothills and is a protected area under the National Park Service along the Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, and commemorates the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War. 

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Today the Antietam National Battlefield is a great place for a hike in the nature as well as learning a bit about the Civil War. It is also said to be one of the most haunted places in western Maryland with countless of spirits said to linger. 

Aftermath of the War: Confederate horses lay dead and artillery caissons destroyed on the Antietam battlefield. Taken September 1862 but published in 1911.

The Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, marked a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. It stands as the single bloodiest day in American history, with casualties numbering over 22,000. The clash between Union and Confederate forces along Antietam Creek resulted in intense fighting across fields, woods, and hills, leaving a landscape scarred by the horrors of war. 

Despite the staggering loss of life, the battle fought on Antietam National Battlefield ended in a tactical stalemate, with neither side achieving a decisive victory. However, it provided President Abraham Lincoln with the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, altering the course of the war by shifting its focus toward the abolition of slavery.

Read Also: For more ghost stories from the American Civil War, check out Ghost Stories from the Gettysburg Battlefield

After the battle though there was a 3-mile line of bodies waiting to be buried and the sunken road known as Bloody Lane stands as a somber reminder of the lives lost.

The Bodys on Bloody Lane: Confederate dead at Bloody Lane, looking east from the north bank. It was aboslute carnage after the battle ended, many still buried in unmarked graves. // Source Civil War Images. Plate of Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book of the War, Vol. 1, Philp & Solomons, Publishers, Washington, DC (1866). This image is cropped from the copy published by the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

Today you can still walk along the trail now only known as Bloody Lane where 5.500 men were killed during under 4 hours, and this as well as the surrounding area of Antietam National Battlefield is said it is haunted by the soldiers that died that day. 

The Haunted Bloody Lane

Witnesses have recounted eerie tales of phantom gunfire that pierce the stillness of the air, and the smell of gunpowder hangs in the air as if the echoes of battle persist in the afterlife on Antietam National Battlefield. 

Shouts and distant singing reverberate through time, an otherworldly chorus that commemorates the sacrifice made by those who fought on that fateful day. Most people claim to have heard something sounding like a chant, sounding like a Christmas Carol. 

Coincidentally, the area by the observation tower overlooking the Bloody Lane was the 69th of New York, nicknamed the Irish Brigade that had a battle cry in Gaelic, sounding very much like the Christmas Song, Deck The Halls, although what they were really chanting was Faugh-a-Balaugh, meaning clear the way. 

Read More: For more ghost stories from bloody battlefields, check out The Bloody Hauntings at Aughrim Battlefield

Some have even reported apparitions clad in Confederate uniforms, thinking first it was just another reenactment of it, only to witness their sudden disappearance, leaving behind a haunting emptiness.

A Night on the Bloody Lane

There is also a ghost story said to have happened to a group of re-enactors that decided to camp out in Bloody Lane. Their plan was to spend the night in the exact spot they had found a photo showing a pile of bodies from the battle.

During the night, one by one of the re-enactors chose to leave the spot, claiming that something wasn’t right. They got a strange feeling of uneasiness. 

Of them just laughed, set on spending the entire night by himself then as all of his friends had already given up. They had all gathered around the cars discussing what had happened when they heard a horrible scream coming from the field. 

It was the last friend, terrified and in shock after spending time by himself and experiencing something unexplained. According to him, he had laid down in the field when he started to hear strange sounds. It was like whispers or moans by his ears and rustling of the grass. First he thought nothing of it, but then he saw a human arm coming up from blood-soaked earth, pressing down on his chest, holding him there until he started to scream and fight his way back to his friends. 

Burnside Bridge of Unmarked Graves

The hauntings extend beyond Bloody Lane to other sites within Antietam National Battlefield as well. Burnside Bridge, otherwise known as Rohrback Bridge before the war, is another poignant location on these hallowed grounds.

Read More: For more haunted bridges around the world, check out The Drowned Ghosts Under Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, The Ghost Children at Mang Gui Kiu Bridge and The River Road Bridge Ghost.

This was the place where General Ambrose Burnside pushed the Confederates back and where many of the fallen soldiers received a quick burial in unmarked graves around the bridge. Although today many are re-buried in the Antietam National Cemetery among other places.

Burnside Bridge: Before the war it was called Rohrback Bridge. Now it is simply remembered because of the war and its haunted rumors. Still picture from the bridge between circa 1860 and circa 1865

The area around Antietam National Battlefield is said to harbor mysterious blue balls of light that dance through the air, evoking the spirits of those who found their final rest beneath its arches. Phantom drumbeats echo through the ages, a ghostly cadence that hints at the unseen soldiers who once marched to the rhythm of war.

The Pry House Field Hospital

On the battlefield you will also find the Pry House and Piper House that are also said to be haunted from the war. 

The Pry House is an old farmhouse in bricks and has now been turned into a museum of field museums. It was mostly used for storage until it almost burned down in 1976. When the fire was burning the firefighters claimed to have seen a woman in one of the windows on the second floor, after the entire floor had collapsed.

It was during the restoration of the old building though that most of the ghost stories from The Pry House came from, but also here, the same woman made an appearance. 

Also here you will hear the sound of footsteps from no one in the stairs as well as seeing the ghost of a woman wearing a long old fashioned dress coming down the staircase. 

The woman is thought to be Fannie Richardson, the wife of one of the generals that died in the same room on the second floor which she has been spotted on. She had come the long way down from Michigan to care for him, but his life was not to be saved. 

Piper House Farm

The Piper House is found in the midst of Antietam National Battlefield and was the headquarters of Confederate General Longstreet and the barn out back was used as a hospital. There were actual fights inside of the house as well, and after it ended, they had to get out three dead soldiers under the piano. 

When the farmer, Henry Piper returned to the farm, he found it standing, yes, but bloody and filled with dead people. He filed a claim for damages, but as he had no certificate of loyalty, he never received compensation.

This house is also said to have strange things happening inside of it, and people have complained about seeing strange figures and hearing mysterious noises. 

St. Paul Episcopal Church

Moving from the Antietam National Battlefield itself and into the small town of Sharpsburg, you will find the St. Paul Episcopal Church that was used as a Confederate hospital after the battle ended as well as the nearby homes. 

Not a peaceful place though as reports of screaming from the dying and injured are heard. The church tower is also said to have flickering lights that no one can explain. 

There is also a house west of Mt. Airy, a town where a lot of the injured were taken. According to the local legend, the floorboards in the house are still stained with blood that are impossible to remove, even when sanded down. 

The Haunted Antietam National Battlefield

The Antietam National Battlefield was the location for one of the bloodiest battles in the American Civil War, sure, but also one of the most haunted? Over the years the ghost stories from the different spots that played their part in the battle seem to accumulate. 

And as long as the history is preserved and retold, perhaps so will the ghost stories. 

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References:

GHOSTS OF ANTIETAM 

https://eu.beaconjournal.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2016/12/18/antietam-battlefield-is-full-ghosts/10717811007

Haunted House at Antietam National Battlefield? 

Ghosts of Gettysburg Haunted Daytrips: Antietam | Mark Nesbitt 

Burnside Bridge (U.S. National Park Service) 

Pry House Field Hospital Museum – Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) 

The Piper Farm – Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) 

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Haunting Tales from Fort Laramie National Historic Site

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Several ghosts are said to linger at Fort Laramie in what was the beacon of civilization when Wyoming was a prairie in the wilderness. Soldiers that ended their days in the many wars from this time to a Lady in Green seen riding on her black horse every seven years, the historical site has more than old buildings to offer. 

In southeast Wyoming in Goshen County, Fort Laramie National Historic Site stands as a spectral testament to the bygone era from 1834 when it started as a trading post and diplomatic enclave. The originally known as Fort William was an important trading post in the 19th century originally meant to oversee the fur trade.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

It was then bought by the American Army and was also often used as a stopping place for migrants on the Oregon Trail on their way west for a new home, people going the California Trail for the Gold Rush, The Mormon Trail, armies stationed there for a time or fur traders coming and going. It was not necessarily a place you were meant to stay on for, but it looks like that some of the souls passing through are still lingering here.  

Fort Laramie: In 1815 or 1816, Jacques La Ramee and a small group of fellow trappers settled in the area where Fort Laramie would later be located. He went out alone to trap in 1819 or 1820 and was never seen again. Arapahoe Indians were accused of killing La Ramee and burying his body in a beaver dam. The river was named “Laramie” in his honor, and later settlers used this name for the Laramie Mountains, the fort, and the towns of Laramie, Wyoming and Fort Laramie, Wyoming.

Old Bedlam and it History

Old Bedlam, with its timeworn walls and creaking floorboards, has become a focal point for visitors seeking a glimpse into the spectral mysteries of Fort Laramie. Old Bedlam is Wyoming’s oldest documented buildings from 1849.

Why this building was called Bedlam though is uncertain. In England at this time, Bedlam was a word for insane asylum. This was not an asylum though, but first and foremost office quarters for the bachelors. Although it was really far from everything else and quite isolated. 

The furnishing was sparse and meant to be practical for communal living. Native American artifacts from trading and the oncoming wars were hugely popular though and were often used to decorate with. 

Old Bedlam: Built in 1849, Old Bedlam is the oldest standing building in Wyoming. It got its name from the days when it was home to boisterous bachelor soldiers at the fort. It is also said to be one of the more haunted places on the historic site.

The Haunting of Old Bedlam

Numerous reports have surfaced of encounters with an apparition clad in the regalia of a cavalry officer, who silently roams throughout the building. Companies of Cavalry has been stationed at Old Bedlam since its time as a Frontier Army Post from 1849 and fought in the Civil War, the Bozeman War and the Great Sioux War. The last soldiers left Fort Laramie in 1890.

Did one of these officers stay behind in his afterlife? Witnesses describe a commanding presence that, despite its ethereal nature, seems to assert authority over the living. The whispered admonishments to “be quiet” echo through the corridors of Old Bedlam, as if the phantom officer is enforcing a long-forgotten order. 

George in The Old Captain’s Quarters Building

Old Bedlam is not the only haunted building though. The old Captain’s Quarters Building from 1870 is also said to be haunted by a ghost. This haunting has reportedly gone on for years, all the way back to when the Fort was in use as a military presence and has been reported on by many former military men.

Strange things like doors opening or the sound of footsteps when no one is coming are said to happen there. There have also been lights inside of the facility, even without electricity. By the staff working there, the spirit has been nicknamed George. 

Other Ghosts Haunting the Fort

The Cavalry Barracks from 1874 that housed hundreds of soldiers at once is also said to be haunted. Early in the morning, when it would have been time for the soldiers to answer the reveille to have been played, you could hear the sound of heavy boots over the boardwalk.

There is also said to be a young man in a raincoat looking to talk to someone even there is no one there. Although not much is known about him, he is considered a ghost. 

Something looking like a surgeon in a blood stained uniform from the U.S Army looks irritated around the area where there once was an old hospital. There is not much left of the hospital but a shell, but it is said that many men died and their bones are still around there.  

A small creek known as Deer Creek is behind the Old Bedlam and jail. It is said to have the ghost of a man throwing rocks into the creek in the early hours. He is said to be unfriendly and should be avoided as well as it is said he is headless. 

Another ghost left alone is the Civil War ghost acting erratically southeast of the fort in a place called Bovee Draw past the visitors center that comes out at midnight. If he was a union or confederate is unknown. 

By the Detention Dam there is a man with a bloody sword said to be standing still, staring into the water around midnight. 

According to reports and staff there are also those that claim to have seen the ghost of Portugee Phillips riding on horseback across the fields. This was a famous rider who brought the news of the Fetterman Attack to Fort Laramie in 1866.

The Lady in Green

There is not only one ghost haunting this historic site. Perhaps more known is the story of the Lady in Green haunting Fort Laramie. This story is from the time when the place was known as Fort John and was a trading post for fur in the 1830s. 

The man in charge was an agen sent out from a fur trading company to live there. He had a beautiful and sophisticated daughter that he brought with him into the wilderness. She was known to be a good rider and liked it out in the wild with the horses. Although she was only meant to stay for a little while in some versions, she begged to stay on in the Wyoming wilderness she grew to like. 

In some versions though, she was the daughter of the owner of Fort Laramie’s Sutler’s Store, a licensed person allowed to sell supplies to the military. 

Although her father feared for her safety because of robbers on the trail, conflicts with the native tribes and a young woman being so far from “civilized” society, he gave in to his strong willed daughter, promising him that she would never leave the compound without an escort and gave many men the task of protecting her as he wasn’t always around. 

The Lady in Green: Said to be one of the more famous ghost stories from Fort Laramie, the Lady in Green is said to haunt the fort and is said to return every seventh year.

One day he was away from his posts, his daughter slipped away and ran from the trading post on a big black horse. Two men tried to reach her, but she was faster and road through the prairie and never returned. 

When the father returned he sought for her everywhere with a search party, but she was never found and what happened to her remained a mystery. Did she have an accident, was she killed or something else? We will never know except that she never stopped riding.

Although she didn’t return back to the trading post alive, she was still sometimes spotted on the prairie close to it seven years after her death allegedly. It is said that her ghost shows herself east of the Fort Laramie and on the Oregon Trail every seven years. 

The next being in 2025 as she was once spotted in 2011, and perhaps also in 2018? In 1976 the Cheyenne Westerners even held a midnight event at the fort as she was supposed to appear that year. They decided to prank their audience by having a man draped in a blanket riding over the grounds. 

When he got off, he told his friends that he would never ever do that again as he claimed he had heard phantom hooves following him. Could it have been the Lady in Green?

She is alone still riding her stallion. She is wearing a long green riding dress and a veiled hat with feathers on. Her dark hair is tucked up under it, holding a jeweled riding whip. 

The Haunted Fort Laramie

For those who dare to step into this historic enclave, the ghostly encounters serve as a poignant reminder that the past, with its tales of triumphs and tragedies, may not always remain confined to the annals of history. In the moonlit shadows of Fort Laramie National Historic Site, the strange things like smelling rosewater and tobacco and the sound of a rider in the night, continue to puzzle those that visits.

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References:

old bedlam – FORT LARAMIE

Haunted Fort Laramie, Wyoming – Legends of America 

Fort Laramie National Historic Site – Wikipedia

Haunted 307: Fort Laramie National Historic Site near Guernsey   

Fort Laramie Ghost Story 

 Ghosts of Fort Laramie Haunt Wyoming Historic Site

Historically Haunted – Paranormal Housewife 

Haunted Fort Laramie and Legend of the Lady in Green 

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The Yosemite Legend of the Watts Valley Wolf Ape

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In the Yosemite National Park in Fresno County, there is a legend about a creature known as Watts Valley Wolf Ape. What is this creature that the locals claim to have seen in the wild as well as close to the urban areas?

At the Sierra Nevada foothills, amidst the rugged terrain of Fresno County, whispers linger of a creature seen over the years—the Watts Valley Wolf Ape. The legend has also called it the Devil Ape or Devil Fang in the past and the legend has been around for at least a century. But according to this legend, it is said that this mysterious creature predates humans on the continent.

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Described as a bizarre amalgamation of ape and wolf, with humanoid features and an eerie countenance, the Watts Valley Wolf Ape prowls the shadows of Yosemite’s outskirts.

Watts Valley: The legend of seeing the Watts Valley Wolf Ape mostly comes from Fresno County at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.

The Legend of Watts Valley Wolf Ape

The legend of the Watts Valley Wolf Ape finds its roots in the landscape surrounding the Watts Valley Cemetery especially, where sightings of this enigmatic creature have been reported for generations. Eyewitness accounts describe a creature with the body of a wolf, the face of an ape or baboon, and eerily human-like hands and feet. 

Read More: Check out more stories about Cryptozoology from all over the world

According to the stories told about Watts Valley Wolf Ape, it looks unwell or with some kind of sickness. Its sickly demeanor and haunting presence have sparked fear and fascination among those who dare to venture into the wilderness. It is said that the Watts Valley Wolf Ape is always coughing and foaming from its mouth.

Native American Lore

But where is the Watts Valley Wolf Ape from? Many speculations exist, and some claim that the Wolf Ape used to co-exist with the Native Americans when they first crossed over to the continent by boat or via the Bering Strait around 30 000 years ago. This was at a time when giant animals still roamed the continent. 

The arrival of humans also marked what has been called a ‘catastrophic decline’ in now-extinct large animals, including camels, horses and mammoths. By the time the Europeans arrived, they found no Ape or large animals, only strange drawings of it. Or if we are to believe some of the witness accounts, some remained.

The Photographer’s Encounter with the Creature

Even esteemed photographer Ansel Adams, renowned for his breathtaking images of Yosemite’s natural beauty, found himself face to face with the Watts Valley Wolf Ape during his visits to the region. According to this story, it seems like there was not only a lonesome animal though, but a whole pack.

According to this story he had to hide in his tent as a pack of them came running. His encounters with packs of these mysterious creatures added fuel to the already blazing fires of speculation surrounding their existence.

Ansel Adams: Born in 1902 in San Francisco, California, Adams developed a deep love for nature from a young age. He was particularly drawn to the rugged landscapes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, which would become a central focus of his work. Adams created iconic images such as “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico” and “The Tetons and the Snake River,” which have become enduring symbols of the American wilderness. Adams was also an advocate for conservation, using his photography to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment for future generations.

Although a renowned photographer with a lot of media presence, this story has not come from the original source though, but through local blogs. So who know what Adams really saw out there?

The Watts Valley Wolf Ape Trashing a School

One of the more unhinged legends about this creature is from that time the Watts Valley Wolf Ape was said to have broken into a school. This was way back in time when the school houses only had one room. It terrorized the students as well as the teacher. The children escaped by climbing onto their desks and into the rafters of the building. The teacher is said to have hidden in a closet.

The Watts Valley Wolf Ape is said to have trashed the school completely, destroying their stuff and eating their lunches before he disappeared into the wild once more. 

The Preacher and Satan’s Pet

Another strange story concerning the Wolf Ape comes from the 1950s. It is said that a preacher shot one that measured at least ten feet long. The preacher then hung it on the walls of his church and claimed that the creature was Satan’s pet. It was hanging there for many weeks until the stench of it became so unbearable he had to rid himself of it. 

He sold it to a traveling freak show and used the money he made to start his own church in San Francisco. His luck ran out fast though and was killed soon after he moved. People started to talk about that there might be a curse of the Wolf Ape as his body was so mutilated after he was killed that it took many months to identify his body.

Modern Sightings of the Watts Valley Wolf Ape

Even today, people keep reporting about seeing strange things lurking around Fresno County. It is usually in the area of Watts Valley and the cemetery there as well as even closer to the urban area. 

On a local Fresno radio station, a chilling tale emerged from two witnesses hunting near Watts Valley Cemetery. They encountered a Wolf Ape emerging from the bushes: a six-foot-long, gray-haired creature with a baboon-like face and uncanny human eyes. 

Its moans and strange cough sent them fleeing, chased relentlessly over hills and pastures. Seeking refuge in the cemetery, they hid behind tombstones as the creature closed in. In a stroke of luck, the uncle tossed cinnamon-flavored gum, distracting the beast long enough for a caretaker to offer them safety. From the sanctuary of the caretaker’s truck, they watched as the creature eventually faded into the night.

Skepticism about its Existence

Despite the allure of these tales, skeptics remain skeptical, dismissing the sightings as nothing more than folklore and superstition. As dusk settles over the foothills of Fresno County and the eerie silence of the wilderness descends, one can’t help but wonder: what secrets lie hidden within the depths of Yosemite’s forests? 

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Cryptozoology Facts – The Watts Valley Wolf Ape is a strange beast that tends to be seen in in Fresno county, California. This creature is often described as having an ape-like face, fully covered in grey hair, but has human-like hands and feet. One of the more odd stories of the Wolf Ape was when it broke into a single room schoolhouse. The creature terrorized the students and teacher who, using their desks, climbed into the rafters of the building to get to safety. The Wolf Ape ripped into everyone’s belongings, eating their lunches, before leaving the building. | Facebook 

The Watts Valley Wolf Ape 

Ten years later, revisiting the first story on Weird Fresno 

The earliest Americans arrived in the New World 30,000 years ago | University of Oxford