Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself? Think Again.
Every state has their own chilling tales whispered in the dark. They haunt our roads, creep through our homes, and linger in the shadows of history. Here are 50 scary legends across the US.
Wisconsin, The Haunting Of Summerwind Mansion
Whispers of torment echo through the skeletal remains of Summerwind Mansion. Built in the early 1900s, this once-grand estate saw a chilling decline after its owners reported shadowy figures, slamming doors, and eerie whispers. Even renovation crews fled, claiming tools disappeared or moved on their own.
Visiting Haunted Summerwind Mansion ISYMYSMY Halloween Edition by ROCKIN RODNEY
Wyoming, The Ghostly Bride Of The Plains Hotel
Draped in eternal sorrow, a ghostly bride still roams the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. Legend claims a young woman, enraged by her groom’s betrayal, murdered him before turning the weapon on herself. Allegedly, her spectral form appears in mirrors, and her sobs haunt guests.
Cliff, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
West Virginia, The Mothman Of Point Pleasant
A towering figure with glowing red eyes looms over Point Pleasant—the Mothman. First sighted in 1966, this winged enigma terrorized locals, its presence linked to ominous events. The Silver Bridge collapse in 1967, which claimed 46 lives, cemented the Mothman’s reputation. Some say it’s a harbinger of doom.
Washington, The Cursed 13 Steps To Hell In Maltby Cemetery
Descending these 13 steps is said to reveal a terrifying sight: Hell itself. In the dark corners of Maltby Cemetery, legend claims that walking down these hidden steps at midnight forces an unwilling glimpse into the afterlife. Many faint before reaching the bottom, waking with no memory. Yikes!
Lychgate, Maltby Cemetery by Jonathan Thacker, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Virginia, The Bunnyman Of Fairfax County
This legend dates back to the 1970s when reports surfaced of a man in a bunny costume attacking cars near a secluded bridge. This scare includes a half-man, half-rabbit figure stalking Fairfax County, wielding an ax. Some say he escaped an asylum, while others whisper of supernatural origins.
Secretsqurl, Wikimedia Commons
Vermont, The Frozen People Of The Long Trail
Deep within Vermont’s Long Trail, whispers of the “Frozen People” unsettle hikers. Stories tell of families who preserved themselves in ice to survive brutal winters, only to awaken centuries later, unchanged. Skeptics dismiss the legend as an exaggeration of harsh mountain winters.
Calebhsimone, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Utah, The Curse Of The Escalante Petrified Forest
Tourists love collecting petrified wood from Escalante, but many regret it. Here’s why: A legend claims taking even a teeny tiny (even a splinter) piece brings misfortune. Park rangers receive letters from remorseful visitors returning stolen wood, detailing accidents, financial ruin, and bad luck. Coincidence or curse?
Mramoeba, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Texas, The Donkey Lady Bridge Of San Antonio
A vengeful spirit with burnt skin and haunting brays supposedly guards a Texas bridge. The tale supporting this claim says a woman, disfigured by fire, was driven mad by cruelty. She now chases those who dare cross her domain. Would you test your luck?
Tennessee, The Bell Witch Of Adams
The Bell family faced an invisible tormentor in the early 1800s. The entity spoke, screamed, and physically attacked them. Some say it poisoned John Bell, fulfilling its scary threats. Ghost hunters still report eerie EVPs, claiming the Bell Witch never left. A legend, a spirit, or something worse? It lingers.
Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
South Dakota, The Specter Of Sica Hollow
Blood-red water seeps from the ground in Sica Hollow, a site Native Americans once feared as cursed. They spoke of spirits skulking in the woods, ghostly lights hovering above the trees, and strange whispering voices. Early settlers dismissed these tales—until people began disappearing without a trace.
On the Trail of Spirits at Sica Hollow State Park | Dakota Life by SDPB
South Carolina, The Lizard Man Of Scape Ore Swamp
First reported in 1988, this reptilian humanoid allegedly attacked his car and left deep scratches and bite marks. Witnesses describe the creature as over seven feet tall, with glowing red eyes, scaly skin, and clawed hands. Skeptics dismiss the legend as hysteria, but reports of damaged vehicles fuel speculation.
Rhode Island, The Vampire Mercy Brown Of Exeter
Though rooted in a historical event, Mercy Brown, whose body was exhumed and her heart burned in the late 19th century due to fears of vampirism, has become a chilling legend. During a tuberculosis outbreak, her family was convinced she was returning from the grave to feed on the living.
Unknown Author, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania, The Bus To Nowhere
Imagine stepping onto a bus with no destination. Philadelphia whispers of a ghostly route where passengers, lost in life, board and ride endlessly. No driver acknowledges them; no stops exist, and those who return remember little. Some claim they find their way onto this spectral bus, a metaphor for aimlessness.
Oregon, The Bandage Man Of Cannon Beach
Stained bandages, the stench of decay, and a monstrous figure stalking lover’s lanes—meet the Bandage Man of Cannon Beach. Folk tale says he was a logger, gruesomely dismembered, whose spirit refuses to rest. He lingers in the shadows, hopping into passing trucks, only to vanish before reaching town.
Oklahoma, The Magnetic Hill Of Springer
Defy gravity in Springer, Oklahoma, where cars roll uphill without explanation. Magnetic Hill lures the curious, challenging logic. Place your vehicle in neutral, and watch it move—against all reason. Is it magnetism, ghosts, or just a perfectly placed optical illusion? The answer depends on what you believe.
Magnetic Hill Springer Oklahoma by lonestarrider
Ohio, The Melon Heads Of Kirtland
Tiny, deformed figures with bulbous heads allegedly linger in the Kirtland woods. The Melon Heads are said to be the result of twisted experiments on orphans, doomed to live in hiding. At night, they emerge, watching from the shadows, terrifying those who dare to wander too far. Kids stay in.
North Dakota, The Miniwashitu Of The Missouri River
A terrifying legend among the Mandan people speaks of the Miniwashitu, a massive water monster inhabiting the Missouri River. Depicted as a beast with red hair, one eye, and a massive horn, it's said to bring death to anyone who sees it. Even today, strange disturbances leave locals scared.
National Park Service, Finetooth, Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina, The Beast Of Bladenboro
Something brutal stalked Bladenboro in the 1950s. A string of horrific animal-related incidents led to panic, with residents describing a massive feline-like predator with glowing eyes and an unearthly scream. Dogs, livestock, and even larger animals were found drained of blood; their bodies were left eerily intact.
Indy beetle, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
New York, The Tale Of Cropsey
The legend has haunted Staten Island. Once dismissed as a local ghost story, the myth turned chillingly real when a convicted child abductor bore sinister similarities. Cropsey was said to prowl in abandoned hospitals. When missing children reports surfaced in the 1970s and 1980s, residents saw the terrifying parallel.
Uncovering Cropsey’s Dark Secrets: A Visit to the Abandoned Farm Colony by Urbex And Chill
New Mexico, The Alien Crash Site Of Roswell
The Roswell incident has created many urban legends—mostly alien crash landings and government cover-ups. In July 1947, something odd crashed in the desert close to Roswell, igniting one of America's persistent mysteries. Was it a weather balloon, as officials claimed, or evidence of extraterrestrial visitors? The truth remains elusive.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey, The Jersey Devil
Born of a cursed 13th child in the Pine Barrens, the Jersey Devil has haunted NJ since the 1700s. Hoofprints appear in impossible places, and livestock vanish overnight. Described as a winged, hooved creature with a horse-like face. In 1909, mass hysteria erupted after hundreds claimed to see the beast.
Dystopiamatt, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire, The Devils Of Coos County
Tall, lean, and fast as shadows, the Wood Devils reportedly stalk the forests of New Hampshire. Unlike Bigfoot, these pale creatures blend perfectly with the trees, vanishing in an instant. Hikers report fleeting glimpses—thin figures darting behind trees, their movements unnaturally swift and silent.
Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada, The Spirits Of The Goldfield Hotel
Beneath the glamour of Nevada’s Goldfield Hotel lies a sinister history. Once a symbol of luxury, it now stands abandoned, its halls filled with whispers and shadowy figures. Ghost hunters claim to hear a woman crying—believed to be the spirit of a pregnant woman who met a tragic end there.
Vivaverdi, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska, The Vanishing Hitchhiker Of Hummel Park
This urban tale tells the story of a hitchhiker who mysteriously vanishes from a car, often leaving behind a chilling experience for the driver. No evidence at all. The tale has been passed down through generations and remains a popular ghost story in the area.
"The Legend of Hummel Park" by First Alert 6
Montana, The Phantom Hitchhiker Of Black Horse Lake
A lonely stretch of road near Black Horse Lake is home to Montana’s most chilling phantom—the ghostly hitchhiker. Described as a Native American man in old-fashioned clothing, he appears suddenly in the path of motorists, causing them to slam on their brakes. But when they stop, the road is empty.
Lydia, The Phantom Hitchhiker! by Scary AF Entertainment
Missouri, The Shadowy Figure Of Zombie Road
Zombie Road in Missouri is infamous for its freaky atmosphere and reports of a shadowy figure prowling in the woods. Once a railroad track, the overgrown path has a dark past, tied to ghostly apparitions, mysterious disappearances, and lights that flicker in the night.
EagleScout2017, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi, The Witch Of Yazoo City
This is a chilling legend that tells of a woman accused of witchcraft. In the story, she was chased into the swamps by enraged townspeople. As she sank into the quicksand, she cursed the town. Exactly 20 years after her death, a massive fire destroyed much of Yazoo City.
The Witch of Yazoo, MS! - WOM 274 by World of Micah
Minnesota, The Wendigo Of The North Woods
The legend of the Wendigo strikes fear into those who hear it. This terrifying creature, said to be a gaunt, skeletal beast with glowing eyes and an insatiable hunger for human flesh, is rooted in Native American folklore—many claim to see it stalking the woods.
Michigan, The Dogman Of Wexford County
First spotted in 1887, the Michigan Dogman is a terrifying cryptid described as a large, canine-like creature walking on two legs. Eyewitnesses report glowing blue eyes, sharp fangs, and a horrifying, unearthly howl that echoes through the woods. Apparently, it appears in cycles, returning every ten years to terrorize locals.
Massachusetts, The Spirits Of The Hockomock Swamp
The Hockomock Swamp, also known as the “Devil’s Swamp,” is steeped in paranormal activity. Native American legends tell of spirits roaming the murky waters, and modern-day visitors report strange lights, shadowy figures, and freaky whispers in the wind. The swamp is also part of the infamous Bridgewater Triangle.
Hockomock Swamp Winter Hike. Bridgewater Triangle by Zacharie Lanoue
Maryland, The Goatman Of Prince George’s County
A terrifying creature with the body of a man and the head of a goat is said to haunt the backroads of Maryland. The Goatman, as it’s called, is rumored to wield an axe, attacking cars and terrifying teenagers who dare to park near the woods at night.
Maine, The Mysterious Disappearances In The Allagash Wilderness
Maine’s Allagash Wilderness is home to chilling unsolved mysteries—multiple disappearances, no trace. Hikers and hunters have vanished without a clue, and those who have returned claim they experienced a lost time or were watched by unseen forces. One instance included four men who were reported to have been taken.
Nannochloropsis, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana, The Rougarou Of The Bayou
The Rougarou, Louisiana’s version of the werewolf, is said to stalk the bayous, searching for those who break traditional Cajun beliefs. Described as a beast with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth, its legend has been passed down for generations. Some believe the creature is a cursed human.
Kentucky, The Legend Of The Bluegrass State’s Sleepy Hollow Road
A winding road in Oldham County, Kentucky, Sleepy Hollow Road, is infamous for bizarre appearances and unexplained phenomena. The most terrifying tale involves a phantom car—an old black hearse that appears out of nowhere, chasing drivers before vanishing into the night.
Sleepy Hollow Road: Urban Legends by The Video Zone
Kansas, The Haunted Sally House
The Sally House in Atchison, Kansas, is one of America’s most documented haunted locations. Named after a young girl who allegedly passed on there during a botched operation, the house is infamous for violent paranormal activity. Visitors report spine-chilling whispers, shadowy figures, and objects moving on their own.
Haunted America: The Sallie House by Scripps News
Iowa, The Cursed Villisca Axe Murder House
In 1912, the small town of Villisca, Iowa, was rocked by a brutal crime—a family of eight was murdered in their sleep with an axe. The case was never solved, but the house where it happened remains a haunted spot. Some believe the spirits of the victims remain trapped inside.
Jason McLaren, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Indiana, The Demon House Of Gary
This event even gained nationwide attention after reports surfaced of an alleged possession in 2011. A family claimed they were tormented by dark spirits, experiencing strange footprints and even levitation. Authorities, including police and medical professionals, documented bizarre occurrences, adding credibility to the terrifying claims. Paranormal investigators later confirmed it.
Is This Indiana House the ‘Portal to Hell'? by Inside Edition
Illinois, The Phantom Of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
Bachelor’s Grove in Illinois is notorious for ghostly apparitions and floating orbs. The most famous spirit is the “Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove”—a mysterious woman who appears holding an infant before disappearing into the night. Paranormal investigators have captured chilling images here.
Mark Bergner, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Idaho, The Phantom Of The Old Idaho State Penitentiary
This location housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the state’s history, and its dark past has left a dark mark. Visitors report hearing disembodied whispers and witnessing ghostly figures sneaking into the cells. One of the most infamous spirits is that of Raymond Snowden, Idaho’s “Jack the Ripper”.
Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hawaii, The Nightmarchers Of The Islands
Hawaiian folklore warns of the Nightmarchers—freaky warriors who roam sacred grounds at night. Legend states that anyone encountering them must bow respectfully or face dire consequences. Some have even seen spectral figures carrying torches, only for them to disappear moments later.
Master story teller shares tales of Hawaii’s haunted locations by Island News
Georgia, The Ghost Of The St Simons Lighthouse
In the 1800s, the lighthouse keeper was taken out by his assistant, and legend says his spirit never left. Some visitors claim to hear whispers in the wind, while others feel an unseen presence watching them. Whether myth or truth, the lighthouse remains one of Georgia’s most haunted landmarks.
Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Florida, The Curse Of Robert The Doll
In Key West’s Fort East Martello Museum, Robert the Doll was gifted to a boy named Robert Eugene Otto in the early 1900s. The doll is said to be cursed and responsible for misfortunes and unprecedented events. Anyone who has mocked Robert often reports lousy luck and strange occurrences.
Cayobo from Key West, The Conch Republic, CC BY 1.0, Wikimedia Commons
Delaware, The Haunted Rockwood Mansion
Constructed in the 19th century, it is said to be haunted by the original owner, Joseph Shipley. Guests often report cold drafts and ghostly appearances. Paranormal investigators have recorded evidence in the halls. The mansion is now a museum, but its haunted reputation still attracts thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike.
Connecticut, The Cursed Doll Of The Warren Occult Museum
Deep within the Warren Occult Museum lies one of the most infamous haunted objects in history—Annabelle, the cursed doll. Made famous by the paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, Annabelle is said to be responsible for numerous chilling encounters and unexplained events.
Inside the Warrens' Occult Museum by Connecticut Post
Colorado, The Supernatural Forces Of The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel in Colorado edified Stephen King’s The Shining—and for good reason. Guests and staff report unexplained events. Room 217 is notorious for ghostly activity, allegedly haunted by a former housekeeper. Paranormal investigations continue to uncover chilling evidence.
Amy Aletheia Cahill, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
California, The Legend Of The Fresno Nightcrawler
These pale, humanoid figures with no visible arms have been captured on video in Fresno, California. Their origin is a complete mystery and has always sparked widespread speculation. Described as white, cloth-like beings with long legs and no apparent upper body, these entities move in an unsettling, gliding fashion.
Analyzing Footage of Fresno Nightcrawlers | Is It Real? Ep.2 by The Dark Zone Network
Arkansas, The Fouke Monster Of Miller County
Also known as the "Southern Sasquatch," this creature is said to live in the swamps and forests around Fouke. Reports of a large, hairy beast have persisted for years, drawing attention from cryptozoologists and curious locals. The creature gained national attention after the 1972 docudrama "The Legend of Boggy Creek".
Arizona, The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Of The Superstition Mountains
This one tells of a hidden gold mine in the Superstition Mountains and many who have perished trying to find it. The tale is filled with mystery and the appeal of untold riches. Those who venture too deep into the mountains often meet with strange accidents or disappear completely.
Alabama, The Ghosts Of Maple Hill Cemetery’s Playground
The playground known as Dead Children’s Playground is part of a legend that says the spirits of children buried nearby come out to play at night. They are said to be swinging on creaky swings and darting between trees. Whether haunted or merely folklore, the playground remains a chilling attraction.
The Dead Children's Playground in Huntsville, Alabama. [Haunted Alabama] by Back Roads
Alaska, The Hairy Man Of Port Chatham
Deep in the remote wilderness of Port Chatham, Alaska, rests a terrifying creature known as the Hairy Man. Described as an enormous, ape-like being, it has been blamed for mysterious disappearances and abandoned settlements. Local legends recount violent encounters, with hunters finding massive footprints.
Is The Hairy Man Of Port Chatham Finally Caught On Video? | The Alaska Triangle by Rush NZ
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