Scary Urban Legends From All 50 States

It doesn’t matter what your background is, everyone knows about one good urban legend. Do you know the one from your state? Time to find out…

The Candy Lady – Terrell, TX

Clara Crane murdered her husband by poisoning his candy. She was sent to a mental institution in Terrell, Texas. The community took this story and ran with it, creating the Candy Lady. She leaves candy out on children’s windowsills to lure them out so she can kidnap them, pull out their teeth, and stab them in the eyes.

Annabelle The Doll – Monroe, CT

We all know Annabelle very well. She is the star demonic doll of The Conjuring and Annabelle. She was based on a real Raggedy Ann doll who was owned by Ed and Lorraine Warren. She is kept locked up in their museum due to her bizarre behavior. Many people believe that she is unsafe.

Slaughterhouse Canyon – Kingman, AZ

During the gold rush of the 1800s, a father was reported missing by his family. They ended up starving and going insane because of their lack of food. The mother allegedly put on her wedding dress and murdered their children with an ax. The cabin they lived in still stands and people believe that it’s haunted.

Dead Children’s Playground – Huntsville, AL

This playground is located in a cemetery for some bizarre reason. Its real name is Drost Park, but locals call it Dead Children’s playground. In the 1960s, the town faced an epidemic of child abductions. Many of the kids were found dead and buried in shallow graves at this cemetery. Many people see kids playing on the swings out of the corner of their eyes, as well as hearing disembodied children’s’ voices.

The Bell Witch – Tennesse

John Bell shot a rabbit-dog creature in his backyard, and that’s when things started getting crazy. The family experiences tapping on the doors and windows, sheets being taken off of their beds as they slept, and random voices. Apparently, they were being haunted by a woman named Kate, who eventually killed John Bell by making him poison himself. President Andrew Jackson even visited the family and quickly ran out of there.

Black-Eyed Children – Texas

The Black-Eyed Children were first spotted in 1996 when a reporter pulled up to a movie theater. He was sitting in his car when two kids came up to the window and knocked on it, asking for a ride home so they could get money to see a movie. The children also made it apparent that they didn’t have a gun, which freaked the reporter out. Then, he saw their eyes. He said they were, “the sort of eyes one sees these days on aliens or bargain-basement vampires on late night television.”

The Italian Bride – Illinois

New bride Julia Buccola Petta died during childbirth in 1921. She was buried in her wedding dress. Her mother claimed that she was having nightmares of her daughter and needed to see her again. She demanded that the coffin be opened up, and put up a fight with the government for six years until they finally gave in. When they opened it, she was not decomposed at all. It was just like they buried her. People claim to see her in the cemetery in the dead of night. The photo pictured is of her actual dead body six years after she was buried…

Water Babies of Massacre Rocks – Pocatello, ID

Apparently, this river is haunted by the sounds of babies crying at night and little baby hand and footprints. Hundreds of years ago, the area was ravaged by famine. The story goes that mothers had to drown their babies in the river to stop their suffering.

Villisca Axe Murder House – Villisca, IA

In 1912, a family of two parents and four children, along with two neighborhood kids, were murdered in their beds. No one knows who did it or why. It ended up becoming a cold case, but the story doesn’t end there. The house still stands, and many people think that it holds a lot of negative energy and is a hot spot for ghosts.

Wendigo – Northern Minnesota

Native American folklore says that they’ve seen a 15-foot-tall shape-shifting creature on their land. They claimed to have tried to hunt the beast but were never able to catch it. Legend has it that a Wendigo is a person who resorted to cannibalism and evolved into this bizarre, demonic creature…

The Cursed Pillar – Augusta, GA

Yeah, a haunted pillar. Back in the day, a preacher wanted to deliver a sermon next to this particular pillar. When he was told that he was not allowed, he declared that the town is destroyed. Soon after, a tornado destroyed most of the town, but this pillar still remains. Apparently, it’s got some weird energy to it.

The Dark Watchers – Santa Lucia Mountains, CA

The Dark Watchers usually reside in the mountains of California. They lack facial features and any other identifying features. They usually have a brimmed hat or walking stick, and they hide in the dead of night. They like to watch hikers and travelers, but never cause any harm.

Dog Boy – Quitman, AR

Gerald Bettis was rumored to have been abused by his parents. Allegedly, they put him through some bizarre experiments. In later years, some say that they see a ghostly wolf boy walking around the home… Is it Gerald?

The Devil’s Chair – Cassadaga, FL

If you sit in this very chair, people say that the Devil will whisper evil things into your ear that will leave you a changed person. Many people have claimed to have horrible mental experiences while sitting in this chair.

The Goatman – Prince George’s County, MD

This Goatman will chase people down in local areas like Lovers Lane and Crybaby Bridge. The legend says that the USDA created the Goatman in their Beltsville Research Agricultural Center.

Goody Cole – Hampton, NH

Goody Cole was accused of witchcraft during the insane Witch Hunt in the 1600s. Locals took it upon themselves to kill her so she wouldn’t harm them in the afterlife. Even after she died, bizarre things started happening and the locals believed it was her spirit still wreaking havoc.

The Ghost Boy of Clinton Road – Passaic County, NJ

The Ghost Boy is actually not someone to fear! He hides under one of the bridges along Clinton Road. He will return any coins you throw into the river. Some say that if you closely and patiently, you can hear him trying to talk to you.

The Phantom Jogger of Canyon Hill – Idaho

The phantom jogger is seen running along the roads of Canyon Hill late at night. People claim to have her run up to their window, knock on it, say nothing, and then jog off. She’s just kinda eerie!

Kushtaka – Southern Alaska

These little guys are shape-shifters who are a cross between an otter and a human. They make noises like a human child to lure fisherman closer. They are known to be tricksters.

Night Marchers – Hawaii

These Hawaiin warriors march through the waters of old battlefields. They used to do this at night to worship the Gods. They can be heard chanting and sometimes you can hear a haunting conch shell whistle.

The Spiteful Mermaid of Pyramid Lake – Pyramid Lake, NV

A Paiute man fell in love with one of the mermaids of this lake. His tribe rejected their love and told him to never speak to her again. She cursed the lake, lured the tribe over, and ignited a war. People also say that people drown in the lake frequently due to the curse.

Riverdale Road – Thorton, CO

People have seen hanging bodies from the trees on this road under a full moon. Others have seen a creepy lady in white watching them from the side of the road. There is a mansion that used to house a Satanic cult, so many believe that has something to do with these horrible sights.

Ghost Elephants – Forest Park, IL

In 1918, a train carrying circus cars wrecked and killed many people and animals, including giant elephants. Some believe that the remnants of the elephants will remain and they show up at night in the Woodlawn Cemetary.

Colonel Buck’s Tomb – Bucksport, ME

Buck got a woman pregnant. When he heard of this, he forced her out of their home and made her raise the kid on her own. She was later burned at the stake for being accused of witchcraft. The son watched the death, stole her leg, and used it to curse the father’s tomb. The stain on the headstone is allegedly her leg.

The Phantom Hitchhiker of Black Horse Lake – Cascade County, MT

In Montana, a Native American man with long, black hair can be seen on certain roads. It appears that he’s hitchhiking. When he gets in, the driver can see that he’s wearing a baggy jacket and a pair of old jeans. After they start driving, he’s said to disappear from the seat. Others say that he will chase down cars that don’t stop for him.

The Men In Black At Shaman’s Portal – Beaver, OK

Beaver Dunes Park is known as the Bermuda Triangle of Oklahoma. There have been bizarre disappearances there for years. Allegedly, archaeologists were visiting the town to study it when bizarre ‘government officials’ chase them away. Many believe that they were the infamous Men In Black.

La Mala Hora – New Mexico

This demon haunts New Mexico during the witching hour every night. She stalks people who are alone in country crossroads. It’s said that she drives people insane. People who see her will suffer a terrible loss or die themselves.

Walking Sam – Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD

Walking Sam is seven-feet-tall and wanders around the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In this area, suicide rates have spiked. Many locals believe that Walking Sam collects lost souls.

Charlie No-Face – Pittsburgh, PA

Charlie No-Face is an urban legend, but he’s also a real person. People have reported a faceless man roaming the streets at night and scaring anyone who saw him. In reality, his name was Charlie and he liked to take walks at night so he wouldn’t scare people. He was reportedly happy, healthy, and very kind.

The Rougarou – Acadiana, LA

Locals have reported a pale, white werewolf roaming around the swamps. Parents have adopted this myth to keep their kids in good behavior. “Don’t sneak candy, or the Rougarou will get you!”

Skinned Tom – Walland, TN

While alive, Skinned Tom was murdered by a woman’s husband after they were caught gettin’ it on. Many believe that he likes to stalk and punish local cheaters.

Radioactive Hornets – Nebraska

Locals believe that the Fukushima nuclear disaster caused the birth of mutant hornets.

The Loveland Frog – Loveland, OH

This weird little humanoid frog has appeared in parts of Ohio. He is only four-feet-tall, uses his hind legs to walk, and waves a wand over his head to scare off any humans.

Mercy Brown, The Vampire – Bucksport, RI

In 1892, tuberculosis was ravaging the states. A 19-year-old contracted the disease and soon died from it. Officials noticed that her body was not decomposing like the other victims and still seemed very fresh. Many people believed she was a vampire and was making people sick.

The Curse of Escalante Petrified Forest – Escalante, UT

People visit this forest to see the awesome petrified wood. Locals always say to never take the wood from the forest, but dumb tourists do anyone. They then report having horrible bad luck in their life. People have lost their jobs, gotten sick, and even gotten into bad accidents. Park managers get dozens of packages a year with stolen wood.

Corpse Light – Cape Henlopen, DE

This town doesn’t have a lighthouse, but there are many reports of a phantom light. It has taken many lives of people on the seas, as it confuses ship and boat operators. Apparently, it’s a curse from a Native American tribe after British soldiers crashed a wedding and slaughtered members of the tribe.

Cropsey – Staten Island, NY

Crospey is a very real, very creepy story. The urban legend started as a man who was an escaped mental patient who had a hook for a hand. He liked kidnapping and killing children. But then, in the 1970s, the children of Staten Island began going missing. They eventually started turning up dead. Then, Andre Rand was found and convicted of the murders. Crospey became real.

Boo Hags – Southern Coastal, SC

The Gullah people in SC claim that the Boo Hag are evil souls who roam the living world. They take on the form of a skinless, vampire-like witch. They like to take the skin of humans.

The Kentucky Goblins – Hopkinsville, KY

People have claimed to see these weird little goblins running around. Apparently, they green and hairless with three toes.

The Nain Rouge – Detroit, MI

Detroit citizens have claimed to see this creature during disasters. The first time people saw it was in 1805, during a fire that destroyed the entire city. Then, they saw it again in 1968 during intense riots. They saw it yet another time in 1976 during a horrific ice storm. The city hosts a banishment parade every year to keep it from returning.

Mercritis – Mississippi

Apparently, this was a disease in a rural part of Mississippi that caused an outbreak of a weird sickness. The story says that men who consumed too much lead would produce a smell that would make women go into a homicidal rage. Many people think the disease was covered up by the government and medical officials.

The White Things – West Virginia

This large, dog-like creature is covered in white long fur. Some say it can be as big as a lion.

The Gateway to Hell – Stull, KS

The people in Kansas think that they have their own gateway to the underworld. Locals say that it opens every Halloween and on the spring equinox.

Zombie Road – Wildwood, MO

Apparently, when Native Americans were the only ones to rule this land, they recorded strange deaths occurring in this area. A common way of death was drowning in a nearby river. Many teens go to this spot to get spooked and die from strange accidents.

The Vampire Beast of Bladenboro – Bladenboro, NC

In the 1950s, farmers were experiencing deaths of their livestock. They would wake up in the morning to find that their animals were completely drained of blood. Some have even said that they saw the beast sucking the life out of their cattle.

The Platte River Ship – Platte River, WY

This ship has been seen out on the Platte River by folks on shore. Legend says that people who see the ship can also see the ghostly, frozen crew standing on bored.

Pukwudgies – Hockomock Swamp, MA

These guys are mostly just little goblins. Locals say that they resemble bipedal porcupines and try to lure people off of cliffs.

The Bunny Man – Clifton, VA

One Halloween night, a bus transferring asylum patients crashed. One of the patients ended up escaping and was never found again. For years following the crash, skinned and half-eaten rabbits were found hanging from trees. People even said that after the time he should have died, he began to attack people in his afterlife, stringing them over the bridges like rabbits.

Caddy of Cadboro Bay – Cadboro Bay, WA

There is a sea monster that hangs out in this bay and is hard to see. It’s just like the Loch Ness Monster. It’s never done any damage to humans.

The Rhinelander Hodag – Rhinelander, WI

Locals say that this creature is stumpy and ugly. It doesn’t cause too much trouble other than eating dogs.

The Green Clawed Beast In The Ohio River – Quitman, IN

These creatures are very hairy on their arms and have clawed hands. They also have crazy green skin. It’s said that they like to grab women who are alone at night…

The Bandaged Man – Cannon Beach, OR

The Bandaged Man is said to be a logger who had an accident at a nearby sawmill. Many teens who visit the building say they see him in the corners. He gives off a putrid rotting flesh smell.

The Miniwashitu – Missouri River, ND

This monster looks like a bison but… Different. People say that when you see it in the daytime, you will go insane.

Deep Frozen Folks – Montpelier, VT

Locals claim that people who live deep, deep in the Vermont woods freeze their elderly relatives and then thaw them in the spring… Okay then.

Skinwalkers – Arizona

Skinwalkers are naked, skinless creatures that stalk you at night. They try to rip your skin off. According to Native American tales, they were witch doctors in life and became a reflection of that evil in death.

Bonus: Bloody Mary

We all know this one. We look in the mirror in the bathroom with all of the lights off, say her name three times, and she appears and probably kills us. Most stories say she is looking for her baby, others say that she’s a vengeful spirit looking for revenge.

Bonus: The Hookman

The Hookman is a man who wanders around at night, flashing his hook-for-a-hand at any passerby’s with the threat of killing them.

Bonus: Slenderman

Slenderman was originally a creepypasta story, but many people took it to heart. He is a thin, tall man with a blank and featureless face wearing a black suit. He stalks and abducts his victims, usually children.

Bonus: Chupacabra

Apparently, this is a creepy little creature that sucks the blood out of farm animals. Many people have reported seeing it…

Bonus: Sewer Alligator

Yes, this is just a myth. Many people believe that there are giant alligators roaming the sewers in NYC.

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