UNACCOUNTED ODDITIES
Sometimes the story about a bridge is so bizarre that it doesn’t really fit into any typical category. Sometimes there are multiple tales told about a single place—or at least several different types of paranormal activity. When a location falls into either of these groups, it gets listed here.
With more and more people studying the paranormal, we are starting to understand that there is sometimes a fine line that separates different types of activity. What some people think of as being an evil event, others see as a simple attempt by a ghost to get some attention. Also, consider a location like a witch bridge. A witch is spooky, presumably, because they did some sort of black magic while living. But now that witch is dead, right? So she is a ghost. Or would she be considered a creature since many would regard her as a type of Halloween monster? You get my point. Enjoy reading these listings that, happily, fall between the cracks …
Refuge Bridge—Clanton, Alabama
This is a bridge story that could have been placed in several chapters of this book. Primarily known for the appearance of mysterious balls of light (also known as ghost lights), Refuge Bridge is a well-documented and regularly visited hotspot for paranormal activity. A quick Google search will bring up quite a few ghost hunters who have visited this location. But the haunting doesn’t stop with a few simple lights …
The female spirit that is said to haunt this bridge is known as a malevolent entity. She will often appear on the bridge and pursue those she sees. In addition, she will often appear as a vaguely humanlike black mass that will circle vehicles parked on the bridge and even attempt to enter them. Additional activity includes the sounds of a woman moaning/panting, the discovery of handprints on vehicles, and the ever-present sense that someone is walking alongside you as you are making your way across.
Creek Park Bridge—La Mirada, California
Creek Park is approximately twenty-six acres of green situated along the La Mirada flood control channel. It features an open-air amphitheater, an equestrian arena, and a pair of spirits that are said to be the remnants of a Satanic ritual.
The ghosts in question are usually spotted in the vicinity of a small wooden bridge that’s perched near a popular hiking trail. If you find the bridge, hang tight and keep your eyes open. Locals say the first spirit—that of a young girl—can be seen nearby. She’s often heard crying out for her mother. The second ghost is a little spookier; the hooded figure (thought to be male) is usually seen approaching the bridge or skulking about nearby.
Legend says that both entities are the product of a ritual that was carried out in the park sometime in the 1970s, and that both were victims who were sacrificed during the affair. Though they both seem to be a bit residual, and tend to avoid the living, those who have witnessed the apparitions say they are terrifying and have a vivid memory of the event.
San Lorenzo River Trestle—Santa Cruz, California
Though this bridge is known for an unusual—and malevolent—spirit that haunts it, this trestle is also quite famous for something else entirely. The movie The Lost Boys used this bridge for filming a portion of a scene that involves the vampires having a contest to see who can hang the longest beneath the bridge. People visit the bridge from far and wide because of this, but on occasion, visitors leave with an altogether different story …
Unlike most train trestles, this one was constructed with a pedestrian walkway so locals and tourists could cross. It’s while taking a stroll across that people have come into contact with the spirit here. According to the local tale, the entity on the trestle is quite evil and will psychically project thoughts into pedestrians’ minds, suggesting that they jump off the bridge. Those who have encountered this ghost have even claimed to have seen the thing in their mind speaking to them. Descriptions place the spirit somewhere between ghost and demon—but wearing a hat. Other encounters with the thing have left witnesses shaken up a bit; apparently the evil entity also enjoys giving a push to some people who are making the crossing.
Veterans Memorial Bridge—Daytona, Florida
There isn’t much known about the mysterious spirit that’s said to haunt the north side of this bridge. The original span at this location was constructed in 1899, but it was replaced in 1954 to upgrade this crossing of the Halifax River. And it was about this time that the whispers concerning a ghost started circulating the area.
Witnesses of the activity say the entity is a female with dark hair who is wearing a nightgown or, perhaps, robes of some kind. This in itself is reason enough for ghost hunters to check out the area—but what makes this particular spirit odd is that she apparently likes to levitate and move objects. Though nobody has reported actually seeing the apparition throwing things, plenty of locals have claimed to have seen rocks, roadside debris, and other objects fly through the air, seemingly by themselves. And since there is an actual ghost that has been seen here, well, she takes the blame for this activity. While this may seem like a dangerous ghost, investigators in the area say she is not malevolent at all but is simply trying to get the attention of those passing by on her bridge.
Arbuckle Creek Bridge—Lorida, Florida
It’s hard to say what’s weirder—the story about this bridge in Highlands County or the fact that the closest town is called Lorida. Yes, that’s right—Lorida, Florida. Apparently the original name of the town (Istokpoga) was similar to another in the state, so the name was changed in 1937. That bit of history aside, the tales concerning this area, and this bridge, are squarely in the realm of urban legend—a legend about a witch.
It’s said an old woman lived nearby in the woods sometime in the 1940s, and she was known for hundreds of miles as a person who could make remedies, potions, spells, etc. As a result, a gentleman who was interested in creating a love potion visited her one evening. She told him it could be done, but he would have to forfeit his firstborn child to her as payment. Angry because of the deal that was offered him, he attacked the woman and she was killed (some say he impaled her on a cypress tree). Since that day, the ghost of the witch has been seen and heard here.
Locals say sightings of the spirit were so prevalent that at one point an angry mob burned the witch’s old shack down, hoping this would banish her from the area. It did not work. A visit to this location just may get you your first glimpse of this phantom.
The story of Blind Suzie has been attached to this bridge for quite some time, even though she most likely lived in a completely different area. Hyder Bridge, also known as the Lula Covered Bridge, was built in 1915 and now spans a tributary of Oak Grove Creek. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places (and has a plaque that will give you more background information concerning the bridge), but is mostly known because of the associated ghost of Blind Suzie.
Suzie was known far and wide during the days of prohibition for selling a mean batch of moonshine, and she did business right on her front porch. She would hide jugs of the liquor under her skirts as she sat in an old chair and sell the stuff to locals who had the money to buy it. When she passed away, folks began claiming to see the old woman on the bridge. Those who have seen the apparition say she stands on the span and simply ignores those who pass by. People also claim that, even when she isn’t visible, she is still there; apparently animals won’t cross the old bridge and those who visit the historic site say they can hear the sounds of an old woman humming.
What if there wasn’t one haunted bridge, but seven of them instead? And what if it was the bridge itself that was one of the ghosts? According to students at nearby Berry College, if you drive along CCC Road—known locally as Seven Bridges Road—you will count seven bridges during the drive. But then, if you turn around and drive back the way you came, you will only count six. One bridge will have mysteriously disappeared. Is it an optical illusion? Some say yes. Others have a more ghostly reason for this disparity.
It seems that a young man committed suicide along this stretch of road in 1993 (the death was reported by local news sources) and his apparition has been seen standing in the vicinity of where his body was found. Many believe it is his mischievous spirit that’s having fun with people driving along here. Either way, check out this bizarre stretch of road—and while you’re at it, you may want to visit nearby Berry College. With numerous ghost stories associated with the campus, it would be a great way to top off a fun, haunted excursion.
Hooper Springs Park Bridge—Soda Springs, Idaho
The tiny bridge in the middle of this city park seems to be the center of attention for a strange type of haunting. While most people visit this recreational area to sample the natural soda water that flows here—or to simply enjoy the playground, picnic areas, and nature—there are those who say the park is crawling with a particular type of ghost: Shadow People. Dark, shadowlike spirits have been witnessed on the bridge, walking through the trees, and even frolicking in the playground. Strangely, this unique paranormal event has been seen during the day, as well as the evening.
While nobody believes the entities are evil, it does seem to be a phenomenon that spooks those who see the ghosts in action. If you plan to check out the area for yourself, pack a picnic and visit the site a couple hours before nightfall. Most parks close at sunset, so your best shot at seeing these ghosts is going to be the period leading up to (and including) dusk. Take along a camera with low light capabilities and you just might get something interesting.
Rock Creek Bridge—Twin Falls, Idaho
Okay, so this bridge is technically not around anymore, but the remnants are said to still be visible in the Twin Falls river canyon area. When it was standing, locals referred to the structure as the Singing Bridge, and it was known for a particularly bizarre haunting. While the bridge is now gone, the haunting is certainly still around.
The ghost story involves what is known as the Devil’s Henchman. Supposedly, if you make the climb into the canyon area beneath where the bridge stood, you will find some rock stairs that lead to an area where you will find a series of carved faces in the rock. These faces are supposed to represent a series of people who were abducted—and presumably murdered—from the region. To make the tale even a bit more frightening, it’s said that the angry spirit here does not like visitors. As you get closer to the carvings, you will begin to hear voices in the wind and get an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach (sometimes a symptom of high electromagnetic fields).
If you get online and Google the bridge, you can read several firsthand accounts about visiting the Singing Bridge, but it seems that people never quite find the faces. They get too scared en route and usually turn back.
Seven Gates to Hell—Collinsville, Illinois
Along Lebanon Road, on the outskirts of the town of Collinsville, is a series of seven bridges. Some are quite small—railroad-style spans—but they are all there for those who wish to find them. Of course, you will be wanting to cross them at night since that is the time specified in order to open a gate to Hell. That’s right, according to legend, if you manage to cross all seven bridges in a row, with your vehicle crossing the seventh bridge at exactly midnight, a portal to the hoary netherworld will appear. You will know you have achieved this feat when you suddenly notice the presence of hellhounds with glowing eyes that immediately pursue you. Sounds great, right?
So how did this area manage to get this particular feature? Many say it started with an old house standing in the area that was once the site of a grisly murder. Some say it was a family member who went insane and killed everyone; some say it was a ritualistic slaying by Satanic cult members. Since that horrific act, the house has been used for rituals and cult activities—and as a result, the portal to Hell was created.
Now if this sounds like the kind of supernatural bridge you’d like to skip, I should mention that the worst thing that will probably happen while you are attempting to cross the Seven Gates to Hell is encountering a slew of rowdy teenagers.
Hell’s Gate—Clay County, Indiana
Finding this bizarre location is the first challenge if you plan to visit this spot. You need to leave the town of Diamond and head south on North Rock Run Church Road. The bridge in question is actually a set of train tracks crossing over a tunnel. You will know the tunnel instantly; it is covered with graffiti and red paint, and it smells terrible. Sometimes this tunnel is closed off to the public; sometimes it is open to drive through. If it is closed, respect the law and check it out from afar. If it’s open …
According to legend, a terrible train accident happened at this crossing—one that killed dozens of people. This act, according to ghost enthusiasts, opened up a gate to Hell. In order for you to open this portal, you are supposed to stop at the entrance to the tunnel, flash your lights three times, then drive through the tunnel three times, stopping in the center on the third pass. If you then turn off your vehicle and pay attention, strange things are supposed to happen.
Some say the paint will disappear off the walls and everything turns a bloody red. Some say dark figures will pass the vehicle and disembodied voices will begin to wail. Even others tell of a tall specter that will approach your car and attempt to enter and get you. Sounds fun, right?
Main Street Bridge—Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sometimes when you get an explanation for a haunting it is more ridiculous than the haunting itself. Such is the case with the famous Lady in White, who is said to walk Main Street in the town of Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne Gazette documented the first sighting of this spirit in 1883. According to the article, witnesses watched this woman walk along until she suddenly disappeared in the middle of the bridge. Many assumed the lady had leaped from the bridge, so a search was made with nobody found below. Not long after this, the same ghost was seen in a horse-drawn carriage crossing the bridge—and everything disappeared at the exact same spot.
The mystery became a local sensation until the paper then reported that the haunting had been debunked. They sited a local man by the name of Johnny Hanna as the culprit. Apparently he had a lantern with shapes cut into the sides and he was shining these shapes to appear on the bridge. So the paper would have us believe that a small crowd—and, later, a pair of police officers—would mistake a light shining from a lantern for an apparition (once with a spectral horse and carriage). Right …
Of course, even if you buy the explanation for this whole incident, it doesn’t explain why people still see the spirit of the Lady in White walking along Main Street and occasionally hear the sounds of a female voice on the wind.
Lake City Bridge—Lake City, Iowa
This awesome specimen is a prime example of the famous James B. Marsh “Rainbow Bridge” design. Known by various names—Raccoon River Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, and the aforementioned Lake City Bridge for starters—this location would make a great day trip, or perhaps even an overnight stay.
Closed to automobile traffic, this bridge is the centerpiece of Rainbow Park. So when you’re not staking out the structure for ghostly activity, you can take advantage of fishing in the Raccoon River; camping in a small, primitive campsite; and picnicking beneath the trees. Besides, the haunting of this particular place is a bit, well, odd.
Apparently, if you place an unopened chocolate bar on the bridge and leave it there, it will be consumed by a hungry spirit. It’s said that when you check on the candy you will find the wrapper to be unopened, but the chocolate will be gone. Weird? A bit. Oddly enough, there doesn’t seem to be any other ghostly activity here. So, if you plan to check out the dead chocoholic, you may want to take along that nice picnic basket and your camping gear. Might as well make a fun trip of the whole affair.
Atlas Avenue Bridge—Shell Rock, Iowa
Tales of Satan’s Hollow Bridge have been whispered around campfires in Iowa for quite a few years now—unfortunately, the tale seems to vary with each telling and the fare seems more suited to a horror movie than a story based on any kind of facts. That said, those who have had an experience at this site say it was quite frightening.
The story goes that, if you make the trip beneath the bridge, you will experience more and more of the uncanny as you near Shell Rock River (and I should mention that messing around under any bridge at night is probably a bit dangerous, so you may want to skip it altogether). So, what happens exactly? Well, it seems that a mysterious cult used to perform rituals at this location, and because of this, people now hear chants/voices, feel eyes on them as they near the river, and sometimes even see the odd sight of multiple ghostly figures shrouded in white. I presume this means they are wearing robes. (They’re members of a cult, remember?)
While the entire story smacks of urban legend, it’s worth your time to Google some of the stories about Satan’s Hollow Bridge. Some are quite frightening. Just use caution if you decide to test the legend for yourself.
Roseman Covered Bridge—Winterset, Iowa
This bridge is a movie star of sorts—a book and, subsequently, a movie were written about it titled The Bridges of Madison County, and it even appeared in the film. Dating back to 1883, this gorgeous structure crosses Middle River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It should come as no wonder that a place with this much history is now regarded as haunted.
There are two tales concerning the strange activity that happens at this spot, and both pretty much end up the same way. The first version tells of a young man who was courting a local girl. He went to meet her one day and found her father, along with an angry mob, waiting for him. He fled on horseback and was pursued to the bridge. When the posse got there they saw the horse, now riderless, exiting the far side of the structure, but the young man had disappeared. The second edition of the tale is pretty much the same, only the young man escaped from the local prison and there was an actual exchange of gunfire in the bridge before the man disappeared. Either way, it’s said the soul of the missing man is now trapped in the bridge somehow.
People have told of feeling frighteningly cold spots in the center of the bridge, hearing the sounds of horses/gunshots, and even glimpsing what looks like the apparition of a young man.
Heartbeat Bridge—Ellicott City, Maryland
Located over a creek just off Bonnie Branch Road, this spot is a well-known oddity in the area. Most locals know—and will happily tell the story—of how a jealous husband once cut out his wife’s heart and tossed it into the creek. So does she now haunt the bridge over the creek? Well, maybe …
It’s sort of hard to quantify this tale as a haunting since nobody sees a ghost or hears a ghost or experiences anything of any sort that we typically think of as being part of a ghost story. So, what does happen here? Well, if you walk across the bridge (watch out for traffic), you will supposedly feel a vibration after a few moments—a steady, pulsing vibration that is said to be the dead woman’s heart. This heartbeat is so strong it’s said that, if you park your vehicle on the bridge (much safer than walking), you will feel it inside your car.
While no one seems to put much stock in the validity of the killing, everyone will tell you the experience is quite real. It’s so popular in Ellicott City that it’s listed on the official website of the town.
Old Highway 94 Bridge—Jefferson City, Missouri
Located on the outskirts of town, this bridge has such a bizarre assortment of legends associated with it that it deserves to be in no other chapter than here. The most common tale involves the spirit of an old fellow nicknamed Ofie. Ofie apparently likes to pretend he’s been hit by passing cars and then disappear when you search for him. Since there is no great description of Ofie, it’s best you treat all the people on this bridge as real and attempt to not hit them.
Another well-known yarn about this bridge involves a creature that stalks the area. Said creature stalks people who park to make out and is often seen peering from roadside foliage. Need more stories? Great! There is also a mysterious light that has been seen on Old 94 approaching the bridge and, if that’s still not enough, good old-fashioned ghosts are known to haunt the bridge, too. The story goes that the spirits were once a family who supported the Union in the American Civil War. Others didn’t appreciate their political views, so they hung the family. They are now seen here, as well as heard.
The most commonly experienced activity at the bridge seems to be the sounds of children crying and screaming. Interestingly, in 2013 a couple skulls were found in the vicinity of the bridge.
Highway 200 Bridge—Trout Creek, Montana
So, you’ve read passages in this book about scary monsters, ghosts lingering in various areas, and glowing balls of light scooting along the road. Here is something altogether different—unidentified flying objects (UFO’s). Sightings of flying saucers at this bridge were discovered in a very unique way—a savvy online individual using Google Earth spotted what looked like a spaceship hovering over the Trout Creek area. Not only does the craft in question appear to be a flying saucer, it also seems to feature an alien hanging out the ship’s sunroof. Yep, you read that right.
Apparently, searching for alien aircraft via Google Earth is now quite the popular hobby, and today folks consider this bridge a UFO hotspot. If you want to take a break from visiting haunted bridges, you might want to head out to Trout Creek and do some UFO watching. Just be warned that, statistically, your odds of seeing a flying saucer are even lower than the odds of seeing/hearing a ghost. Good luck with your hunt.
Old US Highway 34 Bridge—Grand Island, Nebraska
Everything about this bridge is interesting. Open only to pedestrian traffic these days, this bridge used to be a busy thoroughfare in the area. Now it has a motel on one end and is a tourist attraction for everyone who enjoys chasing down a scary story. Known as Witch’s Bridge, people have been telling campfire tales about this span for decades. The most common tale being, of course, about the witch. It’s said she lived in a house nearby and would perform rituals of all sorts along the Platte River, including human sacrifice. When the locals had enough of her, they burned her home down. Some say she was in it; some say she cursed them and fled. Now the ghosts of her victims, as well as other evil things she unleashed, haunt the bridge.
A second story is told about a woman and child who were on the bridge when an explosion shook the structure. She dropped her child into the water below, where he/she drowned. The woman’s ghost is now supposed to be seen on the bridge, too. With a couple scary stories being told it’s probably no surprise that Witch’s Bridge has become a bit of a local dare.
Visitors to the span say that cars die for no reason, disembodied voices can be heard, and frightening apparitions have been seen. At least one source I spoke to about this bridge said that it is now owned by the motel there (a Motel 6 at the time I’m writing this), so you may consider staying in the hotel and asking for a guided tour.
Clinton Road Bridge—West Milford, New Jersey
Where to begin? When a stretch of road has as many legends, sightings, and bizarre happenings as this rural landmark, it’s difficult to tell a coherent tale. I guess we should start with the bridge. The ghost of a young boy seems to haunt the structure, and he has a peculiar way of letting you know he is still around …
If you look into the water below the structure, you will notice it’s quite shiny. This is because of the coins that people have thrown there. It’s said that if you toss in a penny, the ghost boy will toss it back. Some say this happens immediately, some say if you return later the coin will be lying on the road where you were standing. Sounds interesting enough, right? But visiting this specter is usually just the tip of the iceberg for those legend tripping along Clinton Road.
Other prime stops on Clinton Road include an old iron smelter known for ghosts (often called a “Druidic temple” by locals), Cross Castle (a dilapidated set of ruins that once was a manor and is now said to be the site of Satanic rituals and horrific creatures), and the site where a bizarre ice man was found. Toss in sightings of a ghost car, UFO’s, hellhounds, and apparitions walking the road, and you have one interesting stretch of road.
Teeter’s Bridge—Mount Pleasant, North Carolina
The stretch of County Road 1132 (CR1132) between Mount Pleasant Road South and Barrier Georgeville Road has a small bridge known to locals as Teeter’s Bridge. It’s named after a farmer who lived nearby named John Teeter, but this isn’t the original bridge to stand at this site. The older incarnation was a small wooden span that was known for flooding.
It was during a night of heavy rains that folks say a young mom was on her way home with her baby when she had an accident. With the low visibility and water on the road, she drove off the side of the bridge. She and her baby were drowned in the waters of Dutch Buffalo Creek. These days the bridge is a modern, concrete affair, but ghostly activity still occurs at the site, albeit in a very odd way.
Apparently there is a large stone with the name Furr emblazoned on it that’s near the bridge, and when there’s a night like the evening the woman died (rain), this stone bleeds. Some say other rocks along the streambed weep blood, too. It’s an odd memorial to an accident that may or may not have actually happened. If this doesn’t seem quite your cup of tea, others have noted paranormal activity at the bridge, too, including screams and a dark figure that’s often seen roaming around.
Seven Bridges Road—Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Rather than being a listing about a single spooky bridge, this passage is about seven bridges along one road and a strange story. It’s said that if you drive along NC-97 East from Rocky Mount to the small hamlet of Leggett, you will count seven bridges. But if you then turn around and drive back, you will only count six bridges. One has disappeared.
It’s an odd tale that a lot of people know in the area. Some say it is simply an optical illusion, some say it happens because of a much darker reason. The belief is that this road is an evil area that likes to mess with people’s heads. Over the years, there have been a lot of accidents on this stretch—and some have pointed out that several bodies were found on this road (they are believed to be the victims of a serial killer that plagued the region and was responsible for ten missing women).
Of course there’s no way to know for yourself if the bridge disappears or not, unless you make the trip yourself. Considering the stories about the road, though, you may not want to stop and look for the missing span.
Dean Road Bridge—Vermilion, Ohio
Dating back to 1898, this historic structure was updated with some renovations in 1992, but it still looks pretty rough. Looming over the Vermilion River, this location has drawn people to participate in a rather odd, but not entirely unique, event. It’s said that if you park on the bridge, turn off your car, and wait for a bit, you will begin to feel and hear what sounds like a heartbeat. It will grow stronger and stronger, accompanied by the sensation that something is approaching your vehicle, until it suddenly stops.
Some say the heartbeat is nothing more than a factory nearby, but the story persists. Especially since the bridge is part of a larger urban legend known as Dean’s Hollow. The hollow is a well-known excursion for the legend tripper, featuring additional spooky spots around the area. In addition to Heartbeat Bridge, you also get a creature that’s rumored to have massacred people, a bridge on Morse Road that has a ghost (someone was reputedly hung there), and a crazy cult that torments people who wander there. Since I don’t recommend parking your car on a bridge, you may want to test the heartbeat out nearby on the side of the road. Otherwise, keep a lookout for monsters and cultists.
Crooked River High Bridge—Jefferson County, Oregon
Looming almost three hundred feet above the canyon below, this picturesque bridge was constructed in 1926 and is accompanied by the Peter Skene Ogden State Park just to the south. With the canyon and nearby trails (as well as the park), this area is known for its abundance of outdoor activities. It’s known for something a bit odder as well …
People say there are places in the world where the veil between our reality and the past/future is thin. These places are known for bizarre acts taking place that are often mistaken for ghosts. It has been supposed, however, that you are not seeing a haunting, but are looking through the veil at events happening in some other time or reality. Deep stuff, huh? This area around the canyon is said to be one of these places.
The stretch of road leading up to the bridge (US Highway 97) is encounter central with eyewitnesses telling of spectral people walking the road, the spirits of cows and other animals appearing, and people experiencing the sensation of losing consciousness. Native Americans knew of this phenomenon and consider the canyon itself to be a place of import. Go for a hike there and see if you can catch a glimpse through the veil for yourself.
Gudgeonville Covered Bridge—Girard, Pennsylvania
Spanning Elk Creek, this bridge dates back to 1868 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the victim of two arsonists in 2008 and has been replaced with a temporary bridge until it can be figured out how to best permanently replace the structure. The bridge itself was quite a tourist attraction, but when you add in the haunted folklore that pervades the area, it becomes a ghost hunter’s dream trip.
The bridge is said to be haunted by a very strange soul—a dead mule that locals have dubbed Gudgeon. It’s said the mule died after receiving a beating from its owner (though some say it died of a heart attack because of music playing on a passing barge) and can now be heard clomping across the span. In addition to this, the bridge is also supposed to have been used for hangings back in the day. Now witnesses say you can catch glimpses of bodies swinging underneath and hear disembodied voices pleading for help/crying.
If you’re up for a little exploring, you may want to check out another spot close by called Devil’s Backbone. It’s a sheer cliff that has claimed a few lives over the years and some have seen the apparitions of two young girls there.
Skyhill Road Bridge—Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania
It’s hard to separate the stories about this bridge and the surrounding area in general. Dubbed Zombieland by the locals, this entire region is teeming with legends, fables, and folktales. The bridge over Coffee Run was recently replaced with a brand-new, clean version—but the old structure still exists, too. The graffiti-covered old span is known alternately as Frankenstein’s Bridge and Puerto Rican Bridge.
The story goes that if you find your name written here (presumably with spray paint) you will soon die. Rumors of the ghost of a young boy, who is said to have committed suicide here, are also discussed. On a sad note, the body of a young girl was actually found dead here in 2000; she was raped, stabbed to death, and then found close by. Perhaps the spirit is hers?
A trip to Zombieland is dangerous for real world reasons (people drinking, violence, etc.), but perhaps a good day trip could be made to explore all the folklore. Other stories about the area include the former site of the Blood House where a witch once lived, the legend of the Green Man and a glowing tombstone, and the Killing Fields where the sounds of screams and gunshots are heard, accompanied by misty apparitions roaming around. Spooky stuff, right?
T-Bridge—Gaffney, South Carolina
Located along Montgomery Street in downtown Gaffney, this bridge crosses the Norfolk Southern Railway (and, yes, it is actually called T-Bridge). It dates back to 1919, though it was completely renovated in the 1970s, and it is known for a couple odd events of a ghostly nature. The first involves running across the bridge on foot; if you do this, a phantom car will appear with no driver and pursue you. Fortunately, it reputedly disappears just before actually hitting you. The second odd happening involves the appearance of an apparition of an old woman carrying a basket full of flowers. You’re supposed to stand at the bridge with your eyes closed for ten minutes. When you open them, she will be standing there staring at you. Much like the ghost car, when you approach the old woman she simply disappears before you make contact.
I could find no information about whether or not this bridge has a sidewalk or pedestrian crossing. If it does allow for pedestrians, give the legends a whirl. If not, it’s probably not worth the risk running across the bridge.
Green Elm Cemetery Bridge—Chico, Texas
Falling somewhere between the story of La Llorona and legends concerning the Bean Sidhe (banshee), the tale of the screaming woman on the West Fork Trinity River is now a renowned yarn that gets a good telling around campfires in these parts. Mostly due to a first person account by G. E. Francis (who was ninety-two years old at the time), this old bridge is still drawing folks who love a good, spooky place.
The bridge is located about one thousand feet from Green Elm Cemetery and is quite dilapidated, but this doesn’t matter much; the entity is seen on the river itself. According to Francis, when he and three others encountered the thing in 1948, they were taking a nature break by the road when they heard a horrible scream echoing from the river. Upon investigation, the four of them saw a Mexican woman in a white dress floating down the river in midair over the water. She appeared to be in anguish and trapped by the water itself—almost as if she was bound to the river. She floated downstream, over the bridge, and continued until she was out of sight. And she was wailing the entire time; they are purported to be the sounds of a horrible nightmare. Others have seen the specter since, though it does seem to be a sporadic kind of event.
FM 1960 Overpass—Humble, Texas
This basic concrete span over a set of train tracks has had quite the haunted history attributed to it. The story goes that when the road and overpass were built, a cemetery had to be moved to accommodate construction. Some say it was moved properly, some say only part was moved, but they shifted all the headstones (in other words, some people are still buried beneath the road). Whichever is true, this act angered the spirits and a portal to the otherworld was opened. Now the entire area is said to be ridden with evil entities that frighten people, do malevolent deeds, and occasionally appear to the unwary wanderer. Several businesses near the overpass are said to be infested with the presence of these demons—and several others are now closed because of supposed appearances by these things.
A quick Google search will bring you a lot more lore about this crazy legend, as well as lots of fan pages about the spot. I did manage to find one paranormal investigation that happened at the overpass; results were inconclusive, but there were a couple nightmarish electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) recorded at the site.
Everything about this tale is odd. Let’s start with the bridge itself; it’s located sitting in the woods, apparently crossing nothing. It’s inaccessible by car, so you have to park on Sue Belle Lake Road and then hike into the woods to find the place. It’s also quite dilapidated, but that’s okay. You won’t have to walk on it.
You want to be searching the area for a bizarre spirit named Myrtle Mary. Said to be a woman who died in a railroad accident, this strange woman from Marshall was found dead wearing clothes made out of goatskins. There’s apparently something quite popular with goats in this part of Texas (just read about the two Goat Man bridges detailed in this book). Now the goat ghost of Myrtle Mary patrols the woods around Troll Bridge.
Oh yeah, did I mention the bridge is called Troll Bridge? Once again, this has to do with goats. The story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff involves a trio of goats crossing a bridge that has a troll underneath it. With our story we get the bridge and the goats (well, their skins anyway), but there’s no trolls. Unless you talk to kids who live in the area. They are all too ready to take the spooky specter of Myrtle Mary and trade her out for a troll. Whatever is in these woods, it’s said to growl and scream during the night. Good luck with this one.
East Ashley Road Bridge—San Antonio, Texas
Known locally as Devil’s Bridge, this concrete bridge over the San Antonio River has a few urban legends attached to it. It’s said the entire area around the bridge is a portal into Hell—or at least another dimension/world where dark, evil things reside. The phenomenon here doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does you know it. Everything will suddenly go dark—so dark that you can’t see any light around you—and the horrifying sounds of screams/moans will fill the air. At that moment you are said to be in Hell. But don’t freak out. The portal will close as quick as it opens and you will be left, once again, in this world.
Strangely, if you are outside of the portal area, you are still supposed to see the massive, lightless area. One witness stated that he tossed a stone into the darkness and never heard it land (some have supposed that something caught it within the darkness). It’s an odd tale, but those who have had an experience on the bridge, or near it, say the ordeal is terrifying. What’s scary about the prospect of being trapped in a dark world of the dead and demonic?
K Street Bridge—Washington, DC
Being a complex set of bridges, ramps, and roads, it’s much harder to pinpoint a location along this thoroughfare for the ghost enthusiast to visit. Suffice it to say, any of the roads leading up to the area will probably be good for catching a glimpse of this bizarre spirit.
Since the mid-1800s, people have claimed to see a headless apparition galloping across the bridge. So, technically, it’s two ghosts: The headless man and the horse. He’s been seen on adjacent roads, too, so don’t sweat trying to figure out which span over Rock Creek and the Potomac Parkway is the correct one.
Since the sightings for this particular apparition have been rather sporadic over the centuries, your odds are rather low for seeing him anyway. Maybe you should use this bridge as a jumping off point for a neat haunted exploration of the area. There are two more haunted bridges in Washington, DC, and many other spooky places that are known for their ghosts.
Sock Road Bridge—Lowell, Wisconsin
The current span along Sock Road is the second bridge to exist at this spot. The first was torn down years ago—and it, of course, was the one associated with the haunting. But like most haunted bridges, the tale (and possibly the ghost) has carried over to the new incarnation here. So who haunts this spot? Good question. Absolutely nobody knows. What’s more, it may not even be a ghost based on the activity at this location.
Locals say if you drive your car onto the bridge and park, the rails of the bridge will begin to drip blood. So, haunted rails or a living bridge that bleeds? Again, nobody knows. The story, however, is quite well known, and it usually draws area teens to the bridge to test the legend and get into trouble. There’s no reason I can think of that would make rails bleed, so you will simply have to visit this place for yourself to test the tale.