Today we tell a tale about a mysterious and unsettling visit to an old, grand house nestled deep within the Appalachian hills—a place where ghosts laugh and taunt you when the sun goes down and long into the night. It’s a story of terror that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, leaving our visitor—and perhaps even you, dear listen…

Venture with us into the stormy hills of Southwest Virginia, where a stop on a preacher’s journey brings him a ghostly plea for justice in this episode of MountainLore. As the heavens unleash a rainstorm, our man of God seeks refuge in an old farmhouse, rumored to be haunted by restless spirits. What follows is a night of eerie noises, spectral enc…

In the dark hollows of Appalachia, a tale as twisted as the branches of an ancient oak unfolds in this episode of MountainLore. We’re taking you back 150 years to a time when a grand old oak tree stood sentinel on the edge of a small town, its boughs a meeting place for a coven of witches and their moonlit rituals. Join us as we recount the harrowi…

On this ghostly journey through the heart of Appalachia, we recount the spine-tingling tale of two brothers, Jacob and Ritchie Vail, and their fateful encounter with a haunted tavern along the Ohio River. As the brothers seek lodging one night, they stumble upon a mysterious establishment with a dark past and an even darker presence lurking within …

In this chilling episode of MountainLore, we delve deep into the eerie tales of western Pennsylvania as we recount a story that’s lingered in the whispers of the hills for over a century. We venture to a forsaken square frame house nestled in the mountains—a house that now stands forlorn, its glory days long past. In 1886, this house was abuzz with…

Today we tell a tale from southwest Virginia about a man, his young son, and the family’s cows, which the son tended during the day up in the mountains. That man tried to teach his boy a lesson in being home on time. That’s NOT how things turned out, however. Don’t forget to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast. We’re on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple P…

One summer, many years ago, a small community in the mountains of Kentucky suffered through the worst drought any of them had ever experienced. Searching for a cause for their misery, they found one: an older woman who lived at the head of their holler, Hollow Branch, who many had whispered had unearthly and evil powers based on her reputation as a…

Bill and Elie had a long life together, made even longer by their utter dislike for each other. One day Elie disappeared and Bill became a man set free. All was grand, until that cursed lilac bush came along. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your favorite podca…

We have reached a milestone: 200 episodes! To celebrate, we bring you a folktale from the mountains of western North Carolina… A hunter resting one evening at a historic mountain pass in North Carolina happens to see a ghostly sight: three indistinct soldiers at the edge of a clearing, staring in his direction, not at him, but at something only the…

On May 2, 1891, Octavia Hatcher of Pikeville, Kentucky, died from a strange, new illness. Well, no she didn’t, but nobody knew that at the time. You see, that illness caused her to go into a coma so deep that doctors at the time assumed she was dead and pronounced her so. Then she was buried in a cemetery on a hill above Pikeville. That is when the…

Bobby and Clara, together since high school, lived in a small Appalachian town, leading normal lives…until Bobby broke off their relationship to marry another woman. There followed a chain of events that led to Bobby being tormented by a spirit from the afterworld. That, dear listeners, is our tale this week! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLor…

Many years ago, it’s said, a moonshiner running his still had a supernatural encounter that changed his life, another bit of MountainLore for you! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our stories. We’re on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening and for s…

There are those in these mountains who have an ability to find good underground water with nothing more than two sticks or wires to guide them. Years ago a good dowser was worth his weight in gold. Some of these folks had other abilities, which you’ll find out about in today’s tale… Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite …

Today we tell a tale about a superstition, once widely believed, that it was bad luck for a couple to get married while on horseback. One young couple did that many years ago, resulting in one bad thing after another happening to them, each one worse than the last. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, …

Bunnies are cute and fluffy. The Bunny Man is not; in fact the Bunny Man can and will kill you. This week we tell a tale about a man in a rabbit suit with killer instincts. And in this case some of the story is definitely true. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your own favorite podcast app. Sw…

A tragic accident in the mines brings profound grief and anguish to a coal miner until one day, while working his shift, he finds the peace he had been missing for so long. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our tales from Appalachia; we’re on your favorite podcast app! Til next time, sweet dreams, podcast lis…

Christmas is upon us, so we thought we’d share not a tale this week, but a story about how Christmas was celebrated in Appalachia over the years, along with some holiday folklore. We hope you enjoy! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Goodpods, Audible, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Merry Christmas…

Many years ago, it’s said, a man who lived up between Norton and Pound, Virginia, was surprised by a strange dog standing in his kitchen when he returned home one night. That encounter led to not only a broken toe but to a neverending search which consumed this man for the rest of his life. Don’t forget to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast; tha…

Did you know that Christmas has a dark side? It does, at least in some parts of not just Appalachia but around the world, in the form of a shaggy, horned man-goat named Krampus! If you want to catch all our tale from Appalachia, be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast. We’re on your favorite podcast app! Merry Christmas…and, uh, sweet Chri…

In Franklin County, Virginia, a man is buried along with all his money, apparently with the intent of paving his path to the afterlife with gold. Only problem was that the money soon went missing, and therein lies our bit of MountainLore today! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Goodpods or whereve…

One of life’s lessons is “respect your elders.” A lot of folks ignore that advice, earning them not much more than a scolding or a shake of the head from folks. If the elder in question, though, has the power of witchcraft at their disposal, you’d best remember that life lesson…unless you want to reap some REAL consequences. That’s the lesson of to…

A tragic tale of two young women, best friends, who were divided by their desire for the attentions of a young man. Jealousy turned to murder which itself turned into the ghost story we have for you today. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast li…

We are back after a couple of weeks of being under the weather, but that time was put to good use in gathering up the story we have for you this week! A home renovation project a hundred years ago went well, not disturbing the neighbors. It did, however, disturb someone, or should we say, something else. What that was and how it turned out is our s…

Once upon a time an Appalachian preacher had a son who loved to swing back and forth on the front door of his farmhouse. We’ll tell you the rest in today’s tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss any of our stories. We’re on TikTok @storiesofappalachia and on Instagram @storyappalachia. …

There’s nothing like a rustic log cabin nestled in a picturesque Appalachian valley. Folks dream of having such a place in which to live. What they don’t realize is that in some cases those dreams can become nightmares. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts or on your own favo…

Today’s story comes from a listener, who remembered the bare bones of this tale but not the entire story. We’ve taken that “ghost” of a story (about a ghost) and put together the tale you’ll hear in this episode. It’s the story of the mysterious ghost rider of southwest Virginia, another tale from Appalachia. You can subscribe to the MountainLore p…

During the Great Depression, times were hard. Many men were forced to take to the road to find any kind of work or handout they could get, just to survive. These men, or “hobos,” as they were called, road the rails across the country and were a common sight in Appalachia. Today, in a repeat of a story we told in 2020, we again bring you the tale of…

There’s an old story from the mountains of southwest Virginia about a witch named Bill Boggs. It was said that Boggs got his powers from a chestnut tree on top of a ridge, and around this tree was a zone of death in which no plant nor animal could live. One old farmer decided to rid that ridge of the cursed tree. Things did not go well, at least no…

The Civil War came to East Tennessee in the form of Confederate raids against the mostly Union sympathizers who lived there. Today’s tale recounts a story told about one such raid which cost the life of a resident of Carter’s Valley. His spirit demanded justice and got it…through his hand, brutally severed from his body by the Rebel raiders. Today …

The final battle of the Civil War in West Virginia was fought at Droop Mountain. Apparently, the spirits of many of the fallen soldiers, North and South, remain on that beautiful mountain to this day, as we’ll tell you in today’s podcast episode. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible or where…

Once upon a time a man, Brother Johnny as he was known, decided to throw a party, with moonshine being part of the festivities. Brother Johnny invited several friends to this get together, including a young man and his wife from over the mountain. This couple took off for Brother Johnny’s place and rode for hours, until they stopped at a farm along…

What, dear listeners, has wooly fur, goat horns and a naked possum tail? A critter/cryptid known as the White Thing, or, as we’d prefer to call it, the Sheepsquatch. Join us as we tell the tale of this mysterious being! Don’t miss any of our tales…subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners……

Somewhere in Scott County, Virginia, is an old house, abandoned since the death of a mother at childbirth. Listen closely, though, and you might hear the sound of a ghostly hammer coming from the kitchen. Today we tell the story of the ghostly whispers from the haunted Lovell house. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast wherever you get …

About a hundred years ago, according to newspaper accounts of the time, a young boy outside Bluefield, West Virginia, had a strange encounter with what apparently was a witch but was saved by his father’s quick thinking. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our stories. You’ll find us on…

We have a two for one podcast special for you! Not one, but two ghost stories, one from West Virginia told to explain strange lights on Cole Mountain, and another from east Tennessee, about a ghostly dog said to haunt parts of the area around Surgoinsville. Thanks for listening! Be sure to check out our video about Long Dog on TikTok! @storiesofapp…

Once upon a time, as some folks would say, a farmer had made the acquaintance of a woman and her young daughter. At the same time, wild animals were eating everything in his garden and he was determined to stop it. That’s when things went terribly wrong. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, Audible or …

Many years ago two men headed out to bring some shine to a friend of theirs that lived on a Kentucky mountain. They never made it there, thanks to the biggest, baddest-looking devil dog they had ever encountered. Today we tell that story. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our tales. Sweet dreams, y’all!…

In 1888 a young schoolteacher named Lula came to a small community in the mountains of western Virginia. There she learns of a murder, a witch, and a certain muzzle loading rifle with a dark secret. Therein lies our tale for today. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, PlayerFM, or on your favo…

Many years ago a young man undertook a trip by foot through the mountains to visit relatives in a remote part of Appalachia. One night, after he had set up camp, he encountered more than he bargained for. Today we tell the tale of the Spirit Hog. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss any of …

A young man was seeking solitude so, as many people have been doing the last few years, he began to search for some inexpensive real estate in Appalachia. He found his dream place, an old cabin high up in the mountains, away from the cares of the world. He also found death staring him, quite literally, in the face. Be sure to subscribe to the Mount…

This week we have a true story about a West Virginia man tried for murdering an old woman who he claimed had “witched” him, forcing him to fly her to the moon, among other things. It’s a fascinating look at the beliefs of the time about witches in that part or Appalachia. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app…

A man is murdered in the mountains of western North Carolina. The only clue to the killer is a mysterious path of dead vegetation that ends where the murdered man was found. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app. Thanks so much for listening to our telling of these Appalachian tales. Til next time, sweet dreams,…

Many years ago in the mountains of North Carolina, it’s said an old woman who lived by herself in a cabin had the power to turn herself into an evil black cat. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, Goodpods, Stitcher or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks…

Over 160 years ago the historic Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport, Tennessee, was sold to Joshua Phipps. Phipps property used slave labor, which he cruelly abused. In the end, though, it’s said he was paid back for all eternity for the abuse he gave out during his life. Today we tell that tale from Appalachia. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore…

Today we go back four years to again bring you the story of a beautiful antique bed with only one issue…it’s already occupied! You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or on any number of other podcast apps. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…על ידי Steve Gilly

Many of the tales told in these parts involve the railroads that served to haul goods into and coal and timber out of Appalachia. Today we share two versions of one of those stories with you. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss a single one of our tales. We’re available wherever you get your podcasts. Sweet dreams, po…

Around the turn of the 20th century three sisters became involved in a women’s college in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Rumors soon spread about the three being witches or demons. They left Tennessee for another school in Christiansburg, Virginia, where things got much worse. Today we tell a tale that’s part true crime story and part folklore… Be sure t…

Tales of witches, ghosts and demons abound in Appalachia. Today we have a story that may have involved all three, and it’s a true story to boot! Join us as we tell the true tale of Bertha Sybert from Lee County, Virginia, known in the 1930s as “Bouncing Bertha” for the nightly involuntary shake, rattle and roll of her bed caused, depending on who y…

Today’s tale comes from Wise County, Virginia, by way of the Palatinate region of what’s now Germany, from which the ancestors of many of today’s Appalachian people came. It’s an Appalachian retelling of the German story “Ashenputel,” which was also the source for the story we all know as “Cinderella.” Don’t miss any of our stories by subscribing t…

Tales are told of headless horsemen across the mountains of West Virginia. Today we combine a few of those tales for this weeks ghostly episode. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Audible, Goodpods, PlayerFM, or on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners……