Also, heres a weird synchronicity. Before the new bridge, drivers had to signal with their horns before crossing the single-lane bridge, as there was room for only one vehicle to pass at a time. Despite the warmth the community displays toward the bridge, another feeling altogether permeates the hot summer air when wandering down the Old Goatmans Bridge at dusk; a feeling of deep, almost primordial terror of what lurks beneath. Next to the church is the cemetery. Though the fledgling town had begun to grow, the location of the county seat was still unsatisfactory for the majority of Denton County residents, who soon petitioned for yet, another county seat one that was more centrally located and again, one with better water. Wow, what a cliffhanger! places to stay, tourism, events, lodging, and we feature Texas Hill Country info [1] I want to know what happened to my son." Whenever a sighting of this ghastly figure occurs, a string of mysterious disappearances is sure to follow. [1], The creature was commonly claimed to have a human face but with a body covered in hair. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as the Goatmans bridge., https://web.archive.org/web/20100617152737/http://www.goatmansbridge.com/, Weirdly, November 15th 1967 is exactly 1 month before the Silver Bridge collapsed in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. In February 2022, a "six-foot goat man" was supposedly seen near a village called Staverton, in Northamptonshire. According to the most circulated version, an African-American entrepreneur named Oscar Washburn and his family tended a farmstead goat herd near the bridge that was renowned for quality meat, milk, cheeses and hides. Signs found around the area clearly denote the special place the bridge and surrounding woods have in the communitys hearts, including one which reads I have many memories of the Old Alton Bridge and I love every one of them, a quote attributed to Wayne Stuart Ryan. Highlights include: Thoughts about how the internet transforms and changes urban legends A little digital gumshoeing Some Mothman easter eggs. [1][2], Goatman stories originated in the early 1970s but some of its legends are set in the 50s, within Prince George's County, following the disappearances and/or deaths of multiple dogs, which were later attributed to the creature. He was working on repairs with his son-in-law between 11:00 a.m and 12:00 p.m in preparation for his newlywed wife's arrival. All my old favorite TV/YouTube Ghost Hunters are falling victim to this energy vortex!!. For years, there was only 1 video on YouTube that even referenced this location or the local Legend until I started posting videos with my evidence of this mysterious places anomalies starting in 2011. Passing over any bridge as antiquated and creaky as the Old Alton, its normal to feel a little unsettled. Visitors hear hooves beating across the bridge, splashing in the creek below, maniacal laughter, and an inhuman growl that emanates from the woods. By 1856, the small town boasted several homes, a blacksmith shop, three stores, a school, a saloon, a hotel, two doctors, and several lawyers. Its fascinating to me that the video links to a paranormal investigation site that doesnt really back up its claims. According to legend, a successful goat breeder named Oscar Washburn began to call himself the Goatman. There's the bridge, and then there's . And luckily for us, the video description was a wall of text almost 900 words long. What we started 12 years ago has gotten out of control. Authorities don't believe Harrod was harmed by a . One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. According to this story, a black goat farmer by the name of Oscar Washburn and his family moved into a home located just north of the Old Alton Bridge. This location did grow, and before long, it boasted a hotel and two stores. Maybe that spirit is that of La Llorona, who is well known as haunting the rivers of the Southwest. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a. Some reports describe the Goatman's fur as a deep, fiery red, while others describe his coloring as black as night, so black you can hardly see him as he moves through the edges of the trees. However, not everyone was pleased with Oscars newfound success and acceptance within the North Texas community. If youre interested in the moth man at all, youre probably familiar with silver bridge collapse. Years later, in 1884, long after Alton had died, an iron through-truss bridge was built over Hickory Creek on Copper Canyon Road, south of the old townsite. Shortly afterwards, so the stories go, a family was passing over the bridge at night and encountered the old man, or at least his apparition, standing in front of them, a goats head tucked under each arm. I chatted him instead. There have been reports of abandoned cars with no sign of their occupants, vehicles breaking down or car doors locking and unlocking of their own accord, and some people have heard hoofbeats around the bridge. Related: Goatmans Bridge is a reminder of the cowardly Klansmens dastardly deed. We are born and bred in The Goatman's Bridge is the common nickname for what's formally called Old Alton Bridge, an iron-truss span that once connected Denton, Texas, to Copper Canyon. I cannot fix what was done AGAIN. The new site retained the name of Alton and submitted an application for a post office. The turn of the century brought a black goat farmer and his family to a residence just North of the bridge, and a few short years later, Oscar Washburn was known as a dependable, honest businessman. A week and a half after he went missing, two of his children filed for conservatorship to get control of his assets. This change was enacted to correct a glaring problem that had arisen when the bridge transitioned from carrying horses to carrying cars. The bridge first served as a route for riders on horseback. Heavy loads were exactly what the bridge was intended to support when the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company commissioned it in 1884. But be warned, the creature is said to appear whenever someone mentions its name. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. I have since been able to independently confirm that the youtube channel belongs to someone who he knew, but that it wasnt him who uploaded the video. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as the Goatmans bridge., It sounds like the first comment was on July 2, 2010, on randomconnections.com. When she found out, she threw herself from the bridge, and her spirit has haunted it ever since. In fact, the only residence that existed was that of a man named W.C. Baines, who established a farmstead long before the designation of the new county seat. havent been able to find mentions of Oscar Washburn prior to 2008. However, the location of the second county seat also proved to be unfavorable due to a lack of potable water, and the state legislature soon directed that the site be moved again. Most notably, one that occurred November 15th 1967. The Old Alton Bridge's nickname, Goatman's Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. Some reports describe the Goatman's fur as a deep, fiery red, while others describe his coloring as black as night, so black you can hardly see him as he moves through the edges of the trees. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Best Tales of Texas Ghosts by Docia Schultz Williams was published in 1998 and has plenty of stories of ghosts in the Dallas area, but no mention of Denton County or the Old Alton Bridge at all. And both are popular urban legends, so if someone in 2010 wanted to make up this story, they probably were the type of person who was familiar with the moth man legend, so this might be a little Easter egg put in there.I was lucky enough to stumble upon a website called factschology.com, which had an article describing the deep dive that the podcast Myths, Mysteries, and Monsters went on to try to confirm this story. Visitors sometimes tell of seeing mysterious lights in the area, car doors locking and unlocking of their own accord, and numerous vehicle breakdowns while near the old viaduct. So, just to be clear: If you google this and find people mention the person who supposedly uploaded the video, that information is incorrect. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as "the Goatman's bridge." There use to be a goatmans road in baytown txits now a road that goes by a big golf course and subdivison..my how things have changed over the years Frank Lakeman Member 1 #4 However, when they looked over to make sure he was dead, they could see only the rope. The Denton newspaper at the time did an article on a car found abandoned on the bridge." More tales of strange noises have also been described, including the sounds of horses hoof beats on the bridge, splashing in the creek below, maniacal laughter, and inhuman like growling coming from the surrounding woods. This video titled Paranormal Activity at Goatmans Bridge and its follow-up response Still Dont Believe? quickly went viral and became the top search results for the following couple years. Washburn was never seen or heard from again or was he? The residents of what are now the cities of Argyle and Denton thought the man to be a bit of a loner and rather odd, but no one really knew all that much about him. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as \"the Goatman's bridge.\"\r\rConstructed in 1884, the bridge connected Lewisville to Alton. The bridge and surrounding woods is said to be haunted by a demonic creature with the head of a goat and the body of a man as well as other reported . There are even claims of satanic devil worship being performed on the site, raising the specter of the devil himself on the bridge. A vicious and hateful group of Klansmen working in the local government began to conspire against him, waiting for Oscar to slip and give them some excuse to be rid of him. However, no goatman. The ground was damp and hoof prints should have been obvious, but I couldnt find any!. The main highway bypasses it now, but the 135-year-old structure is still visible from the main road. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . The Goatman's Bridge. Old Alton Bridge was included in the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988. The legend goes that Kendalls body reanimated through the power of voodoo, ripped off the head of a nearby goat, and replaced his head with the goats as the astonished cowboys watched in horror. Heeter was packing up her belongings at her home in Missouri in order to move in with Harrod in California, and he was preparing for her arrival and looking forward to it. The person said: There have been several disappearances on and around Old Alton Bridge. The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. [5][6], The Goatman lore has isn't as well known but there have been some adaptations such as the slimy alien version in the game, Goatman's revenge. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. When approached, the woman is said to vanish. Their chance finally came that summer. now = new Date There have been four known lynching events of white people in Denton County since its founding, and the reason for white lynchings was typically horse theft. local news and culture, I want answers. When Denton County was formed in 1846, the first pioneers chose a place along Pecan Creek for the first county seat and named it Pinckneyville in honor of Texas first governor, James Pinckney Henderson. Four women with personal reports of demonic attacks were featured on the episode. This person couldnt find newspaper articles to back up the story, but found where the rumor seemed to have started online. He's half-goat half-man. Peering over into the water, his murderers saw a rope, but not his body. I tried to PM him on reddit on 4/4/22, but he doesnt accept private messages. The bridge also became an important junction connecting the Elm Fork hiking trail to the Pilot Knoll hiking and equestrian trails, reverting the bridge back to its original use of transporting horses and their riders. Located less than a mile from present-day Corinth, the new townsite was called Alton on a high ridge between Pecan Creek and Hickory Creek. Other strange happenings recorded at the bridge include strange lights appearing in the surrounding woods, along with reports of visitors feeling hands grab at them in the dark, o a rain of rocks pelting them as they cross the bridge. Intro for Death at the Goatman's Bridge (Goatman's Bridge Series) Content note for this episode: I will be talking about white supremacist violence, chattel slavery, and racism. But its wild that those details have congealed into this almost monolithic urban legend nowadays. His case remains unsolved and is classified as a possible homicide. Ghost Adventures anchors Travel Channels Ghostober event with all-new frightening specials. Then he talks about his videos that he posted in 2009: I take issue with his claim that no legend at all existed, but I have been able to confirm that it seemed to be a much lesser known urban legend (for example, I lived there for years and had never heard of it), and the stories of hauntings seemed more scattershot. Put to a vote in November 1856; the county seat was moved again to Denton. THE HISTORY of goatman's bridge: November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. According to her autopsy report, she was stabbed dozens of times, with puncture wounds all over her head, face, and upper . But heres what I can tell you: I just searched for him again and I have discovered that he made a Tiktok back in July and hes posted two videos, both of which show a shirtless man wearing a cow mask and hanging out in the woods. On a dark night in August 1938, these hateful men crossed the bridge without their headlights, then burst into Washburns home and drug him from his family to the bridge. The 33-year-old college graduate an accomplished traditional dancer with ancestry from three area tribes was last seen soon after, walking across a bridge near a place marked End of Road . My paranormal experiences became a local sensation in Denton, TX and remained the most viewed videos for awhile , even after others began to upload their own experiences. STOP..GOINGTHERE..PEOPLE! According to urban legend, Goatman is a creature resembling a goat-human hybrid often credited with canine deaths and purported to take refuge in the woods of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. There is little remaining of the old townsite today, except for the Hickory Creek Baptist Church and the old Alton Cemetery, which contains graves that date back to 1852. Now, this person said that he didnt upload the video. No Goatmans Bridge legend ever existed or was ever mentioned in any of your Texas legend/myth or ghost story books (even those published as late as the early 2010s.). My understanding is that the legend had been circulating for some time, but as I talked about in the first episode of this series, there was a clear difference between pre-July 2008 stories about the Goatmans bridge, and post-July 2008 stories. Apparently, in 2010, there was a person who commented on a bunch of websites, basically anything that mentioned the bridge that year. He may have done that before 8/6, but thats just when I noticed it, while finalizing the script for this episode. The monster was the subject of a 1988 film by Louisville filmmaker Ron Schildknecht called The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster. According to legend, those who dare speak the Goatmans name while crossing his bridge unwittingly summon his spirit. All there is is one single piece of information on the about page which is that he joined YouTube on July 15, 2022. From tragic and riveting tales of murder to the somewhat vague stories of a ghostly goatherder, its sure to give you the chills if you ever visit heading out there after dark probably isnt advisable, in any case! They also relive terrifying encounters and reflect on each discovery from a safer environment. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! However, this changed in 2001 when vehicle traffic was redirected to an adjacent, more contemporary concrete-and-steel bridge. To continue reading from the video description: Back to my video This one here is the first of 2 videos that for several years, if you were to search Goatmans Bridge on Youtube , only 3 results appeared -Leland-s, and the 2 you are about to watch in this series. A second spirit is often said to keep the Goatman company, that of a young mother crying out eternally for her lost child. But all of this is Internet talk, without corroboration, Blair explains. Some say his spirit still haunts these woods. But when the Night Riders stumbled down to the dark rivers edge to confirm their murderous handiwork, they were shocked to find only an inexplicably empty noose dangling over undisturbed waters. Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas Declaring Independence, Stanley, Ks Extinct but Still Here (LOK), Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County (LOK), Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. Photo from ReneLibrary. The location has already been featured on Ghost Adventures: Extra Pulses. In July of 1988 at just over 100, the Old Alton Bridge landed a coveted spot on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as recognition as a Texas Historic Landmark. The Goatman isnt just a haunting campfire tale, its also a reminder that an ignorance of our history is no protection from its everlasting consequences. I obviously dont know Bob, but from reading this, I get a bit of a sense of self importance from him. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. "It's like all urban legends because there are actually legends similar to it all over the country," Ghosts of Denton tour guide Shelly Tucker told Discover Denton. Nature lovers and paranormal enthusiasts alike will love checking out this remarkable historic landmark and the beautiful scenery surrounding it, just be sure not to cross after three a.m. https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/buzzfeed-supernatural-investigators-visit-denton-bridge-to-see-if-its-really-haunted-by-a-half-goat-half-demon-10051546, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-alton/, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/goatmans-bridge, https://wedentondoit.com/blog/2013/10/18/back-in-the-day-goatmans-bridge, https://texashillcountry.com/goatman-bridge-history-hauntings-denton-alton-bridge/. If they did, they always lasted about 5 mins and get spooked, running back to their cars. Texas Hill Country. Some reports describe the Goatmans fur as a deep, fiery red, while others describe his coloring as black as night, so black you can hardly see him as he moves through the edges of the trees. 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