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. Some people have claimed to see the figure of Goatman, with glowing eyes and. That road is known by locals as "The Goatman's Bridge." Same types of people, same cliche expectations and same reactions tonothing really. All rights reserved. But, unfortunately, some did not welcome a successful black man within their midst. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. Visitors hear hooves beating across the bridge, splashing in the creek below, maniacal laughter, and an inhuman growl that emanates from the woods. Importantly, he has a tattoo on his belly button that looks a lot like the tattoo that Sully Erna, the lead singer of the nu metal band Godsmack has. Other reports tell of a womans spirit who wanders the area, allegedly searching for her lost baby. Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas Built in 1884 by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, it originally carried horses and later automobiles over Hickory Creek at a location that once was a popular ford for crossing cattle. Hed had the account since 2018, but the only other visible thing that hed posted was something on a World of Warcraft subreddit. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon called the Goatman by the locals. 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. There are also some things that may differ between the final episode and this draft script. 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. However, this changed in 2001 when vehicle traffic was redirected to an adjacent, more contemporary concrete-and-steel bridge. This change was enacted to correct a glaring problem that had arisen when the bridge transitioned from carrying horses to carrying cars. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. Whenever a sighting of this ghastly figure occurs, a string of mysterious disappearances is sure to follow. The legend goes that they then fitted a noose over his head and threw him over the side of the bridge but when they looked to see whether he was dead, his body had disappeared. After his second marriage, Harrod asked to be repaid. The Old Alton Bridge, or more famously known as The Goatman's Bridge, is an old iron-truss bridge just Northeast of Dallas, Texas, near the now uninhabited town of Alton. Most notably, one that occurred November 15th 1967. The first reports of supernatural encounters on the bridge were in 1938, and many are recounted in the episode. [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. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. . In the Ghost Adventures: Screaming Room episode on Thursday, the segment will be recapped with commentary from the crew. 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. A fan-favorite episode in which the crew took on Goatman Bridge will be featured on Ghost Adventures: Screaming Room. In August 1938, masked Klansmen abducted Washburn and hung him from the bridge. Lermon Jones. Most of the film was shot at the Pope Lick Trestle, but scenes showing the characters up on the trestle were shot at another, safer . November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. The Old Alton derives its name from the now-abandoned town of Alton, which from 1850 to 1856 served as the seat of Denton County. Some say that the bridge was once the site of an execution, another of a lynching; others say that an old goat herder was murdered on this spot, while still others believe it is the earthbound spirits of those killed in the Sam Bass Texas Rangers shootout nearby. Dobie describes Sam Bass as a sort of Texan Robin Hood, an outlaw who was apparently well liked and spent some time in Denton County. Legend further holds that the Goatmans Bridge provides a gateway into Hell. 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. 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. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. The first tragic legend claims that a successful African American goat farmer named Oscar Washburn was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on the bridge in the 1930s. There are even claims of satanic devil worship being performed on the site, raising the specter of the devil himself on the bridge. And luckily for us, the video description was a wall of text almost 900 words long. Investigator Aaron Goodwin was allegedly thrown during filming, and host Zak Bagans claimed he was compelled by a spirit to choke himself. I would laugh and think to myself (Another one bites the dust I guess) Many times however, I would get lucky and not have a single other person come visit the bridge, OR even a car drive by for an entire night. When approached, the woman is said to vanish. It isn't clear whether this woman or the debt had anything to do with his disappearance. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. The ground was damp and hoof prints should have been obvious, but I couldnt find any!. 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. He may have done that before 8/6, but thats just when I noticed it, while finalizing the script for this episode. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. And, yeah, I mentioned this in the beginning, but I suspect that theres some mental health stuff surrounding some of Bobs posts and stuff. Locally, the bridge is known as Goatman's Bridge, as it is said to be haunted by a half-man half-goat figure called Goatman. The person said: There have been several disappearances on and around Old Alton Bridge. The video also links to the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon (ASUP) website (http://www.asup-inc.org/oldaltonbridgecase.htm); the original website is down, but you can still read it on the wayback machine. Our 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. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. Lermont Stowers-Jones' body was found in a Denton County creek in 2018. Also on March 4, 2022, he got into a few arguments with people about metaphysical topics. They returned to his home and slaughtered his family, according to the legend. 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. Nothing has been posted, there are no playlists, etc. Numerous reports tell of unholy glowing eyes that burn red from the darkness, eerie glimpses of a large snarling Goat-headed man-beast stomping in the wooded shadows, or a frightening apparition of a maniacal Satyr carrying the heads of goats or humans in his hands. Over the years it gained more notoriety as I began to uncover and post more of the mystery, opening thousands of peoples minds in person who came to visit and happened to stop to have a chat with that ghost hunting guy and his beagle always at the bridge. Put to a vote in November 1856; the county seat was moved again to Denton. , and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Dentons intriguing past. When Washburn posted a sign on the bridge that advertised this way to the Goatman, it angered local Klansman. And sure enough, my friend was like, oh yeah, that person was my next-door neighbor when we were growing up, and were friends. of all manners. For decades, the Goatmans remained as consistently in use as it had in the 1880s. When the popular businessman proudly hung a sign on the Old Alton Bridge directing This way to the Goatman, it infuriated local Ku Klux Klansmen who plotted violence. Oh I guess there is one other thing about his YouTube channel, which is that he added a header that has a picture of a goat man. I would spend countless hours there and watched all this happen every night from the bridge. Last updated June 16, 2017; two pictures added, details of disappearance updated. Most of the time, county business was held at the Baines residence under the shade trees in his yard. (, from his website: November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. 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. "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. But like I said, theres more than one version that attempts an explanation for a century of recurring frights and sights encountered at the bridge. I really get into it in this one! In the meantime, Alton began to die as many of its businesses moved to the new county seat. Their luck with this second townsite was also short-lived; in 1850 they moved once more, to a location five miles from present-day Corinth. 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. Passing over any bridge as antiquated and creaky as the Old Alton, its normal to feel a little unsettled. 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. Both the dog and I heard and saw him, but he disappeared as he made a turn under some bushes and didnt emerge on the other side. So, just to be clear: If you google this and find people mention the person who supposedly uploaded the video, that information is incorrect. Well, thats it. Locals warn that if you cross the bridge at night without headlights (as the Klansmen are said to have done), you will be met on the other side by the Goatman. The newly improved bridge solved this problem as well as straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek. We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century later, when an African-American named Oscar Washburn settled in the area. Becky Vickers is the author of the book The Secrets of Goatman's Bridge. 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. . North Texans endearingly began to call him the Goatman. Also, heres a weird synchronicity. In 2014, after Harrod's family had him declared legally dead and inherited his home, Heeter was evicted. Ever since that fateful day, several strange things have reportedly occurred on and around the bridge. The bridge is located about seven miles south of Denton. [3], Media related to Old Alton Bridge at Wikimedia Commons, Last edited on 22 December 2022, at 05:16, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places portal, National Register of Historic Places listings in Denton County, Texas, Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Denton County, List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas, "National Register Information System(#88000979)", "Denton Urban Legend Put to the Test on Buzzfeed Web Series", "Old Alton Bridge - The Trails of Denton County", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Alton_Bridge&oldid=1128827248, This page was last edited on 22 December 2022, at 05:16. However, the goatmans bridge is haunted. now = new Date Texas Hill Country. Built by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the 145-foot long bridge would serve area travelers for more than a century. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a. And I am pretty sure that it took place in the 1930s, not 1800s, because the bridge wasnt built until 1884 i think. This legend results in the area around Old Alton Bridge being popular among paranormal investigators,[5] such as the crews from Ghost Adventures and BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural. 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. Peering over into the water, his murderers saw a rope, but not his body. According to her autopsy report, she was stabbed dozens of times, with puncture wounds all over her head, face, and upper . 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. It hasnt been proofread, so please excuse typos. The terrifying encounters and reported vanishings have been so frequent as to warrant numerous investigations by paranormal groups. If you think youre brave enough to cross the haunted Goatmans Bridge, read on. About 3.5 miles from the present-day town of Corinth, in Denton County, Texas, once stood the small village of Alton, which, for a decade, served as the Denton County seat. Many of his neighbors bestowed upon him the affectionate nickname the Goatman.. But I did find someone with the same screen name as Lelands youtube channel name posting the story on a forum on March 4, 2008, though without the name Oscar Washburn. Today, the Baptist Church and the Alton cemetery are all that remains of the Alton village. 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. 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