It is said that in the late 1930s, a lynch mob dragged Washburn out of his home and attempted to hang him over the side of Old Alton Bridge. No, this bridge is home to a demon known as the Goatman.. The belief is based on the legend of a black goat farmer named Oscar Washburn, who was said to have moved his family to a residence just north of the bridge. [3] The belief is based on the legend of a black goat farmer named Oscar Washburn, who was said to have moved his family to a residence just north of the bridge. In an account that may go back as far as the 1860s Texas Troubles, some Copper Canyon cowboys lynched a Creole slave goat-herder named Jack Kendall from a tall creekside tree near where the bridge now stands, but ineptitude separated the runaway slaves head from his body. However, descriptions differed on whether Goatman greater resembled a hairy humanoid or a human with the lower portion of a goat similar to the fauns of Greek mythology. by Christopher Hudspeth, Ryan Bergara, Shane Madej On this episode of Buzzfeed Unsolved Supernatural, Ryan and Shane visited. High-quality Buzzfeed Unsolved Goatmans Bridge Wall Art designed and sold by artists. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. A few years later, Washburn, having become known as a dependable and honest businessman and dubbed the "Goatman" by locals, displayed a sign on Alton Bridge reading "This way to the Goatman". It's my bridge now! In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.[4]. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Graffiti reading, "Goatman was here," was not uncommon,[3] and law enforcement would habitually receive calls of reported sightings, albeit with a number being pranks. Then, check out these famously haunted castles. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. RELATED: 10 Scariest Buzzfeed UnsolvedTrue Crime Episodes. Ryan and Shane pay a visit to the bridge to find out. Wikimedia CommonsThe Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. The bridge is on Old Alton Road, not to be confused with the neighborhood road less than a mile away called Old Alton Drive. This is the eerie story behind the haunted Goatmans Bridge. 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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Shane throws out this quote nonchalantly at the end of the Australian Shark Arm Murder episode and Ryan gets wide-eyed and hilariously uncomfortable at the notion. Terms of Use | total lack of respect for all the ghosts and demons the duo face up against. [1], According to some variations of the legend, Goatman is said to have once been a scientist who worked in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Shop unique custom made Canvas Prints, Framed Prints, Posters, Tapestries, and more. The fact that Ryan finally slept in a demonic location during the Bellaire house episode. Goatmans Bridge is a popular haunted location for people in the area. To say this angered the local Klansmen would be an understatement. I researched a lot of local history since I'm a history major, and the claims of a guy being hung from that bridge have never showed up in any kind of newspaper or spoken history until the myth began. The bridge has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation. In the Goatman episode, Ryan and Shane begin to search the surrounding forest of Goatman's bridge where legend has it, there has been cult activity and sacrifices. Ryan gets up from the table and leaves the room as Shane crosses his arms and does his tough, whispering Australianaccent character. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. But the town failed to grow and in 1850, the county seat was moved about five miles southwest of present day Corinth, taking the name and the people with it, however the bridge remained. The name referred to the nearby town of Alton, which once occupied the area near the Goatmans Bridge and was supposedly populated by one resident for a time. Shane's not impressed and tells all serial killers to stop doing this, and actually, should just stop serial killing altogether. In one of the first episodes that see Shane and Ryan travel to supernaturally haunted locations, Shane throws out this line. In this version, an experiment on goats backfires and the scientist mutates into a half man, half goat creature who begins aggressively attacking cars in the vicinity of Beltsville, Maryland. Our philosophy is to guide current and future homeowners through every step of the mortgage lending process and become a trusted resource for any of your home financing needs. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children. Privacy Policy | Goatman Bridge is a nickname for Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas. 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. A quirky collection of old chairs fills a random vacant lot in suburban Texas. Hence, the structure was named Old Alton Bridge since it was built near the old settlement. This figure has basically become Maryland's Bigfoot. At least one person who visited the bridge with a friend claimed they heard the growling voice. Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren. Regardless of which origin gets told, old timers warn that knocking three times on the trusses of the bridge is an invitation to judgment, since the ghastly Goatman only spirits away those with the bloodlines of Klansmen or slaveowners into the woods for his terrible revenge. After Washburns body disappeared, the Klansmen are alleged to have returned to his home and murdered the rest of his family. With fiery glowing red eyes, the Goatman stands on guard at the Old Alton Bridge. You will see the Goatmans glowing red eyes on the bridge. These lines are also referred to as the Five Lines of Death, where pretty much every major loss of life event in North America has happened in the past twenty years. Reporting Graffiti. One of the two hosts of Buzzfeed Unsolved, Shane Madej makes the show great with his witty banter and sense of humor. Goatmans Bridge is the common nickname for whats formally called Old Alton Bridge, an iron-truss span that once connected Denton, Texas, to Copper Canyon. Old Alton Bridge was included in the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988. Washburn was never seen again, they say, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the Old Alton Bridge ever since. 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. 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. Now that Alton is gone, it serves as a footpath connecting Denton and Copper Canyon. Goatman's Bridge is an old wood and steel structure spanning a small waterway between Denton, Texas, and neighboring town, Copper Canyon. Its my bridge now! and Theyre gonna put my name in graffiti! As they venture into the dark forest, Shane immediately starts yelling to any cult members in the forest that he's ready to join in and, hilariously, he saw their ad on Craigslist. Then, Oscar made the biggest mistake of his life; he hung a sign on the bridge that advertised, this way to the Goatman.. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. You're going to have to throw me off this bridge yourself! Occasionally, it was rumored that Goatman would venture out to kill a dog or rush up abruptly beating cars with an ax. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. A fan animatic I made. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his. Most ghosts are given names because we need to feel like we can know them. In 2017, Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural investigated some of these claims. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Of course, this quote comes in at number one. Here are some of his best quotes. Photo from ReneLibrary. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. Shane immediately disregards this advice when Ryan tells him about the basement of the haunted house that previously had a pentagram drawn on the floor. Every few years, someone claims to have caught an image of Goatman wandering around the side of the road or in the woods. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. According to local lore, this demonic presence was brought to the bridge by the ghost of a Black goat farmer who was brutally lynched by the Ku Klux Klan there. "We're here for the cult stuff! Other sources say that Satanists summoned the demonic satyr or that the bridge is actually haunted by the Goatmans wife. You hear that? Built in 1884, by Shane Madej, it originally carried horses and later automobiles over Hickory Creek at a location that once was a popular ford for crossing cattle. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . Ghostly figures and strange lights are said to appear in the surrounding woods, as well as reports of visitors being touched, grabbed, and having rocks thrown at them. Ryan says that when he hears a bump in the night he's not running to the window to see what it is, and Shane launches into a bit about what Ryan does when he hears noises at night, which is when hesays this line while imitating Ryan. Shane sayingthis line is a bit out of character, but when he says it, of course, it's dripping with sarcasm. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. crafty.girls.life/InstagramAt least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. In the Pennhurst Asylum episode, Ryan actually manages to have a conversation through the spirit box. This in and of itself is not that scary, until you add the fact that those who walked away reported their car doors locking and unlocking on their own, and or breaking down. _benhurlburt_/InstagramThe Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. SHANE'S Bridge. The Story Of 'Vasa,' The Epic 17th-Century Swedish Warship That Sank 20 Minutes After Launch, This French Woman Has Been Fighting A Three-Year Battle To Prove She's Not Dead, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, The Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. Over the decades there have been numerous alleged sightings of a ghost-like apparition with a goat head haunting the area. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. The series that they started on YouTube gave . Witnesses have reported sightings of a goat-like beast with glowing eyes. As a mentor once wisely advised, never let the facts of a story obscure the truths in the tale. Washburns body ended up on the ground below the bridge after he was either thrown off by the Klansmen or his body slipped from the noose. . This creature has large glowing red eyes, and large goat-like horns. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata. Goatman (urban legend) Goatman was rumored to be similar in appearance to the mythical faun. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Proudly powered by WordPress The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. There are a few stories about how the bridge got its nickname, however the most popular one is the story of Oscar Washburn. Most versions of the tale tend to include a warning that knocking three times on the trusses of the bridge runs the risk of bringing out the Goatman. Just stop serial killing, people! Washburn was never seen again. Code Enforcement Resources. The Buzzfeed Unsolvedseries has two focuses on true crime and supernatural, and while both can certainly be terrifying, they're both also hilarious due to the two hosts Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara. There are many Denton ghosts Shop affordable wall art to hang in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls aren't welcome. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Oscar was a goat farmer, and it wasnt long before the locals began to refer to him as the Goatman., His business was successful, and that angered many people in the area. Since the appearance on Buzzfeed Unsolved, it has only grown in notoriety. The terrifying legend of Goatmans Bridge may excite the imagination of out-of-town visitors, but for most locals, the old bridge is just part of the scenery. Travelers to the Old Alton Bridge, built in 1884 as a busy thoroughfare, have long reported frightening encounters and ghostly experiences with supernatural creatures that have made it a legendary spot for Texas ghost hunters and a topic for numerous books. Dentons most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge. Travelers to the Old Alton Bridge, built in 1884 as a busy thoroughfare, have long reported frightening encounters and ghostly experiences with supernatural creatures that have made it a legendary spot for Texas ghost hunters and a topic for numerous books. The main highway bypasses it now, but the 135-year-old structure is still visible from the main road. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. and our 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. It's simple, short, sweet, and hopefully effective instopping all serial killers. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. Look at the way I dance on it. Goatmans Bridge has been the subject of investigations on popular supernatural shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and Ghost Adventures. I disrespect your bridge, Goatman. This is Shane's summary of taking an improv class right when he arrived because he wanted to meet people, but it'sprobably safe to say he didn't make too many connections there. But the success of a black man was still unwelcome to many, and, in August 1938, Klansmen in the local government crossed the bridge and kidnapped Washburn from his family. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most One of these figures is a man herding goats, another is an apparition holding a goat head underneath each arm. . The Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. Shane and Ryan's Bridge is a historic iron through-truss bridge connecting the cities of Denton, Texas and Copper Canyon, Texas. Methods included knocking three times, using an Ouija board, and insulting the demonic entity. Some locals have claimed to see glowing eyes staring at them on the bridge, while others have claimed to hear splashing in the creek directly below, followed by unsettling laughter. Let's revisit some of the funniest quotes from Shane from the series so far, get ready to laugh Buckaroos! There have also been reports of sacrificial rituals performed in the woods nearby, which believers of the supernatural argue is the true cause of the Goatmans appearance. While on the bridge, Madej goaded on the Goatman by exclaiming Goatman! TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. The Demonic Goatman's Bridge Episode aired Nov 3, 2017 22 m IMDb RATING 8.6 /10 78 YOUR RATING Rate Adventure Comedy Horror Does a demonic entity actually reside near Alton Bridge in Texas? Ghostly figures and strange lights are said to appear in the surrounding woods, as well as reports of visitors being touched, grabbed, and having rocks thrown at them. Rumor has it, the Goatman is not alone. 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. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. [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. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Many who have crossed at night have. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. In Parr Park, thousands of painted rocks line this walking trail. The bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. Located between the Texas towns of Denton and Copper Canyon lies an unassuming old bridge thats said to be haunted by a demonic legend. But thrill-seekers still frequent Goatmans Bridge by foot to explore the legends that emerged after its construction. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. Another story blames the work of Satanists. People always ask about it. RELATED: 10 Scariest Buzzfeed Unsolved Supernatural Episodes. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. Many of us came to love the chaotic energy that Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara brought to Buzzfeed Unsolved. I really hope you ended up talking about scientific notation or something to appease the ancient demon that is Shane. Old Alton Bridge was built to connect Denton, Texas to the town of Alton, Texas. The Demon at Goatman's Bridge With fiery glowing red eyes, the Goatman stands on guard at the Old Alton Bridge. This gateway went both directions, and now the most popular sighting is of a creature that resembles a half-goat, half-man. Except where otherwise noted, this content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. The bridge's Goatman is said to have glowing eyes and horns. Today, it is a popular location for nature enthusiasts and photographers. They waited until the time was right to strike, and on a dark night in August, 1938, they crossed the bridge without their headlights on. If youre really brave, go stand on the bridge and knock three times to meet the Goatman face to face. Inone of the first episodes that sees the boys traveling, they've been warned not to directly interact with ghouls or demons. Shane's a bit unhinged in this episode as he immediately starts screaming at the demon and dancing onits bridge. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. There's endless merchandise available with this quote on it and any fan of the show has been caught saying it more than once. If you are reporting graffiti, please contact the Graffiti Removal Hotline at 714-573-3111. , 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. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. Kristen Palamara is a reader, writer, and avid film/tv watcher from the Midwest United States. Approximately 3 miles from present day Corinth, Texas, stood the small village of Alton (population 1). If history is the self-congratulatory narrative of a community written by its victorious elite, then our ghosts will often problematize and haunt such tidy romanticisms of back in the day.
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