Visitors swear that there is something supernatural about the bridge, and the structure has consequently been featured in a number of paranormal investigation shows including the popular series Ghost Adventures. Thus, it earned the nickname Goatmans Bridge. All hail Shane, King of Goatman's Bridge. Shane says it like it's normal and says that friends murdering each other is just the way of the world. It has been reported that whenever a traveler would cross the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. 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. 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. Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Some believe that Washburns spirit returned to the scene of his murder to seek revenge on his killers and has been haunting the bridge ever since. For more information, please see our Today, it is a popular location for nature enthusiasts and photographers. This pentagram is formed by ancient Ley Lines or Solstice Lines of Energy that cover North America. In the True Crime episode on Marilyn and Sam Sheppard, they both get sick pretty fast of F Lee Bailey, who decided on not much evidence that Marilyn's murder could only be committed by another woman. [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. Because of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. Thus, it earned the nickname Goatman's Bridge. 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. According to one local police officer, nearby pet stores have stopped selling cats because there were so many cats found slaughtered in a ritualistic manner around the area. It's one of the most iconic quotes of the series and deserves its spot at the top. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children. Simpson case and how a serial killer claimed he had killed them. All rights reserved. It is haunted by the spirit Steve or ' Goatman ' but since Shane challenged Goatman and Goatman failed it is now property of Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara Ex: "Man, Ryan and Shane's Bridge sure is creepy." "legend says it's haunted by Goatman who is ruled by Shane and Ryan." " spooky " Just stop serial killing, people! This is the eerie story behind the haunted Goatmans Bridge. 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. If you are reporting graffiti, please contact the Graffiti Removal Hotline at 714-573-3111. He was popular in the community for being an honest businessman and producing quality goods. If you have any information on the occurrence of a graffiti incident, please contact the Tustin Police Department's Non-Emergency number at 714-573-3225, in addition to contacting the City's Graffiti Removal Hotline. 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. Many who have crossed at night have. The heavily traveled Old Alton Bridge remained in constant use until 2001 when vehicle traffic was moved to an adjacent concrete-and-steel bridge. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 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. [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. Shane absolutely ripping the titular demon in "The Demonic Goatman's Bridge" and actively challenging the Goatman to kill him, to no result. Did I capture any paranormal activity. [.] Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his. Many believe a demonic entity with the head of a goat haunts the bridge. But thrill-seekers still frequent Goatmans Bridge by foot to explore the legends that emerged after its construction. The legend concerns a successful African American goat farmer who, in 1938, is said to have been murdered on the bridge at the hands of local members of the Ku Klux Klan. Today the bridge is only used for foot traffic, since a replacement bridge was constructed nearby. Children will come here and tell tales of me!. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. Here are some of his best quotes. Over the decades there have been numerous alleged sightings of a ghost-like apparition with a goat head haunting the area. Looking onto the bridge from the walking trail. [1] [2] People have been touched, grabbed, and had rocks thrown at them. The bridge now connects present-day Denton and the small town of Copper Canyon. Privacy Policy | LocalWiki is a grassroots effort to collect, share and open the worlds local knowledge. Photo from ReneLibrary. 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. Every few years, someone claims to have caught an image of Goatman wandering around the side of the road or in the woods. After Washburns body disappeared, the Klansmen are alleged to have returned to his home and murdered the rest of his family. While on the bridge, Madej goaded on the Goatman by exclaiming Goatman! [1], The creature was commonly claimed to have a human face but with a body covered in hair. 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. The bridge is marked with the year of its completion, 1887. Pearson relates that "bored teenagers" keep the Goatman legend alive by repeating the story and suggesting that the creature attacks couples, frequenting the local lover's lane, subsequently stirring interest in sites like Fletchertown Road. | If youve been there, or happen to go, let us know what you experience in the comments below. Then, check out these famously haunted castles. New American Funding is an all-inclusive direct mortgage lender, and servicer offering a variety of home loans including Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo and many more. Shane's not impressed and tells all serial killers to stop doing this, and actually, should just stop serial killing altogether. Governor's Bridge is a single-lane bridge with great historical significance. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The Demonic Goatman's Bridge The Horrors of Pennhurst Asylum Roswell's Bizarre UFO Crash The Mysterious Disappearance of Roanoke Colony London's Haunted Viaduct Tavern The Chilling Chambers Of Colchester Castle The Subterranean Terrors of the London Tombs Season Four: The Search for the Mysterious Mothman The Shadowy Spirits of Rolling Hills Asylum You hear that? Some even believe that the bridge is haunted by evil spirits spawned by local occultists who have reportedly performed sacrificial rituals in the woods nearby. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Find schedule and make requests by clicking here! crafty.girls.life/InstagramAt least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. 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. Ends December 24th! The terrifying encounters and reported vanishings have been so frequent as to warrant numerous investigations by paranormal groups. A handful of states have a Goatman tale, with Texas having a few itself, but each expresses unique reminders of threats from a forgotten past. Since that fateful night, strange things began to happen on and around the bridge. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. He has found a female companion who wanders the area, searching for her lost baby. Many believe a demonic entity with the head of a goat haunts the bridge. _benhurlburt_/InstagramThe Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. Located between the Texas towns of Denton and Copper Canyon lies an unassuming old bridge thats said to be haunted by a demonic legend. [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. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Shane: Goatman! SHANE'S Bridge. It's simple, short, sweet, and hopefully effective instopping all serial killers. Reporting Graffiti. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. The site became a hotspot for satanists, performing rituals, rituals that led to the opening of a gateway into another realm. The bridge got its nickname from a popular local ghost story. Halloween is upon The Klansmen rode back to his home and torched it with his family still inside. One of the two hosts of Buzzfeed Unsolved, Shane Madej makes the show great with his witty banter and sense of humor. Known as Old Alton Bridge or Goatmans Bridge, the humble wooden pass has earned its creepy moniker due to its unsavory past, which includes black magic and murder. Before the bridge became a magnet for ghost hunters, it was simply known as Old Alton Bridge. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. Just went to goatman's bridge a few hours ago. 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. Haunted or not, the century-old bridge remains a popular site, even for those who are looking to take some peaceful photographs. The City also requests that you contact the Tustin Police Department's Non-Emergency number at 714-573-3225 to report graffiti, in addition to contacting the City's Graffiti Removal Hotline. The simple yet sturdy bridge allowed developers to carry horses and automobiles across the river. Regardless of whether or not you believe in it, him possibly making contact after three seasons of desperately trying is a major step up for him. Inone of the first episodes that sees the boys traveling, they've been warned not to directly interact with ghouls or demons. After the witness ran away, their friend who had remained on Goatmans Bridge appeared to be dragged to the edge and thrown into the river by an unknown entity. The two hosts, Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej, tried several methods to provoke the Goatman. She is the Fine Arts Editor for the Timber Creek Talon and the Copy Editor for the Art and Literature Magazine. In the 1930s, an African-American man named Oscar Washburn settled with his family near the bridge. Look at the way I dance on it. Liminal areas of crossing can be full of possibility and danger, present injustices are informed by past prejudices, and there are critters like snakes or gators down in the creek that younguns might outta be leery of. RELATED: Top 10 Buzzfeed Unsolved True Crime Episodes. She's been a legal assistant extraordinaire, an espresso sharing fiend, and studied personality types/communication strategies that helped the corporate world have a little more heart. Feeling they were robbed, the Klansmen returned to the Washburn home and killed Oscars wife and children. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. The bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. I'm dancing on your bridge! 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Denton's most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and that's the haunted Goatman's Bridge. The Old Alton Bridge's nickname, Goatman's Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. Could this be the spirit of La Llorona? Ryan is immediately terrified at any notion of a ghoul or demon. See Copyrights. Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most 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". Washburn was never seen again. Love or hate the Hot Daga, the post mortem finales have fully fledged songs that Shane clearly works hard on, and he can actually sing. This really does look like the bridge from quiet place where the poor little kid is killed. This figure has basically become Maryland's Bigfoot. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Library of Congress/Historic American Engineering Record Shop unique custom made Canvas Prints, Framed Prints, Posters, Tapestries, and more. Alternate versions of the ghost story have also circulated, including one that suggests the bridge is actually haunted by the Goatmans wife. Shane and Ryan's Bridge is a historic iron through-truss bridge connecting the cities of Denton, Texas and Copper Canyon, Texas. 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. This creature has large glowing red eyes, and large goat-like horns. 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. Kat McDonald-Wilson is a senior at TCHS. Now that youve learned about the scary legend of Goatmans Bridge, go inside the mystery of the Overtoun Bridge, Scotlands dog suicide hotspot. Washburn was never seen again, they say, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the Old Alton Bridge ever since. The woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. [1][3], As well, Goatman was rumored to reside in a makeshift shelter in the wooded region of northwestern Prince George's County near the vicinity of Bowie. However, there is more to this bridge than just the iron it was made of. Additionally numerous cars have been found near the bridge, their occupants missing without a trace. It's my bridge now! He is the master of the bridge, possessed by a demon from another realm. RELATED: 10 Scariest Buzzfeed UnsolvedTrue Crime Episodes. If youre really brave, go stand on the bridge and knock three times to meet the Goatman face to face. Legend says his spirit still haunts the Old Alton Bridge, and if you knock on the bridge or honk your car horn three times, he will appear. 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. Because as usual Ryan is genuinely terrified to visit the haunted locations, and Shane is nonchalant about having to visit the terrifying places. It quickly became a meme with people connecting the quote with a crime statistics graph that shows crime plummeting after Shane says this once. 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. Old Alton Bridge was built to connect Denton, Texas to the town of Alton, Texas. Witnesses have reported sightings of a goat-like beast with glowing eyes. An English and Criminal Justice major from Indiana University she's excited to continue her writing journey! They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. 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. You're going to have to throw me off this bridge yourself! There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. Except where otherwise noted, this content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. He is the master of the bridge, possessed by a demon from another realm. We saw the ad on Craigslist!" 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. Locals endearingly called him the Goatman. In the Pennhurst Asylum episode, Ryan actually manages to have a conversation through the spirit box. Today, it is a popular location for nature enthusiasts and photographers. The bridges spooky reputation has since attracted amateur sleuths and paranormal investigators alike. . 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. He never settles down as he continues to cuss out the demon and eventually claims that he now owns the bridge after not seeing any sign of the Goatman. However, when they rode down to the rivers edge, the noose was empty. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.[4]. 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. , 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. 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. In 2017, Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural investigated some of these claims. They just gotta know.. This isn't the Old Alton Bridge any longer. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . Its my bridge now! and Theyre gonna put my name in graffiti! 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. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. 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. On a dark night in the late 1930s, a lynch mob of Kluxers stormed Washburns shack and dragged the screaming Goatman to their noose waiting on the bridge, tightened the rope around the begging Oscars neck, then mercilessly flung him over the side. 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. They're discussing Elizabeth Short moving to Los Angeles in hopes of stardom and Ryan brings up that Shane did the same move fromto L.A. with the same hopes. 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. Many of us came to love the chaotic energy that Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara brought to Buzzfeed Unsolved. In Parr Park, thousands of painted rocks line this walking trail. As someone who lives near Denton and has been to the goatman's bridge multiple times, that shit ain't haunted LOL. This article is about the Maryland creature. Code Enforcement Resources. You want me off this bridge you're gonna have to kill me. You will see the Goatmans glowing red eyes on the bridge. The Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. This became a running joke among fans, who edited the Wikipedia to say Shane Madejs Bridge instead of Goatmans Bridge so often that it had to be protected from editing. A fan animatic I made. Donate. Now it's the Goatman's Bridge. A quirky collection of old chairs fills a random vacant lot in suburban Texas. Ghostly figures and strange lights have been seen in the surrounding woods. Now its the Goatmans Bridge. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. At least one person who visited the bridge with a friend claimed they heard the growling voice. 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. See. I really hope you ended up talking about scientific notation or something to appease the ancient demon that is Shane. Goatman (urban legend) Goatman was rumored to be similar in appearance to the mythical faun. The bridge is haunted, and not by any ordinary ghost. Shane stole a bridge from a demonic Goatman and danced on it. Shane Madej tends to serve up deadpan and outrageous humor as he continually taunts any possible ghouls or demons dwelling at haunted locations or teasing his co-host Ryan. Goatman's Bridge is an old wood and steel structure spanning a small waterway between Denton, Texas, and neighboring town, Copper Canyon. High-quality Buzzfeed Unsolved Goatmans Bridge Wall Art designed and sold by artists. Ryan and Shane pay a visit to the bridge to find out. Shane says this line in the Black Dahlia Revisited episode when Ryan brings up he took an improv class. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, 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. 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.