HIGH STRANGENESS AT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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The Appalachian Mountains are often associated with various paranormal phenomena, including sightings of cryptids like Sasquatch and the Mothman. There are plenty of ghostly apparitions that have been seen on the trails. Historic entities like Bell Witch are part of the legend of the Appalachian Mountains. Locals believe the ancient landscape and rich folklore contribute to these stories. Here’s a more detailed look at some of the paranormal activity reported in the Appalachians, starting off with the cryptids:
CRYPTIDS SIGHTED AT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
WAMPUS CAT
The Wampus Cat has been sighted in the Appalachian Mountains several times by hunters and hikers. People in their campsites have heard the Wampus Cat whining during the night. Legend has it that the cat has green piercing eyes and has psychic powers. In 1951, folklorist Vance Randolph described the Wampus cat as “a kind of amphibious panther which leaps into the water and swims like a colossal mink”. This cryptid has been blamed for killing livestock during the 1930s in the Piedmont of North Carolina. There has not been in recent sightings of this mysterious cat.
FLATWOODS MONSTER
The Flatwoods Monster is a legendary cryptid from West Virginia, reported to have been seen near the town of Flatwoods on September 12, 1952. A group of children and adults reported seeing a 10-foot-tall creature with a spade-shaped head, glowing eyes, and a metallic odor after a bright light streaked across the sky. The witnesses also described that the creature had small claw-like hands. Project Bluebook investigated this sighting. Some locals believe the story and some locals believe the story is a hoax. There has been no more sightings of the Flatwoods Monster. The legendary cryptid does draw in tourists. There is even a museum dedicated to this cryptid.
SASQUATCH
The Appalachian Mountains are frequently cited as a hotspot for Sasquatch sightings, with reports spanning across multiple states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. These accounts often describe a large, ape-like creature with various fur colors, including some with black fur and glowing green eyes. Some eyewitnesses have even described Sasquatch as having a powerful build and being over eight feet tall. The Appalachian Mountains have a long history of legends and folklore, including stories of hairy covered wild men, wooly boogers, and ape-like creatures, adding to the mystique surrounding Sasquatch. Sightings of Sasquatch continues to the present day. When I was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, I visited the Cumberland Plateau, which is part of the Appalachian Mountains and viewed the highest point in Kentucky, Big Black Mountain. I met some locals who were moonshiners, and they had many stories about Sasquatch roaming around Big Black Mountain. One moonshiner told me that his friend’s cabin was broken into, and everything was topsy turvy inside the cabin. It was reported that a Sasquatch broke into the cabin looking for food. The Sasquatch that broke into the cabin was known as the Big Black Mountain Boogie Man.
GHOSTS AT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
Some claim to have seen ghosts and apparitions in the mountains, often tied to specific locations or historical events. Some of the notable ghosts that haunt the Appalachian Mountains are The Phantom Hiker of Grandfather Mountain. This legend involves a massive, black dog with glowing red eyes that is said to lurk on the mountain. It’s believed to be a supernatural creature that attacks hikers, especially at night. Then there is the Greenbrier Ghost. The Greenbrier Ghost is based on a real-life murder case in West Virginia in the 1890s. The ghost is said to be the spirit of Elva Zona Heaster, a young woman who was found dead under mysterious circumstances. The Ghost of Lucy is usually seen at the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The Ghost of Lucy is believed to be a woman that got lost on the trail in the Smoky Mountains, and to this day, she is still looking for her way home.
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN SKINWALKERS
The Skinwalker is a creature from Navajo folklore that is believed to have a connection to the Appalachian Mountains, with some stories suggesting it has been seen in the area. My own opinion is that as a specific figure from Navajo culture, it is unlikely to be found in the Appalachians. Skinwalkers, in Navajo mythology, are described as dangerous witches capable of shapeshifting into animals and using dark magic. With my research, I was unable to find any reports of sightings of a Skinwalker in the Appalachian Mountains.
THE NOTORIOUS BELL WITCH
The story of the Bell Witch is one of the most well-known paranormal legends in the Appalachians. It’s a tale of a mischievous spirit who tormented a family in Tennessee, with reports of strange noises, apparitions, and even physical assaults. Some paranormal enthusiasts believe that the Bell Witch is a poltergeist, while others believe it’s truly a witch that is now in a ghostly form. There are some paranormal investigators that make claim they encountered the Bell Witch and even have some EVPs of the witch talking.
BROWN MOUNTAIN LIGHTS
These are unexplained lights that have been seen over the mountains, often attributed to some unknown phenomenon or even ghostly activity. Some locals believe that they are SCF (Spiritual Containment Fields) of the deceased. Spiritual Containment Fields are your so-called orbs. Locals say that the Brown Mountain Lights have intelligent movement, which makes the lights a paranormal mystery.
HAUNTED TRAILS
Some specific trails within the Appalachian Trail, like Bluff Mountain, are known for their purported haunted history. One hiker says that there is a ghost of a man that wears dark clothing that haunts the trails. The locals call this ghost “The Stalker”. While a person is hiking along the trail, they will hear footsteps behind them. When you turn around, you will see a glimpse of The Stalker. The Appalachian Mountains are known for their diverse ghost stories, including the Phantom Hiker, the Moon-Eyed people, and the Wapiti Shelter’s murder victims. These tales add a layer of mystery and intrigue to the already challenging Appalachian Trail. Let’s take a quick look at some of the ghosts that you might encounter on these trails. There is The Phantom Hiker. The Phantom Hiker is a spectral figure, often described as an older man with a beard, seen hiking alone along the trail, especially near Grandfather Mountain. He is said to vanish into thin air, leaving hikers wondering if they truly saw a ghost. The Wapiti Shelter in Virginia is allegedly haunted by the ghosts of two murdered hikers, with reports of screaming at night. Camping Area between the Second and Third Saddleback in Maine, you will feel a solid pressure around the head of your tent, which is thought of as a spectral presence. At the Brown Fork Gap Shelter in North Carolina, a hiker reported hearing the distinct sound of someone hiking through snow, without seeing anyone.
MISSING PEOPLE AND PORTALS
Several notable people have gone missing in the Appalachian Mountains, particularly within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, leaving these cases unsolved for decades. These include Pauline Melton, Trenny Gibson, and Dennis Martin, who vanished without a trace under different circumstances. Additionally, Geraldine Largay, an experienced hiker, disappeared on the Appalachian Trail.
Notable Cases:
Dennis Martin: Vanished during a family picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains in 1969 while playing hide-and-seek. Despite extensive searches, he was never found.
Trenny Gibson: Disappeared on a school trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1976. She was last seen hiking with her group and was never located.
Geraldine Largay: An experienced hiker vanished from the Appalachian Trail in Maine in 2013. Her body was found 26 days later, but the circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear.
Pauline Melton: One of the five missing persons cases from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Her case, along with others, is still listed on the National Park Service’s website.
Special Note: Some locals believe there are portals in and around the Appalachian Mountains. Case example: The Appalachian Trail, which runs along the mountains, is sometimes referred to as a “sacred portal” or a “gateway to nature” by those who experience it. Diane Mason from West Virginia was hiking on the Appalachian trail and felt a disturbance in the air. Diane felt dizzy and when she placed her hand and arm in one area of the trail, everything felt thick and tingling. Diane feels she came upon a portal. Diane turned back from the portal and headed back to her vehicle. Diane felt if she went into the portal, she would never get out.
RAVEN MOCKER
The “Raven Mocker” is a creature from Cherokee mythology, often described as a witch or evil spirit, particularly in the Appalachian region. It’s said to prolong its life by preying on the sick and dying, sometimes depicted as a withered, aged figure with a raven’s call. The Raven Mocker is also associated with shapeshifting, as seen in the Mountain Monsters episode “Bigfoot of Lee County: Raven Mocker”. Raven Mockers are also associated with cannibalism. They are known to eat their victims.
MOTHMAN
Mothman is a winged cryptid associated with the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, known for its alleged sightings that began in the 1960s. It is described as a large, humanoid figure with wings and glowing red eyes, often seen gliding through the air. The creature is said to have been responsible for various strange sightings and events, including lurking outside homes and chasing cars. Mothman has been sighted not only in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but the cryptid has been seen in Sacramento, California; Chicago and Chernobyl, Ukraine. Mothman is reputed as being a Harbinger of Doom.
UFOS/UAPS
UFOs/UAPs have been seen around all areas of the Appalachian Mountains. Most notable is the Flatwoods Monster, Mothman and the Moon-Eyed People. Danny Ledgmar from Louisville, Kentucky witnessed a boomerang shaped UFO flying by Big Black Mountain. The boomerang UFO phased out and simply vanished. Danny believes it was a cloaking device that made the UFO invisible. Special Note: I believe that Mothman and the Moon-Eyed People are either extraterrestrial or interdimensional.
MOONEYED PEOPLE
The “moon-eyed people” are a legendary group in Cherokee folklore, described as short, white-skinned, and blue-eyed beings who lived in Appalachia before the Cherokee arrived. The Cherokee called them “moon-eyed” because they supposedly saw poorly during the day and were more active at night, possibly due to a sensitivity to sunlight. The Cherokee tradition states they were eventually displaced or driven underground.
