The United States has a rich tradition of modern folk tales, urban legends, and myths that have been passed down through generations. Some of these stories are unique to specific areas of our country. We have countless stories of ominous creatures lurking in the woods or unexplained phenomena in small towns. These are thirteen strange urban legends that only exist in the United States. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, these legends might just make your hair stand on end.

The Goatman of Maryland

While this is a local urban legend,  many people in Maryland believe in the Goatman. This creature is described as a half-man, half-goat that suspiciously roams the woods of Prince George’s County; the Goatman is typically described as a hairy, six-foot-tall creature with hooves and bright eyes. Locals say he carries an axe, and he has been known to attack parked cars and wander the backroads at night. 

The most commonly believed story is that he’s the result of a science experiment gone wrong at a nearby agricultural research center, but no one knows for sure. No one really knows just why or where the Goatman came from. Still, it seems he may have access to underground tunnels or perhaps portals that help him travel through lands because there are local Goatman stories not just in Maryland but also in Centenary, IN; Pope Lick Creek in Louisville, KY; and Lake Worth and Greer Island in Fort Worth, TX. “Goatman” is coming to a town near you. Rated PG13

The Mothman of West Virginia

Now, the people of old West Virginia have taken their legend to a whole new level. They have statues erected in Mothman’s honor in their town of Point Pleasant. They tell tales of the Mothman, a prominent figure with glowing red eyes and enormous wings that allegedly forewarns the local townspeople of impending major disasters. Sightings began in the 1960s as people reported a creature flying over town or standing near the old TNT plant. In 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed, with some people believing that the Mothman was connected to it. If you’re interested, the 2025 Mothman Festival will take place on September 20th-21st, 2025. Bring the kids; it’ll be fun!

The Fresno Nightcrawlers

In 2007, strange video footage emerged of odd, long-legged creatures strolling through people’s yards at night in  Fresno, California, which later came to be known as the Fresno Nightcrawlers. These beings resemble characters straight out of a video game, with two long legs and a small head. They move in a weird, almost hypnotic way. Naturally, the videos have sparked numerous debates and theories, but no one has been able to definitively explain who or what they are. Some believe they are possibly an intelligent species from beyond our stars.

The Melon Heads of Ohio

The term “melon-head” has typically been used through the years and in certain regions to refer to someone who is a fool or dimwit. However, the Melon Heads of Ohio are anything but; they refer to humanoid figures with oversized heads found in the woods of Ohio. They’re said to be former orphans who were subjected to terrible experiments by a mad doctor named Dr. Crow, and after escaping, they retreated into the forests around Kirtland. Hikers have reported eerie encounters & strange sounds throughout the years, and this has kept the legend alive.

The Lizard Man of South Carolina

The swamps of Lee County, South Carolina, have a legend of a cryptid from Bishopville, South Carolina, described as a large, scaly, reptilian creature with red eyes and three-fingered hands. This began in the 1980s, with witnesses reporting sightings of a seven-foot-tall creature. Reports often involve cars found with scratch marks and bitten metal that appear to come from nowhere. Some people believe it originates from the swamp to cause trouble, and despite extensive searches and news coverage, the Lizard Man remains a mystery.

The Black-Eyed Children

Reports of encounters with black-eyed children across various states and these stories tell of kids, usually between the ages of 6 and 16, who appear on doorsteps or knock on car windows late at night. They insist on being let inside. Their completely black eyes & odd behavior strike fear into anyone who meets them. People still share stories about these spooky children in online forums, and each one leaves many people creeped out.

The Kushtaka of Alaska

The Tlingit people of Alaska’s remote wilderness tell stories of the Kushtaka, shape-shifting creatures that can take the form of otters or humans. They mimic familiar voices or sounds of loved ones to lure unsuspecting victims into the forest-then, once trapped, they take the person’s soul and prevent them from reincarnating. While many people are skeptical of the story, it’s enough to make people somewhat cautious of being in the wild. The Kushtaka are said to inhabit the deep, rugged rainforests along the southeastern coast of Alaska, an area renowned for its remote and treacherous nature. 

The Phantom Clowns of Boston

Not to be confused with the Killer Klowns From Outer Space. During the early 1980s, Boston experienced a series of bizarre reports about clowns trying to lure children into vans. The big-shoed menaces were allegedly lurking in the woods near residences, offering candy and money to children. It’s gotten so bad that police are discouraging people in those areas from dressing as clowns at all. But even after numerous sightings & increased police patrols around schools, no clowns were ever found. The scare spread to other cities, creating widespread panic similar to the 2016 clown sightings. To this day, the phantom clown phenomenon remains unexplained, yet it still makes people afraid & fascinated in equal measure.

The Slaughterhouse Canyon in Arizona

The legend of The Ghosts of Slaughterhouse Canyon takes place in 1882 in the town of Kingman, Arizona. Throughout history, this town was used both as a reservation for Native Americans and as a military base. The legend of Luna’s Canyon, also known as Slaughterhouse Canyon, is a popular destination for ghost hunters, particularly during the Gold Rush era when a miner and his family resided in the canyon. His family would wait for him to return with gold and one trip out; when he didn’t come back & food ran out, the mother descended into madness, eventually killing her children. At night, some say you’re still able to hear her anguished cries echoing through the canyon, warning everyone to stay away.

The Donkey Lady of Texas

People in San Antonio, Texas, have a story about the Donkey Lady, who is said to haunt a bridge over Elm Creek. The story goes that a woman was severely burned and disfigured in a fire set by local rich kids, or perhaps her husband, or some other outside source no one will ever know as this story has been shifting and changing throughout the years. One thing is sure: those who have seen her describe her fingers as fused and her face elongated, giving her a donkey-like appearance. She’s filled with rage and attacks anyone who comes near the bridge at night, with many people claiming to have heard her screams or seen a shadowy figure.

The Bell Witch of Tennessee

Anyone who has seen “An American Haunting” or Ghost Adventures may already be familiar with the Bell Witch of Tennessee in Adams, Tennessee. The Bell family was tormented by an unseen force in the early 1800s who came to be known as the Bell Witch. The entity spoke in strange voices, moved furniture, shape-shifting, and even caused physical harm. The haunting became so famous that future President Andrew Jackson allegedly visited the farm and left in a hurry. He said he’d rather face the British than the Bell Witch, so it’s no surprise that the story has become one of America’s most famous paranormal legends.

The Alaska Triangle

Stretching from Juneau to Anchorage & up to Barrow is a phenomenon known as the Alaska Triangle, an area where countless people have vanished. Sometimes called Alaska’s Bermuda Triangle, planes disappear without a trace, hikers go missing-and no explanations are found. However, some people claim the harsh terrain and unpredictable weather are to blame. Even so, some believe supernatural forces or mysterious creatures are at work because, in any given year, 500-2000 people go missing in Alaska, never to be seen again. Authorities conduct hundreds of rescue missions but often return without finding the missing person or any evidence.

The Char-Man of California

Around Ojai, California, there is a disturbing tale about the Char-Man, a story about a father and son who were caught in a fire in 1948. Their house was burned in the fire; the father was killed in the fire, and the son was severely burned. When someone finally got out to the remains of the cabin, they found that the son had gone crazy from the experience, for he had hung the body of his father from what was left of a nearby tree and had stripped all the burned skin from it. After skinning his father, he fled into the hills down on Old Creek Road, where he has lived in his “charred” condition ever since. 

Every once in a while, he comes close enough to town to encounter someone, occasionally chasing people and such. The police have been sent out to look for him, and although they have caught glimpses of him and found traces of him, they have never been able to see him. I bet you’re turning every light in the house on tonight. Oh, and the saying, “Don’t look behind you,” you should ALWAYS look behind you; that’s how you know when to run.