MountainLore

Bobby and Clara, together since high school, lived in a small Appalachian town, leading normal lives...until Bobby broke off their relationship to marry another woman. There followed a chain of events that led to Bobby being tormented by a spirit from the afterworld. That, dear listeners, is our tale this week! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our...

Many years ago, it's said, a moonshiner running his still had a supernatural encounter that changed his life, another bit of MountainLore for you! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don't miss any of our stories. We're on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening and for sharing our tales with your friends. Til next time,...

There are those in these mountains who have an ability to find good underground water with nothing more than two sticks or wires to guide them. Years ago a good dowser was worth his weight in gold. Some of these folks had other abilities, which you'll find out about in today's tale... Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss a single one of ou...

Today we tell a tale about a superstition, once widely believed, that it was bad luck for a couple to get married while on horseback. One young couple did that many years ago, resulting in one bad thing after another happening to them, each one worse than the last. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible or on your favorite podcast...

Bunnies are cute and fluffy. The Bunny Man is not; in fact the Bunny Man can and will kill you. This week we tell a tale about a man in a rabbit suit with killer instincts. And in this case some of the story is definitely true. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your own favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

A tragic accident in the mines brings profound grief and anguish to a coal miner until one day, while working his shift, he finds the peace he had been missing for so long. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don't miss any of our tales from Appalachia; we're on your favorite podcast app! Til next time, sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

Christmas is upon us, so we thought we'd share not a tale this week, but a story about how Christmas was celebrated in Appalachia over the years, along with some holiday folklore. We hope you enjoy! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Goodpods, Audible, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Merry Christmas, one and all!

Many years ago, it's said, a man who lived up between Norton and Pound, Virginia, was surprised by a strange dog standing in his kitchen when he returned home one night. That encounter led to not only a broken toe but to a neverending search which consumed this man for the rest of his life. Don't forget to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast; that way, you won't miss any of our tales! We're on S...

Did you know that Christmas has a dark side? It does, at least in some parts of not just Appalachia but around the world, in the form of a shaggy, horned man-goat named Krampus! If you want to catch all our tale from Appalachia, be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast. We're on your favorite podcast app! Merry Christmas…and, uh, sweet Christmas dreams, y’all!

In Franklin County, Virginia, a man is buried along with all his money, apparently with the intent of paving his path to the afterlife with gold. Only problem was that the money soon went missing, and therein lies our bit of MountainLore today! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Goodpods or wherever you get your podcasts. Sweet dreams, podcast lis...

One of life's lessons is "respect your elders." A lot of folks ignore that advice, earning them not much more than a scolding or a shake of the head from folks. If the elder in question, though, has the power of witchcraft at their disposal, you'd best remember that life lesson...unless you want to reap some REAL consequences. That's the lesson of today's tale. Be sure to subscribe to the Mountain...

A tragic tale of two young women, best friends, who were divided by their desire for the attentions of a young man. Jealousy turned to murder which itself turned into the ghost story we have for you today. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

We are back after a couple of weeks of being under the weather, but that time was put to good use in gathering up the story we have for you this week! A home renovation project a hundred years ago went well, not disturbing the neighbors. It did, however, disturb someone, or should we say, something else. What that was and how it turned out is our story. Give us a listen... Be sure to subscribe to...

Once upon a time an Appalachian preacher had a son who loved to swing back and forth on the front door of his farmhouse. We'll tell you the rest in today's tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories. We're on TikTok @storiesofappalachia and on Instagram @storyappalachia. Catch our video stories there as well. Sweet dream...

There's nothing like a rustic log cabin nestled in a picturesque Appalachian valley. Folks dream of having such a place in which to live. What they don't realize is that in some cases those dreams can become nightmares. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts or on your own favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners....

Today's story comes from a listener, who remembered the bare bones of this tale but not the entire story. We've taken that "ghost" of a story (about a ghost) and put together the tale you'll hear in this episode. It's the story of the mysterious ghost rider of southwest Virginia, another tale from Appalachia. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audib...

During the Great Depression, times were hard. Many men were forced to take to the road to find any kind of work or handout they could get, just to survive. These men, or "hobos," as they were called, road the rails across the country and were a common sight in Appalachia. Today, in a repeat of a story we told in 2020, we again bring you the tale of a "hobo" ghost, still looking for a handout after...

There's an old story from the mountains of southwest Virginia about a witch named Bill Boggs. It was said that Boggs got his powers from a chestnut tree on top of a ridge, and around this tree was a zone of death in which no plant nor animal could live. One old farmer decided to rid that ridge of the cursed tree. Things did not go well, at least not at first. That, friends, is our story for today....

The Civil War came to East Tennessee in the form of Confederate raids against the mostly Union sympathizers who lived there. Today's tale recounts a story told about one such raid which cost the life of a resident of Carter's Valley. His spirit demanded justice and got it...through his hand, brutally severed from his body by the Rebel raiders. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the M...

The final battle of the Civil War in West Virginia was fought at Droop Mountain. Apparently, the spirits of many of the fallen soldiers, North and South, remain on that beautiful mountain to this day, as we'll tell you in today's podcast episode. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. Sweet dreams, podcast l...

Once upon a time a man, Brother Johnny as he was known, decided to throw a party, with moonshine being part of the festivities. Brother Johnny invited several friends to this get together, including a young man and his wife from over the mountain. This couple took off for Brother Johnny's place and rode for hours, until they stopped at a farm along the way. That stopover led to the wife having mor...

What, dear listeners, has wooly fur, goat horns and a naked possum tail? A critter/cryptid known as the White Thing, or, as we'd prefer to call it, the Sheepsquatch. Join us as we tell the tale of this mysterious being! Don't miss any of our tales...subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

Somewhere in Scott County, Virginia, is an old house, abandoned since the death of a mother at childbirth. Listen closely, though, and you might hear the sound of a ghostly hammer coming from the kitchen. Today we tell the story of the ghostly whispers from the haunted Lovell house. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

About a hundred years ago, according to newspaper accounts of the time, a young boy outside Bluefield, West Virginia, had a strange encounter with what apparently was a witch but was saved by his father's quick thinking. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don't miss any of our stories. You'll find us on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast...

We have a two for one podcast special for you! Not one, but two ghost stories, one from West Virginia told to explain strange lights on Cole Mountain, and another from east Tennessee, about a ghostly dog said to haunt parts of the area around Surgoinsville. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app. If you like what you hear, please give us...