MountainLore

We're back after the Thanksgiving holidays, ready to head on into the Christmas season. Speaking of Christmas... 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! Merry Christmas...and, uh, sweet Christmas dreams, y'all!

Today we tell a traditional "talking animals" story, about Dog, Cat, Jackass, and, ummm, Rooster....enjoy! You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or on your favorite podcatcher. We're on Facebook and on Twitter @myappalachia. We're also now on Mastodon @MountainLore@podcasts.social Thanks for listening...sweet dreams, podcast listeners.....

Many years ago, it's said, a young woman met and fell in love with a strange, hairy creature in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Today we tell the tale of Annie and the Boojum, Appalachia's own tale of Beauty and the Beast. If you've not done so already, be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Audible, Goodpods, IHeartRadio, RadioPublic or on...

In the fall of 1966 several men digging a grave in a town in West Virginia first spotted a strange being with wings and red, glowing eyes. Over the next year many folks in the state reported seeing the same mysterious creature. Today we tell the tale of Appalachia's most famous cryptid: the Mothman. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Audible, Go...

Halloween is fast approaching, so Gena and I did a little digging in our archives and found the scariest tale we could find for you...that is 100% TRUE! From 2019 we bring you a tale of ghosts, spirit possession and evil that happened to a young radio disc jockey and his girlfriend in a house they were renting in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the early 1990's.  The twist?  One of the people involved in...

In 1932 a woman's body was found alongside a road in Logan County, West Virginia. The woman was wearing a bloodstained blue polka dot dress. There were two trials of two different men later that year in which salacious gossip about this woman's alleged affairs were told. In the end one man was acquitted and the other man, a black handyman, was convicted of her murder. And ever since that time, it'...

Many years ago, it's said, a cruel coal mine owner in Harlan County had a troublesome miner and his family brutally murdered. Ever since that time tales have been told of a headless ghost, that of the miner's daughter, appearing to travelers along the road at Black Mountain. Today we tell the story of Headless Annie Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audi...

Greenbrier Cove is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a great place to hike and to enjoy nature. It's also a great place to find gold, or so it's said. Today we tell a tale of a lost gold mine, supposedly located at Greenbrier Cove. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast if you haven't done so already. You can do so at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, Audible, Goo...

Wise County, Virginia, is full of history, from the early days of the pioneers, through the coal boom after the Civil War, to the Cold War (U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers grew up there). And Wise County is also home to more than its share of Appalachian folklore, from Jack tales to spooky stories. Today Steve and Gena tell you a couple of the latter, involving a vampire that supposedly lived in Big...

Today we tell a couple of traditional ghost stories from Southwest Virginia. First up, from Russell County, is the story of a ghost that demands a good, clean shave. Then it's on to a story about a ghost that is seen going...well, we don't know, but it's a good tale. Thanks for listening and for sharing our bits of MountainLore with your friends!

Straight from the news headlines in 1875 we tell the story of a man so obsessed with the witches invading his home, he turned it into a shooting gallery. Thanks for listening and thanks for sharing our tales with your friends. Til we meet again, sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

With the coming of the railroads into Appalachia came tunnels through which tracks were laid, making it easier to transport people into the region and coal out. Turns out those holes in the hills made excellent homes for haints. Today we tell you stories about two of those tunnels: the Big Bull Tunnel in Southwest Virginia and the Sensabaugh Tunnel in East Tennessee. Thanks for listening and thank...

Many years ago on the Virginia frontier, in what's now West Virginia, a man sought room and board from a farmer. This man later got sick and died without benefit of the clergy of his choice. That's when this story becomes interesting. Today Steve and Gena tell the tale of the spirit known as the Wizard Clip. The MountainLore podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, TuneIn or on y...

Many years ago in Cade's Cove a husband made a solemn promise to his dying wife. When the time came he broke that promise, with deadly results. Today we tell the tale of the Cussin' Cover, another bit of the folklore of Appalachia. If you like our stories, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

Today we tell the ghostly tales told about Virginia's state theater: the Barter Theater in Abingdon, another bit of the folklore of Appalachia. Sweet dreams, podcast listerners...

Ghosts pop up in the most unusual places: hitching rides on the side of the road, in old houses, in podcast studios (we can verify that one) and, in today's tale, in a parsonage. Today we tell the tale of the Moon Ghost. Thanks for listening to our tales of Appalachian folklore and for sharing our stories with your friends. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

Moundsville, West Virginia, is where the Virginia state penitentiary was located. Designed after the Illinois state prison in Joliet, Moundsville was where the worst criminals in the state were housed. It was built next to an ancient Native American burial mound, hence the name "Moundsville." It's no surprise, then, that this prison, now a tourist attraction, has spawned story after story about ha...

A man condemned to be hanged for the murder of a young girl swore on the gallows that he'd prove his innocence of the crime. He finally did...nearly 70 years after his execution. Thanks for listening and for sharing our podcast with your friends...

After the Civil War two brothers and a sister from Ohio go mad in their relentless pursuit of hidden witches on their property. It's said that at least one of them continues to haunt that land to this day. If you're there at the right time of the night, you might see him, still looking for those practitioners of the dark arts under every rock. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your...

What happens when you turn down the offer of a bed for the night at a farmer's home? Evil happens. Listen as we tell the tale of the Nolichuckey Witch. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever fine podcasts are found. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners. (Opening music for this episode: shimmer by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creati...

There have been told stories of a big, black dog with glowing eyes that mysteriously shows up at odd times and places here in Appalachia, leaving nothing good behind.  Today we tell one of these stories.   The MountainLore podcast is available on RadioPublic, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and a host of other podcast apps. We're on Facebook and Twitter @myappalachia.

An old woman finds something very interesting, and tasty, while hunting for ginseng in the woods. Be careful, though, for what you eat may come back to haunt you. Today we tell the tale of the big, hairy toe.

Today Steve and Gena tell you three witch stories from western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia about dealing with young love, the hunt, and casting hexes. We hope you enjoy. We're on Facebook and Twitter @myappalachia. If you have a ghost or witch story you'd like us to share, tell us about it on our Facebook page or in a comment on this episode! Thanks for listening...

Many years ago, in that part of Appalachia where West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania are located, tales were told of a ghostly beast that would stop people traveling the National Road. Today we tell the tale of the Snarly Yow. You can find more of our tales from Appalachia on our website: www.mountainlore.net

For years folks have told of encountering strange creatures in the deep woods of Appalachia, including the Mothman, the Dwayyo and the Woodbooger. Among these mysterious beasts is a monkey-like creature on kangaroo legs with a bushy tail that has terrorized motorists in Tennessee and Virginia for years. Today we tell the tale of the Devil Monkey. You can subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or yo...