Mysteries of the Marsh

In 1942, as U-boats prowled Florida's coast sinking ships within sight of shore, Nazi Germany launched an even bolder attack - Operation Pastorius. Four Nazi agents landed on Ponte Vedra Beach, carrying explosives and cash for a two-year sabotage campaign against American infrastructure. While their mission failed spectacularly, this forgotten chapter of Florida history reveals how our state b...

In this episode of Mysteries of the Marsh , we delve into the intriguing story of George Colby, a trance medium whose vision led him to the Florida wilderness in the late 1800s. Guided by his spirit guide, Seneca, Colby founded what would become Cassadaga, the oldest continuously operating Spiritualist community in the American South. From his early life in New York to his prophetic journey south,...

It was supposed to be an ordinary crossing. But in 1980, a quiet night on Tampa Bay ended with the worst peacetime disaster in Coast Guard history — and just months later, a second tragedy struck the same stretch of water. This episode traces the collision that sank the USCGC Blackthorn, the heroism of one young sailor who refused to abandon his shipmates, and the catastrophic bridge collapse that...

In 1888, a man in a decaying uniform was found deep in a Marianna cave—alive, and claiming he’d fallen asleep there nearly 40 years earlier during the Second Seminole War. This week, we dig into the strange legend of Florida’s sleeping soldier, where myth, geology, and lost time all collide underground.

Join us as we return from hiatus with our longest episode yet, exploring the bloody reign of the Ashley Gang - Florida's most feared band of outlaws. From daring bank heists to Prohibition rum-running, this saga of frontier justice follows John Ashley and his crew as they terrorized South Florida in the early 1900s. Discover how this moonshiner's son became a folk hero to some, a murderous...

Florida's waterways hide mysterious giants according to local legends - enormous turtles so big they've been mistaken for islands. From the Punta Gorda hurricane rescue of 1932 to the Walking Island of the Everglades, these stories have been passed down for generations. Wildlife expert Ally Moran helps us explore the fascinating truth behind these tales and the real impressive turtles that...

When a hurricane struck Florida's coast in 1715, it sank eleven Spanish galleons laden with unimaginable wealth. While some wrecks have been found along the Treasure Coast, the San Miguel vanished without a trace. Explore how this maritime disaster shaped Florida's identity and the enduring mystery that continues to captivate treasure hunters three centuries later. I've hidden two refe...

In the maze-like waterways of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, a sugar plantation owner named Edgar Watson built an empire on blood and fear. This episode follows the rise and violent fall of Florida's most notorious outlaw—from his mysterious past to his brutal reign at Chatham Bend to his final confrontation on the porch of Smallwood's Store. When an entire community decides enough is enough, fro...

When a series of mysterious photographs emerged from a quiet Panhandle town in 1987, Gulf Breeze, Florida became the UFO capital of America. But what really happened in these skies? And why are people still seeing strange lights over these waters today? Follow us on Instagram @MysteriesoftheMarsh

The most intense hurricane in American history slammed into the Florida Keys on Labor Day, 1935. Through tales of Flagler's railroad, veterans desperately seeking shelter in a cesspool, and a rescue train that arrived too late, we uncover how this monster storm reshaped the Keys forever - and why its ghostly echoes still haunt these islands today.

The Ais people of Florida were feared by Spanish explorers, their reputation shaped by tales of savagery and cannibalism. But was this truth—or colonial propaganda? This episode peels back the layers of history, exploring how myths were weaponized to justify conquest and how the real Ais people lived, thrived, and resisted invasion.

A master horseman turned ruthless raider, Daniel McGirt terrorized the Revolutionary Florida frontier, escaping prison, switching sides, and defying exile. His true story, like the historical marker that once told it, continues to elude us. CW: Contains discussions of historical violence, warfare, and slavery.

A town built on ambition, swallowed by the swamp. Explore the rise and fall of Centralia, Florida, where towering cypress trees fell—and a community vanished in just seven years.

Deep in Florida's wild frontier, a mysterious light burned for decades. Was it a volcanic vent, a natural phenomenon, or something else entirely? Join us as we uncover the truth behind the Wakulla Volcano—a fire that burned bright enough to guide ships, yet vanished without a trace.

Dive into the murky depths of the St. Johns River as we explore one of Florida's most elusive legends: the St. Johns River Monster. From eerie sightings of massive, serpentine shapes gliding beneath the surface to whispers of prehistoric creatures lurking in the dark waters, this episode unearths the tales that have haunted the river for generations.