Tales Trails and Taverns Podcast

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe takes us deep into the heart of Mashamoquet Brook State Park, a place where history, legend, and nature intertwine. From the towering Table Rock to the eerie Wolf’s Den, we explore the park’s most iconic landmarks and the stories behind them. Joe recounts the daring legend of Israel Putnam, who tracked and killed the last wolf in Connecticut, and...

On this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob take a deep dive into the 2022 psychological horror film Smile. With its eerie atmosphere, relentless tension, and disturbing imagery, this movie left audiences unsettled—but did it leave a lasting impression on us? We break down the film’s scares, story, and deeper themes, debating what worked, what didn’t, and whether Smile deserves its...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Rob takes us deep into the heart of the infamous Hockomock Swamp, a place steeped in history, war, and eerie legend. From the brutal conflicts between Native American tribes and early settlers to the ancient Wampanoag legends warning of spirits, cryptids, and strange occurrences, the swamp has long been a place of mystery and fear. Is it just an unfor...

On this episode of Horror Movie Monday by Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob dive into the chilling 2024 film Long Legs. With its eerie atmosphere, unsettling visuals, and dark storyline, this movie had plenty to dissect—but did it live up to the hype? Joe and Rob break down what worked, what didn’t, and their differing takes on the film’s scares, story, and execution. Was Long Legs a new hor...

On this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe takes Rob on a journey through the eerie mystery of the Pilfershire Abandoned Town Trail. With almost no written records and a town that seemingly vanished, Pilfershire’s history is shrouded in questions—why was it abandoned? What secrets linger in its ruins? Joe recounts the chilling ghost stories tied to the lost settlement, the strange energy a...

Welcome to a brand-new series on Tales, Trails, and Taverns, where Rob and Joe dive into the world of horror movies—reviewing films they pick or ones requested by listeners! In this first episode, they take on the brutal 2009 remake of Last House on the Left. They break down the film’s raw intensity, unsettling themes, and whether it holds up as a worthy reimagining of Wes Craven’s 1972 classic. E...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Rob takes us deep into the haunting past of the Wrentham State School, an abandoned institution with a dark history. We uncover the chilling stories of neglect, abuse, and the disturbing radiological experiments conducted on children within its walls. As we explore the decaying remains of this long-shuttered facility, we discuss the eerie atmosphere,...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe delves into the history of the Endor Iron Furnace in Sanford, NC—an eerie relic of the Civil War era, now standing as a crumbling monument to the past. From its industrial rise to its ghostly legends, we uncover what remains of this fascinating site. Then, we journey north to Old Furnace State Park in Connecticut, where rugged trails lead to breat...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Rob takes us on a journey through the heart of Boston—The Boston Common. As the oldest public park in the U.S., the Common has seen centuries of history, from Puritan punishments and colonial protests to revolutionary rallies and tragic executions. But beneath its bustling paths and scenic greenery lies a darker side, filled with ghost stories and eer...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob explore the haunted history of military bases, sharing chilling ghost stories told by service members who’ve experienced the unexplained while on duty. From eerie encounters in barracks to strange figures seen on night patrols, these firsthand accounts will leave you questioning what really lingers behind secured gates. We also dive into t...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob take you on a journey through the mysterious skies. From the strange lights of colonial Boston recorded in Governor John Winthrop’s diary to the Foo Fighters that left WWII pilots baffled, and all the way to Project Blue Book’s classified investigations, we’re exploring UFOs and the military. Along the way, Rob and Joe share eerie first-ha...

Continuing our military-themed month, Rob and Joe take a deep dive into one of the most iconic mysteries in modern history: the Roswell Incident of 1947. Join us as we explore the chain of events reported by the local media, the alleged military coverup, and the context of post-WWII America—a time rife with espionage, experimental technology, and growing Cold War tensions. From eyewitness accounts...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob take a chilling journey into the haunted shadows of the Iraq War. They recount ghost stories told by fellow service members—tales of unexplained apparitions, eerie encounters, and lingering spirits in the war-torn deserts and abandoned buildings of Iraq. Drawing from their own experiences while stationed in Iraq, Joe and Rob share personal...

In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob take a haunting trip back to where their journeys in the Marine Corps began: Parris Island. They delve into the chilling history of two tragic events—the infamous Ribbon Creek incident and the story of a drill instructor’s suicide in the pool. Drawing on their own experiences training at Parris Island, Joe and Rob recount how they first he...

In this episode of Tales, Trails and Taverns, Rob takes us deep beneath the streets of Paris to explore the chilling history and dark legends of the Paris Catacombs. From its haunting origins to unsettling tales of those who’ve ventured too far, it’s a journey into one of the world’s most mysterious underground labyrinths. Meanwhile, Joe shares a strange and unexpected experience from his recent g...

This holiday season, Tales, Trails, and Taverns brings you a Victorian tradition with a chilling twist—a ghost story for Christmas Eve. Join us by the flickering candlelight and roaring fire in a grand, snow-covered mansion as I read Christmas Ghosts, a haunting tale by Charles Dickens. Embrace the magic, mystery, and a touch of fright in this festive episode that keeps the spirit of Christmas ali...

🎙️ Episode Title: "Krampus: The Christmas Demon" 🎄👹In this festive yet frightening episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, we’re delving into the chilling legend of Krampus—the shadowy counterpart to Santa Claus. From the icy peaks of Alpine folklore to modern-day pop culture, Krampus has been a symbol of fear, mischief, and punishment for centuries.📜 What you’ll discover: The ancient roots of K...

In this spine-chilling episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, host Rob delves into one of the most unsettling urban legends ever told: the black-eyed children. These mysterious figures, always appearing at the most unexpected times, are said to knock on doors late at night, asking for help—or worse, a way inside. With their hooded clothing and soulless black eyes, they leave an indelible mark of f...

Send us a text Join Joe and Rob as we discuss the third man factor, a phenomenon where people in life or death situations, most notable by mountaineers, where a unknown person will appear out of nowhere, help them through the worst part of the ordeal, guiding them and helping them stay calm, or guide the way, and disappear once they're safe.   Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from...

Send us a text Join Rob and Joe as they discuss all things Lizzie Borden, the murders, the trial, the bed and breakfast, who had a motive and who made out after the fact. Also hear about who one distant relative of Lizzie believes was the real killer.   Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/lightless-dawn License cod...

Send us a text Join Rob and Joe as they discuss the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the village of Sleepy Hollow, and the truth behind Washinton Irving's short story. Find out where all the legends originate from, how much of the tale is true, and how a ghost story of a revolutionary ghost described in the original text connects this episode to other episodes that the boys have done in the past. https://...

Send us a text Join Rob and Joe as Rob talks about his return to the Fernald school. Learn about the dark history and the ghosts that call this abandoned school home.  Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/lightless-dawn License code: HFZVWSRLXGOKAMJQ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

Send us a text Theres a lot of meat on that bone, so were back to talking about all the spooky experiences had on the trails and backroads of the largest state forest in Connecticut. Pachaug State Forest.  Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/lightless-dawn License code: HFZVWSRLXGOKAMJQ Become a supporter of this p...

Send us a text Join Rob and Joe as they tell personal paranormal ghost stories, and review classic horror movies for this year's Spooktacular episode. Tales, trails and taverns.  Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/lightless-dawn License code: HFZVWSRLXGOKAMJQ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreake...

Send us a text Join Joe for the final episode of the Baker Homestead series. Happy Halloween! Support the show talestrailsandtaverns.com Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/lightless-dawn License code: HFZVWSRLXGOKAMJQ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tales-trails-and-taverns-podcast--6437578/support . Thank you for liste...