Growing up, you must have heard stories about haunted houses or roads witches love using at night. Though most urban legends are false, many people believe they are true. Most of them are horrific but can sometimes blend humor. Here are some of the most popular and scariest American urban legends.
1. Seven Gates of Hell in Pennsylvania
There is an urban legend in Pennsylvania that claims anyone who passes through all the seven gates of hell will go directly to Satan. This urban legend was based on an asylum that burnt down in York County. It had seven gates that trapped occupants of the asylum who were trying to flee the fire.
There is also another theory that revolves around an eccentric door. For anyone interested in discovering if this myth is true, the Seven Gates of Hell is located on Trout Run Road in the northwestern section of Hellam Township in York County.
2. Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary’s legend was a good thing before it turned sinister. In the earlier days of this urban legend, girls would enter a room, switch off the lights, look into the mirror, and say her name three times. The mirror would then reveal the face of their future husband. However, if she were not destined to be married, a skull would appear instead.
Hollywood may have played a role in reshaping this urban legend because today, people report seeing the bloody face of an evil spirit when they call on the Bloody Mary.
3. Arizona Skinwalkers
In Arizona, there is a rumor of half-human creatures with mutilated faces that can shapeshift. It is believed that these Skinwalkers prey on unsuspecting motorists traversing through the deserted roads of Arizona. They have mostly been “spotted” in the Skinwalker Ranch. As far as the legend goes, these creatures attempt to rip through the flesh of their victim’s bones before devouring them.
4. The Watcher of New Jersey
After the New York Magazine published a story about The Watcher of New Jersey in 2018, this urban legend received nationwide recognition. It follows the story of a family that bought their dream home on 657 Boulevard, New Jersey, only to be terrorized by a mysterious letter writer. The Watcher would write to the family, giving them intricate details such as how many kids they had and when they would leave or return home.
5. The Jersey Devil
Still in New Jersey, over three centuries ago, there is a story of a woman who gave birth to a strange child. He had hooves and bat wings and was her 13th child. Because of these oddities, she cursed him, and that’s when the Jersey Devil was born. From there, he began terrorizing the residents. This urban legend was so serious that the Philadelphia Zoo offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who would apprehend this creature.
6. The Missouri River Monster
During spring, the people of North Dakota claim that a rover monster called the Miniwashitu breaks through the ice and starts roaming around. Legend says that if someone spots the Miniwashitu in broad daylight, they will run mad.
7. Chupacabra
This urban legend is so popular that it has been featured in various films. Chupacabra, which means goat sucker, is an animal that resembles a bear but has spikes on its back and has glowing eyes. It mainly feeds on goats, but it can also eat other animals. The legend of the Chupacabra is also common in Mexico.
8. The Bunny Man from Virginia
During Halloween, it is believed that the Bunny Man, a man who dresses up as a rabbit and carries an axe, is responsible for killing rabbits and placing them on the Bunny Man Bridge. Over the years, he has been allegedly accused of killing several people in Virginia.
9. The Hook
The Hook is another urban legend that has been featured in various horror films. He is a creepy man who has a pirate-like Hook for a hand, and his job is to walk around attacking couples in cars. The Hook draws people’s attention by running the Hook across the car, and when they come out, he attacks them one by one. In some stories, the Hook has superhuman strength; that’s how he easily overpowers his victims.
10. Screaming Jenny of West Virginia
The story of the Screaming Jenny is about a woman who lived along the B&O Railroads in West Virginia. While warming some food by the fire, her dress was engulfed in flames. She got up and started running to the tracks, looking for help while covered in fire.
Unfortunately, no one could help, and Jenny was run over by the train. Legend has it that on every anniversary of Jenny’s death, people passing through that track see the ghost of a burning and screaming woman.
11. Mercy Brown, the Vampire from Rhode Island
Back in the 1800s, it was assumed that TB could only be passed from eating the remains of a deceased family member. In the case of Mercy Brown, her entire family got TB after she passed away. This led to the belief that her family had consumed parts of her body. As such, her grave was dug up so that it could be burned.
Interestingly, her body showed minimal signs of decomposition, and her position in the grave had changed. From here, an urban legend was created that Mercy Brown was a vampire, and her grave site is haunted.
12. Cursed Wood from the Escalante Petrified Forest
Located in Utah, the Escalante Petrified Forest is one of the most refreshing and aesthetically appealing forests in the US. However, there is a folklore that anyone who carries a piece of wood from this forest will be cursed for life and will attract bad luck.
Visitors are often advised against carrying any souvenirs from this forest, which will bring misfortune. Interestingly, some visitors do not believe in this curse and take pieces back home.