Where haints drift through the hollows, and the old tales find a new voice
These authentic Ozark folktales have been passed down through generations, preserving the wit, wisdom, and wonder of mountain storytelling. Each tale reflects the unique character and spirit of the Ozarks region.
← Back to HomeSome folks will compete over anything, even the flu
A medicine show tale from the Arkansas River bottoms about two brothers-in-law who settled their rivalry with the strangest contest ever witnessed—a pecan-shaking competition powered by nothing but the "shakes."
Read More →A monster hoax becomes Arkansas legend
Bill "Bossman" Phelps tells the true story of how he and the boys created Arkansas's most famous river mystery—using an upside-down scow, some rope, and the need for a day off from cotton loading.
Read More →When a ghost tour guide drinks himself into oblivion, Otis steps into the void
Join yours truly for a terrifying descent into the basement of the Crescent, 'America's Most Haunted Hotel.'
Read More →A mysterious girl, four dangerous men, and something that can't be explained
William Stumpff tells of the day he saw a naked girl swimming in the creek and witnessed something supernatural that saved her from men with evil intentions. But following her into the woods revealed even stranger mysteries.
Read More →The story continues as William returns to discover the truth about Stella
William Stumpff returns that night to witness a ritual summoning. Five girls and an old woman call forth the ghost of Stella Barnes, a murdered girl who now protects the living.
Read More →The conclusion of the haunting tale of Stella Barnes
William's father reveals the tragic truth about Stella Barnes, the beautiful young woman brutally murdered in 1912. A powerful conclusion about justice, sacrifice, and the protective spirit that still haunts the Ozark creeks.
Read More →The tale of the notorious Ozarks bushwhacker
Ma Cloud sits on her porch on a July evening in 1888 and begins the story of Alf Bolin, the boy they took in who became the most feared bushwhacker in the Ozarks during the Civil War.
Read More →Ma Cloud reflects on war and meaning
The killings continue as Ma Cloud chronicles Alf Bolin's reign of terror. But she also reflects on what war does to people—how it turns neighbors into ideas and ideas into enemies.
Read More →The final reckoning
The dramatic conclusion: Tom and Sarey Foster devise a deadly trap to end Alf Bolin's reign of terror. A tale of cunning, courage, and brutal justice as the most feared bushwhacker meets his end.
Read More →Superstition, scapegoating, and the persistence of witch folklore
From Appalachia to the Ozarks, witch superstitions persisted well into the 20th century. Exploring the dark psychology of scapegoating through stories of flyting, effigies, silver bullets, and cats.
Read More →A bear, two whores, and a hero
Uncle Johnny Gaskins killed 200 bears in thirty years, but none quite like this. When a she-bear terrorized the girls fetching water for the White Elephant—Eureka Springs' most notorious establishment—Aunt Min called for the famous hunter.
Read More →Otis Bulfinch sets the record straight
Much has been written about the mysterious Ozarks Howler, but very little of it is true. She is not a series of or's but a concatenation of and's—a dark chimera dwelling in the deep caves of distant valleys.
Read More →What happened beside Oil Springs
John Gaskins, legendary Ozark bear hunter, faces the mysterious Howler at Oil Springs. After dispatching a she-bear menacing Aunt Min's girls, Gaskins confronts an ancient spirit who sings of stewardship and vengeance.
Read More →A Sioux legend of the Evil Spirit banished from the Ozark mountains
In the age primeval, an Evil Spirit dwelt in a cave beneath the mountains, spreading disease and terror among the Sioux. When the Great Spirit sent the frozen floods to vanquish him, he fled south—leaving behind a poisoned lake where no living thing could survive.
Read More →The Arkansas mirage that never quite goes away
Spanish conquistadors follow Ponce de Leon's trail to a mysterious silver field near Hot Springs, guarded by poisonous vapors and mountain spirits. A tale of fortune, betrayal, and a treasure that may still await discovery in the Ouachita Mountains.
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