Ghosts of Days Gone By

We have reached a milestone:  200 episodes!

To celebrate, we bring you a folktale from the mountains of western North Carolina…

A hunter resting one evening at a historic mountain pass in North Carolina happens to see a ghostly sight: three indistinct soldiers at the edge of a clearing, staring in his direction, not at him, but at something only they can see.  

This is the beginning of what will be a ghostly encounter.

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast.  We’re on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Goodpods, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Tragedy of Octavia Hatcher

On May 2, 1891, Octavia Hatcher of Pikeville, Kentucky, died from a strange, new illness.

Well, no she didn’t, but nobody knew that at the time.

You see, that illness caused her to go into a coma so deep that doctors at the time assumed she was dead and pronounced her so. Then she was buried in a cemetery on a hill above Pikeville.

That is when the tragedy of this story begins.

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Goodpods or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Ghost Stalker

Bobby and Clara, together since high school, lived in a small Appalachian town, leading normal lives…until Bobby broke off their relationship to marry another woman.

There followed a chain of events that led to Bobby being tormented by a spirit from the afterworld.

That, dear listeners, is our tale this week!

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our YouTube channel (@MountainLoreTales) and the YouTube Music app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

A Ghostly Run of Likker

Many years ago, it’s said, a moonshiner running his still had a supernatural encounter that changed his life, another bit of MountainLore for you!

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our stories. We’re on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or on your favorite podcast app.

Thanks for listening and for sharing our tales with your friends.

Til next time, sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Water Witch

There are those in these mountains who have an ability to find good underground water with nothing more than two sticks or wires to guide them.  Years ago a good dowser was worth his weight in gold.

Some of these folks had other abilities, which you’ll find out about in today’s tale…

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss a single one of our stories.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Marrying on Horseback

Today we tell a tale about a superstition, once widely believed, that it was bad luck for a couple to get married while on horseback. One young couple did that many years ago, resulting in one bad thing after another happening to them, each one worse than the last.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible or on your favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Tale of The Bunnyman

Bunnies are cute and fluffy.  The Bunny Man is not; in fact the Bunny Man can and will kill you.

This week we tell a tale about a man in a rabbit suit with killer instincts.  And in this case some of the story is definitely true.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your own favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Ghostly Redemption: A Coal Miner’s Tale

A tragic accident in the mines brings profound grief and anguish to a coal miner until one day, while working his shift, he finds the peace he had been missing for so long.

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our tales from Appalachia; we’re on your favorite podcast app!

Til next time, sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Appalachian Christmas Traditions and Folklore

Christmas is upon us, so we thought we’d share not a tale this week, but a story about how Christmas was celebrated in Appalachia over the years, along with some holiday folklore.

We hope you enjoy!

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Goodpods, Audible, Spotify or wherever you get your pods.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

The Devil Dog and the Broken Toe

Many years ago, it’s said, a man who lived up between Norton and Pound, Virginia, was surprised by a strange dog standing in his kitchen when he returned home one night.  That encounter led to not only a broken toe but to a neverending search which consumed this man for the rest of his life.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast; that way, you won’t miss any of our tales!  We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker or on your favorite podcast app.

Thanks for listening to our tales from Appalachia!

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…