Ominous Origins

The Florida Skunk-Ape

Loch Ness, The Cupacabra, Big Foot – all very recognizable names to those who don’t even know what those are classified as – Cryptids, they’re called cryptids – but what about a not-so-known-one, what about one with a name so fierce it strikes fear into the hearts of those who just hear a whisper of it. What about the fabled and terrifying SKUNK-APE! No…? Doesn’t strike fear and cause you to run? Huh. Nevertheless, as silly as the name is, it is a real life urban legend, and of course something with that name has to come from Florida, right? The New Hampshire skunk-ape just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Nope, It’s Florida alright, and it’s one of my favorite cryptids. I’ve been looking forward to Florida since the start of my journey, which I don’t think has been uttered by human prior to this article. Okay, okay, enough joking around. The skunk-ape is a humanoid forest/swamp dweller that resides in the vast ecosystem of the Everglades. Similar in many ways to Big Foot, his cousin, the skunk-ape does have some distinct characteristics that set it apart. Firstly, as you may have gathered from the name – it smells. Plain and simple. It’s been described as a wet dog and a skunk mixed together. Yummo. Surprisingly, this furry friend has quite the following, especially from within the state, and has even been spotted on film. Maybe. Unlikely, but it’s a fun thought! Hear more about this odd cryptid on the podcast!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotBy The Candle's Light: shows.pippa.io/candleslightSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Delaware's Lums Pond

As we continue our tour on the Eerie USA, we come across some smaller states, naturally. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving of a spot on our tour – Hell, some of them have the best legends and stories. Sadly though, well maybe not sadly, but for lack of a better word, we’ll use that, many of these stories have to do with hauntings or spirits. Now, I promise you I’ll do my best to find things other than those. However, Delaware isn’t one of those cases – I do have a haunting for you today, and that comes in the form of Lums Pond State Park. The park is home to the largest freshwater pond in the state, and is a gorgeous place for recreational activities such as camping, hiking, oh, and of course murder. What good ghost story doesn’t start with the demise of a poor innocent. In this instant that poor innocent was a young girl. Way back in the 1800’s a young girl ran away from home, who knows why, but she did. And it would be a decision that she would ultimately regret. The story goes that while attempting to find some kind of shelter in the park, she was found, raped, and murdered. A truly gruesome end to a young life. Despite the authorities finding her body in a timely fashion, the killer was never caught. If that isn’t the origins to a ghost story, I don’t know what is. I know, I know, I gave away a lot there, but there’s more, trust me. You’ll just have to listen to find out more.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Connecticut Witches and Hannah Cranna

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my travels through the Eerie USA, Connecticut is by far one of the hardest to spell. That’s not supernatural, of course, just an observation… Anywhoo, Connecticut is home to one of the creepier legends on this list with a story of a woman by the name of Hanna Cranna. Now, the name itself is dangerously close a childhood mocking rhyme, but I’ll ignore that for now. But why is it so creepy? Well, it has to do with the theory that she is a witch! Personally, I love witches, I did a whole series on the Salem Witch Trials, and the whole magic aspect has captured my attention for years now. There’s something about people having that kind of power (supposedly) that is just very off putting. Hanna’s story, however is a bit different than that of the typical witch around that time. In fact, her name wasn’t even Cranna, it was Hovey, with Cranna being a nickname picked up that stuck. It’s even the name imprinted on her tombstone. Her whole story begins when her husband went for a walk one evening, only to tumble off a cliff. Being a captain, it was unlikely that a man of that stature would simply fall off the precipice of a rock face. No, he must have been bewitched, which is exactly what the locals believed. And so started the rumors of her witchhood. There are many stories surrounding Hanna, including threaten curses and keeping a familiar around her. But, if you do want to know more, you’ll just have to listen to the podcast, won’t you. Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Colorado's Riverdale Road

Much like the Arkansas stories, Colorado has a plethora of scary stories, none ofwhich seem to be too fleshed out. However, there was one place in the CentennialState that stood out amongst the rest; Riverdale road. And, no you won’t find Archieand the gang hanging out on this particular stretch of land.Stories go back decades about strange happenings going on along Riverdale Road inThornton, Colorado. People have reported everything from ghosts to demons, andeven a gate leading straight to Hell itself. It’s definitely a good ol’ family vacationingspot. Beyond the paranormal activity that occurs there, it’s also believed that a lot ofSatanic rituals and Devil worship happens along Riverdale Road.Some reports even say that there are always fresh graffiti on buildings along theroad, or even headless animals, which we all know are classic Satanic ritual fare(That… that was sarcasm). Nevertheless, it seems like Riverdale road has more thana few mysteries to investigate, and hopefully I’ll be able to decipher some of them.Whether or not I do… Well, you’ll just have to listen to the cast to find out.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The California Dark Watchers

California, the place of dreams, coastline, mountains, and of course, dark spirits that lurk in the mountain ranges. It’s the perfect getaway. If you’ve never been to the Golden State, I would highly recommend it, actually. It’s the only place on tour I’ve actually been to, and I would kill to go again – but that’s not the point. The point is, there are some dark entities that stalk the Santa Lucia mountain range, and by dark, I mean quite literally. Affectionately known as the Dark Watchers, these tall and slender beings are the things of lore, but of the folk variety and the literary. With the origins of the story potentially being from the Chumash peoples, though the sources on that are thin at best, it has garnered some popularity in local legends. The most famous source comes from John Steinbeck in his collection of short stories called Flight. He makes reference to the dark figures in the stories, and later on his own son claims to have had run ins with the creatures. These are some very mysterious beings. Not much is known, and only a very small firsthand accounts can be found, and it’s unknown how reputable those sources are as well. Also, it seems that many resources that cite the Dark Watcher recycle the same description and lore. So hopefully I’ll be able to dig up some more detailed accounts. Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Arkansas Legends

Our next stop on the Eerie USA tour features not a specific event or location in Arkansas, but a plethora of places, as it turns out, Arkansas is really quite haunted. There were some incredibly fascinating stories, such as the story of Highway 365, which tells the tale of a young girl asking for a ride. She’s cold, and so she’s offered a jacket. The driver drops her off at home, and well, it turns even more interesting. How about the White River Monster? A giant aquatic monster that lives, and has been spotted multiple times in Newport. There have been dozens of theories on the subject, some supernatural, some a little more tame. If you’re driving through Arkansas, it’s safe to say that you’ve driven on a haunted road, or crossed a dastardly bridge. It seems that there is an disproportionate amount of haunted roads and highways in the state. From Wolf Bayou Bridge, to the Tilly Willy Bridge, there seems to be a haunting everywhere you turn. In this cast, I’m going to branch out from the usual, and cover an assortment of stories from the state. It should be exciting! Also, this is the last cast you can leave a review and be entered to win some merch! Remember, leave a review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Stitcher for your chance to win!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Arizona Skinwalkers

Being a Canadian living in a rather generic part of the country, a desert is something that holds a mystical and nearly magical aspect in my imagination. At the heart of that image sits Arizona, a state rich in native lore and culture. Through what I can only picture are large barren plains and magnificent outcroppings of red rock, lies a land full of intrigue and stories that live on throughout time. And during my research, I wasn’t wrong. Arizona has a plethora of urban legends and ghost stories to siphon through – everything from The Chupacabra, to spirits of the old gold rush haunting mines and trails, I had to eventually pick just one: The Skinwalker. Now, I did something on the Wendigo a long while back, and I thought this would be a bit too similar – then I started finding stories and firsthand accounts, and the results were far too interesting let by. The skinwalker is believed to be a Navajo shaman who, more or less, went to the dark side, something borne of pure evil and remain that way for all time. It’s believed that they can take the form of anything, from bird to wolves; from bears to even humans. These are stealthy, cunning, and deadly hunters. When not shape shifting, they tend to linger in the rather vile form of something that stands about 5 feet, smells of death, and is covered in long shaggy hair. These creatures are the things of extensive lore, and have deep roots in the Navajo, and other native tribes’ cultures. There have been accounts of them all over the USA, but it seems that most of their activity is situated in the Arizona deserts. But, you’ll just have to listen to the cast to find out more about these enthralling creatures.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Alaskan Triangle

We’re all quite familiar with the Bermuda Triangle – right? The part of the world where everything from people to planes go missing, and is full of other paranormal, or extraterrestrial reports, yeah, you know it. But did you know there is another mysterious triangle out there in the world, and it may even be in your backyard. If you live in Alaska, you’ve probably heard of it. It’s a swath of land between Anchorage, Juneau, and Barrow, and since 1988 more than 15,000 people have gone missing there – a rate that is two times the national average. There are a ton of different theories behind what’s actually causing the disappearances; from aliens to energy vortexes, to simple answers such as geography and the harsh environment. No matter the causes, thousands have disappeared in that specific triangle of land, and that in and of itself is very peculiar. The area began attracting attention in 1972 when a plane carrying political official went missing while flying over the area in October of that year. Over the course of month, hundred searched the area – in fact more than 32,000 square miles were scoured, but no trace of survivors, corpses, or debris were ever located. From there, things only got worse as more and more people and crafts went missing when traveling that fateful passage. So, what is it? Is it aliens, or maybe it’s the Alaskan native legend of the Kushtaka? Perhaps it’s nothing more than a strong magnetic pull, or harsh weather. Whatever the case, I’ll do my best to explore it. So be sure to listen to the entire cast for all the information. Don’t forget as well, there’s still a few more weeks left to drop a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts for a chance to win some cool stuff! If you’re listening on Stitcher, you can leave a review there and still be entered! Gotta be inclusive!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.