The Moonlit Road Podcast

Terrifying South Carolina ghost story about a dare between gentleman for one to spend the night in a Charleston haunted house. From the story by B.M. Croker (1849-1920). Told by John Gentile. Audio produced by Henry Howard. Directed by Craig Dominey.

Audio version of one of American's literature's most famous ghost stories - a chilling tale from Ambrose Bierce detailing a murder from three perspectives, including the victim herself. Part Three, STATEMENT OF THE LATE JULIA HETMAN, THROUGH THE MEDIUM BAYROLLES, narrated by Trudy Leonard. Audio produced by Henry Howard. Directed by Craig Dominey. Music by Michael Thomas Roe.

Audio version of one of American's literature's most famous ghost stories - a chilling tale from Ambrose Bierce detailing a murder from three perspectives, including the victim herself. Part Two, STATEMENT OF CASPAR GRATTAN, narrated by Thomas E. Fuller. Audio produced by Henry Howard, directed by Craig Dominey, music by Michael Thomas Roe.

Audio version of one of American's literature's most famous ghost stories - a chilling tale from Ambrose Bierce detailing a murder from three perspectives, including the victim herself. Part One, STATEMENT OF JOEL HETMAN, JR., narrated by John Gentile. Audio produced by Henry Howard, directed by Craig Dominey. Music by Michael Thomas Roe.

Tennessee ghost story about one boy's quest to find out where the strange noises in the local cemetery are coming from. Written by Craig Dominey and Jim McAmis, told by Jim McAmis. Sound design by Henry Howard.

Louisiana twist on the legend of the Fair Folk, written by Sam McDonald. Told by Otis Jury.

An Alabama widow lives in fear of the terrifying murderer Railroad Bill. But is he really what the townsfolk say he is? Written and told by Christine Horn. As told by the Tour of Southern Ghosts, ART Station, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Poor Thomas Lester decides to spend the night in a haunted house. Never a good idea! A Southern ghost story told by Yomi Goodall. Recorded for the Tour of Southern Ghosts (http://artstation.org/portfolio_page/a-tour-of-southern-ghosts/). Story used with permission of ART Station, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Native American ghost story from North Carolina about a brave Cherokee whose stance against the white man would make him a legend. Written by Craig Dominey, told by Jim McAmis.

The "Maco Light" is one of North Carolina's most famous ghost stories - a paranormal phenomena along the local railroad that has fascinated ghost hunters for years. Written by Jim McAmis with Craig Dominey.

Back around the turn of the century, there was a young man named Joshua who moved from New Orleans, Louisiana to his Grandpa's farm in rural Mississippi. As a child, Joshua loved to visit his Grandpa's farm. It was so quiet, peaceful and simple - not complicated and noisy, like New Orleans. Joshua told himself that, when he got old enough and became self-reliant, he'd move to Mississippi, find himself a pretty local girl to marry, and settle down in the land he loved so much. When Joshua moved in with his Grandpa, he immediately started helping him out with the daily farm chores. These chores included helping out in the fields and taking the produce into town Saturday morning. On that day, farm folk would load up their mule-drawn wagons and travel for miles through flat, sun-scorched farmland toward the nearest town. There, they'd set up their wagons on the town square and sell their produce to the town folk. One hot Saturday morning, Joshua brought some peas, tomatoes and a little okra to sell in town. Later that day, as he headed back on the long dusty road toward Grandpa's farm, he began to get a little tired and thirsty. He then saw a shady spot under a cluster of magnolia trees that he thought he remembered passing on the way in to town. He stopped, sat under the trees and had a drink out of his water jug. By his recollection, he figured that this cluster of trees must be halfway between Grandpa's farm and the center of town. The sun was setting by the time Joshua finally returned to the farm. Grandpa came out the door to greet him and said, "Son, I know you're tired and you've had a long ride from town. But Obediah sent word that he needs a load of hay come first thing Monday mornin'. But you and I got chores to do 'round here Monday morning. And you can't do it tomorrow 'cause tomorrow's Sunday, and the only work we do on Sunday is church work. So you're gonna have to load that hay now and take it on over to Obediah's house tonight. You're gonna need to take a lantern with you, 'cause it's gonna be late and gettin' dark on the road. When you get to Obediah's place, he'll fix you some supper and let you stay with him for the night. That's just the way we do things 'round here." Grandpa then handed him a lantern and said, "Now listen, Joshua - be kind to ol' Obediah. He's known 'round these parts as a talker. He'll tell ya' some wild tales, and he's pretty superstitious." Joshua didn't look forward to getting back on that wagon, but he wanted to help his Grandpa any way he could. "All right, Grandpa," he said, "I'll be okay." So Joshua headed back down the road toward town with a wagon full of hay, looking for the turnoff that led to Obediah's house. As darkness fell and the night took on a chill, he could barely see the road in front of him in the dim lantern light. The strange, unearthly sounds of insects and wild animals seemed to surround him. Joshua noticed that sounds carried easily over this flat, open land - so much so that he couldn't tell if the creatures were far away or right next to him. At one point, a creature darted across the road in front of the wagon, and Joshua thought he could see its red, catlike eyes flashing angrily at him. Although Joshua came from the wild streets of New Orleans, he found himself getting a little scared out here all alone. Finally, Joshua spotted a familiar landmark - the cluster of magnolia trees that he had stopped by earlier in the day. Suddenly, as he came by the trees holding up the lantern, he swore he saw a shadowy figure jump down from one of the branches! Joshua nearly jumped out of his seat before regaining his wits and pulling the mule to a halt. To his surprise, he could see that it was a young girl, walking toward his wagon. "Ma'am, what are you doing out here at night by yourself?" Joshua stammered, still in shock. "I'm all right," she replied in a sassy voice. "Besides, no harm will come to me." "But ma'am, it's late" said Joshua. "You never know...

Louisiana ghost story about the well documented hauntings at Myrtles Plantation. Collected and adapted by Craig Dominey. Told by Veronica Byrd. When folks think about the American South, one image that always comes to mind is the old plantation house. Before the Civil War devastated the South, the plantation homes were about the closest thing America had to magical European palaces. But what some folks don't know - or maybe don't care to think about - is that many of these plantations were built upon the backs of slaves. These slaves toiled under the whip of the white plantation owners, harvesting cotton and sugarcane for days, weeks and months on end. Some were literally worked to death, only to be replaced like an old shoe when the next boatload of captured slaves came into port. So while the plantations may have been wealthy palaces to some, they were places of misery and death to others. So it should come as no surprise that many of the plantation homes remaining in the South are rumored to be haunted. This is the story of one of those houses: Back in the 1800s, many plantations were located north of New Orleans along the banks of the Mississippi River. These plantations fueled the national economy with cotton and sugar cane, and their owners were some of the richest men in America. Myrtles Plantation, located a few miles outside of St. Francisville, Louisiana, was one of these homes. It was a beautiful example of Old South Antebellum architecture. Upon arrival, a visitor would be greeted with the magical sight of Spanish moss swaying in the breeze, sweeping wide verandas with ornamental ironwork, and the sweet smells of pink-blossomed myrtle trees. Inside, one would find a lavishly decorated home in the Gothic style, with ornate plasterwork, European antiques, winding staircases and sparkling, crystal chandeliers. But all this beauty hid a very sinister history - which many believe started with a slave girl named Chloe... At that time, Myrtles Plantation was owned and operated by Judge Clark Woodruffe and his wife, Sara Matilda. The Woodruffes had two young daughters, with a third child on the way. The judge was well respected in the community as a man of integrity, and a staunch upholder of the law. But he also held a dirty secret - he was a compulsive womanizer. Whenever he had the opportunity, the judge would sneak around and have relations with his female slaves. Chloe, a slave of mixed blood who served as governess to the Woodruffe children, eventually became the target of his advances. Chloe was disgusted with the thought of the judge having his way with her, but knew if she didn't follow through she would probably be sent back out to toil in the fields with the other slaves. Working in the "big house" was as close to freedom as a slave could expect at that time, so Chloe did what she had to do. But after awhile, Chloe began to suspect that the judge was getting tired of her, and would soon be looking for a new lover. Terrified of being sent back to the fields, Chloe began eavesdropping on the family's conversations to find out if her fears were true. One day, the judge caught her and was so enraged that he grabbed her and sliced off one of her ears. From that day forward, Chloe wore a green turban around her head to hide her shameful wound. With the judge now furious at her, Chloe knew she had to do something fast to prove her worth to the family - but what? Her opportunity came one day when she was directed to help set up a birthday party for the Woodruffes' eldest daughter. The judge was away, and his wife and daughters planned on celebrating the birthday by eating cake in the dining room. Chloe came up with a plan. She crept outside and picked one of the oleander plants growing beside the house. She knew that the leaves of this plant contained a small amount of poison, which she secretly added to the birthday cake. She figured if she made the family sick, she could nurse them back to health and...

Gruesome New Orleans ghost story about a sausage shop owner who has a unique way of getting rid of his wife. Written by Craig Dominey, told by Kodac Harrison.

Mississippi creature story about a Depression-era farmhand who will take just about any job - including at a strange farm where his predecessors ended up dead! Collected and Adapted by Craig Dominey. Told by Jim McAmis. Follow along at The Moonlit Road.com: Sop Doll

Classic Southern spooky story about a traveling salesman who runs into some pretty strange cats warning about someone (or something) named "Jesse." Adapted from folklore by Craig Dominey and told by LaDoris Davis.

Cajun folktale about a local fisherwoman whose unique way of fishing for crabs in the bayou gets her into trouble. Written and told by Veronica Byrd and Bert Tanner.

Creature story of a Louisiana gambler who runs afoul of swamp vampires while on the run from the law. Written and told by Thomas E. Fuller.

Spooky Appalachian ghost story of a mountain traveler, stunned by the death of his wife, who stumbles across a strange mountain town with a horrifying secret. Written by Craig Dominey and told by Lanny Gilbert.