Folklore
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn the heart of Appalachia’s coal country, where few see daylight, a chilling folk tale persists: Tommyknockers. In the dark, cramped tunnels, miners whisper about these mysterious beings who knock on walls and steal tools. Their knocks sometimes serve as warnings—a signal to flee before disaster strikes. Whether guardian angels or tricksters, Tommyknockers, aka Knockers, are an enduring part of […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Boojum is a Lover, Not a Frighter. Imagine hiking where the Balsam Mountains meet the Blue Ridge. Shadows stretch across the trail as the air grows crisp. Just ahead, a strange figure appears on the ridge—tall, shaggy, and oddly human-like. Is it a bear? A trick of the eye? Or could it be North Carolina’s most elusive legend: the […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesIt’s a cold, foggy night in the Appalachian mountains, where shadows seem to move just beyond the firelight. You hear the rustling of leaves and a distant scream. Is it a woman in distress? An owl? Or—is it something more fearsome? Old folks whisper of something else in the mountains, something deadly. They call it the Wampus Cat, a creature […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs I wrote a blog post about Jack Tales, I was motivated to try my hand at writing a Jack Tale of my own. Drawing from literary descriptions of Jack, local moonshiner stories, and a neighbor’s tale of a mash-consuming, drunken bear, I put together a short tale about Jack, a drunken bear, and a sheriff. Most of us are […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesWe’ve all heard the story of Jack and the Beanstalk—an English boy, some magic beans, a giant, and an adventure up a towering beanstalk. But did you know that the English Jack has kinfolk in the Appalachian Mountains? Meet the star of Appalachian Jack Tales, a character as old as the hills but still kicking around in modern folklore. From […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesHungry Mother State Park might seem like just another peaceful Blue Ridge retreat designed to happily engage vacationers. The sparkling lake, the hiking trails, the beach, the cabins, the campsites, and the mountain air are delightful. But behind this serene landscape lies a powerful story of survival and resilience that has shaped this beloved park. The Whisper of History Walking […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesAs a boy, I was fascinated by tales of lost treasure: The Hardy Boy’s Tower Treasure, Stephenson’s Treasure Island, and Poe’s The Gold Bug. Stories of long-lost fortunes conjure images of daring quests, secret maps, and the intoxicating possibility of striking it rich. Such tales are everywhere. Their allure taps into our innate desire for discovery and the excitement of […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn Southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, between the towns of Bassett and Stuart, nature and legend intersect in the tale of the Fairy Stones. The focal point for the legend is Fairy Stone State Park, a haven for nature enthusiasts, rock collectors, and seekers of magic. From the moment you step onto its trails, the whispers of ancient fairies seem […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesLegend has it that in 1654, a group of weary English explorers stumbled upon a sight that defied explanation: a village nestled among the ancient oaks, its log cabins revealing arched windows, yards boasting fenced gardens punctuated by outbuildings. They were shocked: There should not have been any European settlements this far west. Who were these people? Where were the […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesGazing upon the star-laden sky on a clear night, one expects tranquility. But an anomaly disrupts the sky’s serenity in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Eerie lights dance on the peak of Brown Mountain, captivating and confounding observers. Their origin is a beguiling mystery that continues to baffle scientists and folklore enthusiasts alike. Some stories claim the […]
