Unexplored Legends

Arkansas has rich folklore and numerous tales of the supernatural. Our research uncovered a number of different sites with legends and stories. Unfortunately, time and work did not allow us to travel as much as we would have liked. Instead, we are posting a list of places we wanted to visit and the stories we came across.

The Gurdon Light

The town of Gurdon is home to one of Arkansas's more famous urban legends. In 1931, railroad worker William McClain was murdered; soon after, people began to claim to see a floating light along the railroad tracks near where McClain was killed. Some say this is his lantern, continuing to light the tracks. This tale gained national attention in 1994 when Unsolved Mysteries did a piece on the mystery. More than forty years after the murder, people continue to travel to Gurdon to walk the tracks at night in hopes of seeing the mysterious Gurdon Light.

White River Monster

Another famous Arkansas legend is the White River Monster from Newport. While stories can apparently be traced back to Native American folklore, the first recorded sighting was in 1915, followed by sporadic reports of a monster in the White River until 1972, when seven people claimed to have seen a beast in the water. Suddenly, Newport gained national attention, with people swarming to the town to catch a glimpse of a creature. A filmmaker arrived in hopes of making a movie. In response, the Arkansas Legislature declared a small stretch of the river a "refuge" area in 1973 to protect the White River Monster, banning anyone from bothering or harming the creature should it exist. This legend was the subject of an episode of Lost Tapes on the Animal Planet

Fouke Monster

Perhaps the most famous Arkansas supernatural creature is the Fouke Monster. Tales originate from the area around the Sulphur River in Miller County near Texarkana. Considered to be Arkansas' Bigfoot, stories date back to the 1940s when people first began to claim that a hairy, ape-like creature prowled the swamp. However, in 1971, a farm was allegedly attacked by the monster, which briefly brought national focus to the Fouke area. The most famous representation of the beast is the 1972 movie, The Legend of Boggy Creek, which became a cult favorite. The Old State House Museum has an original movie poster from the film on display. Lost Tapes also did an episode on Fouke, titled Southern Sasquatch.

The Fouke Monster isn't the only such legend in the Natural State. Although much less famous, stories of a monster around Lake Conway are not unheard of. We are unaware of how common this tale is, but the stories began around the time the Fouke Monster first allegedly appeared.

Woodson Lateral Road

Ghostly hitchhikers and lights along roads are not uncommon stories for motorists, and Arkansas is not the exception. The most famous local legend is along Woodson Lateral Road, south of Little Rock on the way to Sheridan. Drivers report seeing a phantom motorcycle light approaching them along the lonely stretch of road; others claim to pick up a young woman in a prom dress with a motorcycle jacket - upon reaching her destination, she vanishes. According to the legend, a young couple died in a motorcycle accident while returning home after prom. Channel 11 (THV) ran a segment about this ghost story for Halloween in 2013.

Petit Jean Mountain

West of Little Rock lies Petit Jean Mountain, a popular spot for tourists and hikers alike. According to legend, a young French woman, named Petit Jean, stowed away on a ship to America to be with her beloved. However, as their boat traveled up the Arkansas River, she came down with a serious fever. When all hope seemed lost, she asked to be carried to the top of the mountain where she died and was buried. A small mound of stone and dirt can be found on Petit Jean Mountain, which is said to be her grave. According to local folklore, her ghost can be seen wandering the mountain at night, and strange lights hover above her grave. Whether or not there was a Petit Jean, the story continues to be popular and the alleged grave site has been fenced off and maintained.


There were other places we wished to visit as well, but these are a few of the more interesting places that we thought were worth sharing. There are places all across the state with their own tales and legends, such as Van Buren, Pea Ridge, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith. We strongly encourage people to visit some of these places for themselves!