No, that's not my nickname. This is actually one of the most famous mysterious creatures said to wander from Florida to North Carolina and Arkansas. As you might expect from the skunk part of its name - this thing doesn't smell great. Ever since the first sightings of it in the 1960s, people have mentioned the horrific smell of this thing. Often you can smell it before seeing it. When you finally do, it looks like an ape. Big, hairy and running on two legs. For some people, the Skunk Ape isn't just a rumor - its a reality. Dave Shealy is the man who established the official Skunk Ape Research Headquarters. He said there is not one or two buy 9 of these creatures living in the Flordia Everglades. He's spent most of his life trying to document them. According to Shealy, the average male Skunk ape stands 6 - 7ft tall and weighs roughly 450 lbs. Female is 5 - 6ft tall and weigh in at about 250 lbs.
9. Char-Man
Ojai's Camp Comfort County Park is a picturesque place in California. Its also known for being home to many creepy spirits. There's the ghost of a bride wearing a bloody wedding dress, a woman on a horse reenacting her death for eternity and even a headless motorcyclist. However, none are as terrifying or famous as Char-Man. Ever since a fire in 1948 killed a number of people - there have been reports of this hideous figure wandering the area. He's said to have skin burnt to crisp and noxious fume pouring out of him. Some people go even further and say that this creature isn't human at all - they say Char Man is a beast, an entity that has visited people a number of times - and it always goes the same way. They say their homes are engulfed in thick black fumes that send them to sleep. Just before they lose consciousness, they see Char Man walking towards them. When they wake up, there will be a small fire nearby - a reminder that Char Man has visited them.
8. Turnball Canyon
They say Death Awaits Everyone at Turnbull Canyon. Located in Whittier California, the Canyon is known as a pretty dangerous place as it is thanks to the mountain lions and rattlesnakes that call it home. Some people believe that the most dangerous thing there though is the paranormal activity. Its said that the Gabrielino Native Americans called the land -Hutukngna- which means -The Place of the Devil- … the Spanish killed many of them who refused to convert to Catholicism. Some say their tortured souls now haunt the Canyon. Then, in the 19th century, members of the tribe who worked in the area reported seeing ghosts and witches in burial grounds there. The sightings became more frequent when reports started of there being a satanic cult that had taken root in the canyon. They were supposedly sacrificing children from a nearby orphanage. When locals got wind of what was happening, the cult disappeared overnight - but the reports of ghosts, creatures and hooded figures still appear from time to time.
7. The Night Watchers
Were moving over Hawaii now - we all know it looks like paradise but as we've seen in our last few videos, its no stranger to some creepy urban legends. One of them is the Night Marchers. Locals say they are ghostly apparitions that can be seen walking information at night, never stopping, always facing forward, and there is always the sound of a beating drum, echoing out in the silence of the night. Hawaiians say they are armed spirit warriors en route to a battle, they carry old weapons and are clothed in decorated helmets and cloaks.
The next question is naturally, why do they appear? Well, some say they are restless souls looking to reclaim rightful territory or replay a battle gone wrong - hoping this time they can do it right. Or perhaps its a simple ghost tale of avenging their own deaths. The creepiest theory I had is that they are searching for an entrance to the next world. Instead of wandering aimlessly like other ghosts, they do it how a soldier knows best - in a focused, methodical manner. There are signs that the Night Watchers are out on the Hawaiian Islands. They are recognized by their raised torches and repeated chants. Sometimes, footprints have been found, even though the Night Watchers are said to float a few inches off the ground.
6. The Voodoo Queen
Louisiana is a place steeped in Voodoo history. For people in New Orleans, few stories rival that of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. She was said to be a prestigious woman who worked as a hairdresser in the city. She chatted to every customer she had, not just for the sake of it, but to get information. Eventually, she learned the secrets of everyone in the city - man and woman - rich and poor. She used this information to manipulate her enemies through Voodoo. Its said she gained the power of immortality from a demonic force by the name of Papa Legba. She wanted this so that she could kill innocent beings and seek revenge on those who have wronged her. Others say that she never murdered anyone and used her Voodoo skills to unite people. She also blended Catholicism with Voodoo to form a religion that is still practiced in the area today. She died in 1881 at the age 87 but the story did not end there. According to local legend, she returns to life once a year on St Johns Eve to lead the faithful in worship. If you're ever in New Orleans on that night, don't be surprised if you see a ghost of the Voodoo Queen looking for her followers.
5. The Rougarou
Were staying in Louisiana now for this one. The Rougarou is a werewolf creature that has been sighted across French Louisiana for centuries. The creature is said to have all the familiar tropes of a werewolf - huge, leering, covered in fur and ready to tear any human to shreds. It differs from a classic werewolf though in that the Rougarou is said to have a genetic disorder, rather than catching its disease from someone else or being cursed into one by a witch. A Rougarou is a totally normal person until one day when their condition is turned on. Their body is enlarged and they develop an insatiable craving for raw meat. They will remain in this painful state until they complete the transformation - and there is only one way to do this - to take a bite of human flesh. Those who have seen a Rougarou describe it has huge, standing between 7 - 8ft tall, with massive sharp teeth and deep glowing red eyes. It becomes its animal form on the night of a full moon. For many people, the Rougarous is far scarier than a typical werewolf because the person doesn't even know they are one until its too late. It could be your friend, your family member, it could be me - or it could even be you.
4. Skinwalkers
In traditional Navajo culture, the skinwalker is witchcraft practitioner who wears the skins of various animals. A skinwalker can morph into a number of different creatures including coyotes, wolves, bears, crows, and owls. In the past century, that outside of the Navajo people has also reported seeing Skinwalkers. They've been described as half human monstrosities who run on two legs at insanely fast speeds. One woman claimed that a Skinwalker appeared on Navajo reservation land. It ran alongside her car at 60mph, darted in front of her, and then disappeared into the night. They are often said to let out a screeching howl of laughter as they run circles around terrified people. Sightings like this have led many people to become interested in Skinwalkers and wanted to interview Navajo tribespeople to find out more about them. The problem is, there is a deep superstition among the Navajo when it comes to talking about Skinwalkers. Many of the elders believe it's not good to talk or even hear about Skinwalkers, otherwise you will attract them to you. Let's hope that we don't attract them after discussing them in this video.
3. Stow Lake
Stow Lake lies in Golden Gate Park in California. Its said to be home to a ghost that not only appears to visitors - but can be summoned by them. According to locals, the ghost of stow lake was a mother whose baby fell into the lake. They say that she can be summoned by standing on the edge of the lake and saying exactly these words -White lady, white lady, I have your baby- … you have to repeat it 3 times and then she will appear. The best place to do this is said to be next to the Pioneer Women and Children statue. That in itself is said to be a spooky statue as it changed expressions at night. If she deems you worthy enough then she will appear before you and immediately ask you for her baby. If you say that you have the baby, she will haunt you until the day you die. If you say you don't, shell drags you to the lake herself.
2. The Legend of Chloe
This is said to be the ghost of a girl that haunts Myrtles Plantation in LA. One day, a teacher took a picture with one of her students on a trip there, it has since become famous among the paranormal community. Behind them, there appears to be the ghost of a girl standing in the window. She appears to be looking directly into the camera. The owners said this is Chloe, and it's not the first time she's been seen. The picture was said to the Society of Physical Research in England, founded in 1882 - claimed to be the oldest and most prestigious paranormal research group in the world. They found nobody had tampered with or edited the photograph, leading to many people saying this is proof of Chloe's existence. The photograph has now been sent around the world, always with a request for an explanation, but so far none have emerged.
1. Devil Man of Algiers
Were returning again to Louisiana. Algiers is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. This story dates back to 1938 when reports of a man terrorizing couples spread around the city. When asked to describe the man, some detailed were disputed but one thing everyone agreed on was that this man was undoubted, categorically - the devil. He was described as having eyes like a chicken, with bright pink star-shaped ears and long black horns. He also rode on thin air and shapeshifted while announcing himself as the devil. The most common reports involved him terrorizing bars, attacking women and appearing before local couples.
People who saw the devil man say they always felt a sense of oncoming death or dread and that they even saw their lives flash in front of their eyes. Perhaps the scariest story came from a young couple. They said as they were traveling home one evening, a strange person tried to stop their car. They slowed the car and asked what he wanted. He asked for a ride to a nearby town, the couple felt uncomfortable and so they politely refused. Later, as they drove down the highway, they saw the same man, walking along the side of the road. They drove past him but after just 10 minutes, there he was again - walking by the side of the road.
Again, he asked them to stop and requested a ride and again, they refused. When they sam him again, he changed into the Devil before their very eyes. They sped off again but then there he was, this time riding a brown horse. They rushed to tell the police who went to investigate. They saw him and requested he stop. When he didn't, they fired shots into him. He jumped off the horse and sprayed the bullets back at that, laughing and rubbing his hairy hands together. He was brought to jail where he quickly slipped out of his cell and into New Orleans legend.
