The Creepiest Urban Legend From Every State

They’re whispered around campfires and passed down from generation to generation. They spark fear in the hearts and minds of children and adults alike. Their subjects take many shapes, be they bloodthirsty creatures of the night, vengeance-seeking ghouls, or sinister vortices. And each time they are told, the terror spreads.

America is a country rich in folklore, a place where cautionary tales have always been mixed into the pot and sprinkled into our collective nightmares. Yet some of our nation’s eeriest and most persistent stories, whether because they’re rooted in community lore or used as means to synthesize local tragedy, don’t travel far. Never fear (or actually, please do fear): we’ve tracked down the creepiest urban legends in all 50 states and the macabre bunch of stories is certain to freak you out, no matter where you live.