urban legend
Urban legends have captivated us from ancient eras to the modern day; a deep dive into scary lore and 'could be true' tales about Bigfoot, Slender Man, the Suicide Forest and beyond.
The Vampire of Kisiljevo
The villagers already knew what was inside the grave. Or at least they believed they did. It was 1725 in the small Serbian village of Kisiljevo. Nine people had died within approximately eight days. Their illnesses had been sudden. Their deaths had been frightening. But illness was not what terrified the village.
By Veil of Shadows26 days ago in Horror
Chiang Mai University Haunted Dormitory: Who Is Walking Upstairs After Midnight?
Over the years, Chiang Mai University has not just been a place to learn. Established in 1964 as the first public university in the north of Thailand, the University has evolved along with the city. The dormitories that exist at Chiang Mai University have played an integral part in the lives of its students, considering the way the university had been structured with a residential setup allowing for living, learning, and forming friendships among students. Today, there are many student residences within the university, which include some of its older male and female dormitories. While the university calls its dormitory system “living, learning and caring,” history of the university is also responsible for giving it another name—one associated with mysterious noises, bizarre events, and ghostly appearances late into the night. One of the most popular legends is attached to Female Dormitory 7. Based on the legend, there was a case of a young female student who was either raped or attacked by an unknown person and subsequently murdered in the dormitory. The circumstances under which the supposed murder took place are different according to the version of the legend and there is no official document confirming the crime as described in the legend. Nonetheless, the legend has been widely adopted by the university community. However, the most horrifying aspect of this legend occurs after midnight. It has been said that, once the dormitory corridors are completely quiet, there may be heard a peculiar rhythmic sound from the staircase. "Pok... Pok... Crued..." The sound has been compared to a person climbing the stairs. Based on the legend, it is the ghost of the murdered student that makes such a sound, supposedly returning to the place of her death. There are versions of the legend which state that the sound starts at the bottom of the staircase and grows louder the closer it gets to the top. These people were warned not to investigate the issue. This legend became so widespread that it found its way into Thai popular culture. The legend of Chiang Mai University ghost was turned into a horror film anthology titled "Haunted Universities" in 2009. However, what about the proof of the presence of a ghost? There is no scientific proof such as any photos, recordings or forensic investigations showing the existence of a supernatural being in this dormitory. The majority of the evidence can be attributed to testimony of students and stories that are handed down from generation to generation by the residents of the dorm. Some students claimed that they heard mysterious sounds, like footsteps in deserted hallways, doors opening and closing without any visible reason and some odd noises from staircases during the night. Moreover, there is an interesting historical fact that makes the ghost stories associated with Chiang Mai University so persistent. In the early days of the university, some areas near its premises remained relatively undeveloped and wooded. University officials confirm that the legends of ghosts and specters had spread among the student population, and that spiritual rituals had been conducted at the university to reassure the terrified students. None of this proves that the dormitories are haunted. Old buildings could be creaky, and wind, plumbing, and animal sounds along with noises made by other tenants could be the cause of such odd sounds. But this might be exactly why the Chiang Mai University dormitory ghost story is so powerful. The buildings are real. The history of the university is real. The students who claim to have heard something are real. What cannot be proved is the identity of the source of the noise. And for the students moving down the empty stairs of the dormitory after midnight, this difference does not matter. Because when the corridor falls quiet and that first “Pok… Pok… Crued…” sounds out of the dark downstairs, the oldest question of Chiang Mai University gets asked again: Was it just a noise… or was there a visitor coming up the stairs?
By Kyrol Mojikal27 days ago in Horror
The Allagash Incident: What Happened Above Eagle Lake?
In August 1976, four young men paddled into the darkness of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in northern Maine for a night of fishing: Jack Weiner, his identical twin brother Jim, Charlie Foltz, and Chuck Rak. They were friends, artists, and outdoorsmen looking for the kind of wilderness experience that northern Maine still offered in abundance. Forests stretching beyond sight, isolated lakes, cold nights, and darkness largely untouched by artificial light.
By Veil of Shadows29 days ago in Horror
They Built a Luxury Hotel… Then Abandoned It: The Haunted Phuket Resort
There are a lot of beaches and luxury resorts on the island. Every year millions of tourists come here seeking sun, relaxation, and adventures. However, there are some locations in Phuket which are less known because they have an unusual, dark, and even mysterious atmosphere. One of such places is an abandoned Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort which is located nearby Nai Yang Beach and is known for paranormal legends and ghost stories. This abandoned resort looks interesting because it was not just an old hotel which was closed after many years of working. This place was supposed to be a luxury development which was never finished and opened for people. The abandoned and unfinished resort was left to nature and to the weather. The resort was supposed to be an upscale development which would be located near Nai Yang Beach and Phuket International Airport. According to reports of the early 2000s, about 56 luxury apartments and seven villas were planned to be constructed. The location was quite attractive because the development was going to be located among tropical landscapes and near Phuket beautiful coast. At first, it seemed as though the project had a promising future ahead of it. The Hyatt Hotel chain had reportedly been involved with ideas of running the development, and Phuket Peninsula Co. had been behind the project. Nonetheless, major issues arose in relation to the development, including whether the area was encroaching onto land linked with the Sirinat National Park. The building was eventually halted and the luxurious resort left unfinished. An odd-looking abandoned building resulted from this venture. While many of the abandoned buildings tend to be completely ruined, portions of the resort had reportedly remained looking as though construction simply stopped. The resort had bathrooms, mirrors and other fitting amenities installed in the rooms and even some remnants of the luxury that it was supposed to provide remained visible. Except for that – nobody came. With time, the area started growing vegetation. The walls of the buildings became weathered, their windows broken and rooms darker than ever before. However, another very strange incident occurred in February 2013 on this property. According to The Phuket News, about 60 to 70 percent of the roof was damaged in the fire. The fire was highly unusual, because it appeared that the electricity supply had been cut off in this property for many years. In this regard, it was impossible that the fire was caused by some electrical malfunction. As a result, the police began investigating the theory that the fire was caused by accidental ignition by those who entered this abandoned place. Thus, another element of mystery was added to this abandoned property. It should be mentioned that all mysterious stories about this abandoned place started appearing when this resort was abandoned. It was reported that the visitors to this place felt very uncomfortable atmosphere and even fear in this resort. In addition, some guests heard strange sounds in empty rooms or hallways. Others felt as if they were being watched during the exploration of this deserted place. Among the most common legends that are related to the resort, one says that the spirits of those who had some connection to the abandoned resort come back at night. It is said that there are some odd figures that can be spotted in the rooms and around the resort as if it was still operational in some parallel world. The legends go even further and say that ghostly guests gather inside the abandoned complex, making use of the rooms and other services, although the resort has not been in use for years. Also, there are legends of some spirit that was tied to the owner or people involved with the construction of the resort. The spirit is supposed to haunt the resort and scare anyone who enters the abandoned buildings or tries to take away anything from the resort. Nevertheless, there is a difference between legend and proof. There is no scientifically proven information about the haunting of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort. There are no scientifically proven pictures, videos, or investigations which prove the existence of any ghosts in the place. The majority of the stories are associated with visitor experiences and some other urban legends. However, there could be many different normal explanations for all the strange stories which have been told by the visitors. Any abandoned buildings have the ability to make weird noises due to the changes in temperatures and the movements of the wind through damaged windows and even animals in empty rooms. Darkness can turn normal things into scary images, while the information about the haunted site can make people overly attentive. However, the absence of any proof has not prevented the resort from becoming part of the list of mysterious abandoned sites of Phuket. Maybe the most intriguing aspect of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort is not really about a ghost at all. It is about an idea of luxury which never materialized. This place was built for vacations, for relaxation, for creating positive memories. Yet, it turned into empty structures, deserted and ignored. Rooms intended to be filled with guests gaze out at the tropical landscape but no one occupies them. This abandoned resort proves how fast things can fade away as soon as plans, finances, and legal issues start clashing with each other. But there will always be people who are interested in the unusual, paranormal. An abandoned luxury resort, incomplete rooms, an incident with a fire, many years of neglect and rumors of unexplained encounters – it is the perfect recipe for creating a modern legend about a haunted place. What is not known yet is whether the weird phenomenon observed by people visiting this place is really a ghost or something else. But if at any time you find yourself close to Nai Yang Beach and start hearing tales about an abandoned hotel hiding behind the bushes, keep in mind that the real story of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort already has enough mystery in it. And after the night covers the ruins of the deserted hotel, it becomes clear why some people are convinced that the hotel was never really empty. Maybe the visitors just left. Or maybe, according to the legend, they never did.
By Kyrol Mojikal29 days ago in Horror
The Phantom Raid of Dieppe
At first, it sounded like thunder... It was shortly after four o’clock in the morning on August 4, 1951, near the French coastal town of Dieppe. The beach below lay in darkness. The English Channel stretched beyond it. Nine years had passed since one of the most disastrous Allied operations of the Second World War had exploded across this coastline.
By Veil of Shadowsabout a month ago in Horror
The Ringcroft Haunting: What Happened at Andrew Mackie's Farm?
It began with the animals... In February 1695, on a lonely farm in southwest Scotland, Andrew Mackie discovered that some of his young cattle had somehow gotten loose during the night. There was nothing supernatural about that. Animals break restraints. So Mackie secured them again. The bindings were broken again. He made them stronger. Still they broke. Finally, Mackie began to suspect that something other than unruly livestock was responsible. He moved the animals elsewhere.
By Veil of Shadowsabout a month ago in Horror
Ghosts Beneath the City. Top Story - August 2026.
Hauntings can occur in a number of places and there is no exception as to what place might be haunted. Centuries old buildings. Cemeteries. Hospitals. Even hotels. And then you have the sort of places where ghosts might be the last thing on your mind.
By Jasmine Aguilarabout a month ago in Horror
The Chained Man of Athens: The Ghost Story That Refused to Die
Long before haunted houses had creaking staircases, flickering electricity, or doors that moved by themselves, there was a house in ancient Athens where people were afraid to sleep. Because every night, the chains began to move.
By Veil of Shadowsabout a month ago in Horror
The Mystery of the Sarah Joe...
In September 1988, marine biologist John Naughton stood on one of the most isolated pieces of land in the Pacific Ocean and stared at a small, battered boat. He had seen that boat before, or at least, he had spent days searching for it, nine years earlier and more than two thousand miles away. The faded registration numbers on the hull confirmed what seemed impossible: the boat was the Sarah Joe . And somewhere nearby was a grave...
By Veil of Shadowsabout a month ago in Horror
Amazon's Big Foot
Around the world, across all cultures there exist tales of cryptids many of which are just as mysterious as they are terrifying. There are places around the world where man has barely set foot in. Locations that would make the perfect hiding place for something to hide from human eyes after all this time.
By Jasmine Aguilar2 months ago in Horror
