While growing up, we heard a variety of urban legends in Alabama. Some of us even sought to see if these stories were true. Listed below are eight of the most popular Alabama urban legends. How many of these pieces of Alabama folklore have you heard and/or experienced?
Note: Many urban legends have different versions, so keep that in mind as you read the ones listed below.
1. Dead Children's Playground — Huntsville
Maple Hill Cemetery, 202 Maple Hill St SE, Huntsville, AL 35801, USA
Tucked away in Huntsville's Maple Hill Cemetery is Dead Children's Playground. According to legend, the spirits of the children buried near the playground come out to play during the late night hours. Many visitors of Dead Children's Playground have witnessed swings moving on their own and the ghosts of children playing.
In Mobile's Church Street Graveyard, there's an oak tree growing from the grave belonging to Charles Boyington — a man who was executed for a murder he didn't commit. When Mr. Boyington realized he was about to die, he let everyone know that an oak tree would grow from his heart to prove his innocence. It did just that! Several passersby have heard strange noises coming from the Boyington Oak. Could it be Mr. Boyington?
Many years ago, a young couple lost their lives while driving across Hell's Gate Bridge. According to legend, if you stop on the bridge and turn off your lights, a member of the couple will sneak into your vehicle and leave a wet spot. If you're wondering how this bridge earned its name, wonder no more. Supposedly, if you stop on the bridge and turn around, the road behind you will appear as the fiery gates of Hell. Today, because of its condition, Hell's Gate Bridge is closed. Learn more by watching this YouTube video:
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4. Sally Carter's Grave —
Huntsville
Maple Hill Cemetery, Workman's Cir, Peabody, MA 01960, USA
Sally Carter, Huntsville's most famous ghost, is known for haunting Cedarhurst Mansion. In 1827, at the age of 15, Sally died inside of the mansion while visiting her sister. In 1919, Sally's ghost told the young man who was staying in her former bedroom to fix her headstone, which had fallen during a storm. For several decades, people visited Sally's grave, which began to cause problems. In 1982, her body was exhumed and relocated to Maple Hill Cemetery. The exact location was never revealed, and Sally's ghost continues to haunt Cedarhurst Mansion today.
There's no denying that Aunt Jenny Johnston is "THE" legend of the Bankhead National Forest. Here's how the story goes: During the Civil War, a formation of the Home Guard hanged Jenny's husband and shot her oldest son. According to legend, Jenny and her other sons promised to find and kill every Home Guard member that was involved in the death of her husband and son. They ended up killing seven of the eight members involved. According to witnesses, if you approach Jenny's property, her ghost will appear and tell you to go away. She's still angry about people trespassing onto her property.
There are several versions of this urban legend, and the most popular one involves a woman drowning her baby. As legend has it, a young woman escaped from nearby Oak Grove Plantation with her baby as she was being pursued by soldiers. When she reached the bridge, she put her crying baby's face into the river below to keep the soldiers from hearing it. Many people have reported hearing the cries of a baby from this bridge, hence the name, Crybaby Bridge.
One of the most fascinating Albama cryptids, Huggin' Molly has been described as a 7-foot-tall woman dressed in black. She walks the streets of Abbeville late at night, and if she finds you, she'll give you a big hug and scream into your ear. Children are often told this story to keep them from staying out late past dark.
According to legend, if you walk along the wooded Hinds Road, you'll likely encounter a woman telling you she "sold her soul to the devil." This woman was a witch who lived in the woods, and her evil soul continues to frighten people today.
How many of these Alabama urban legends were you already familiar with and which are brand new to you? What other urban legends would you add to this list?
If you love learning about haunted Alabama and all the creepy things that have happened here, it might be time to pack up the car for our haunted places in Alabama road trip. This trip takes almost fourteen hours so it would be best to reserve an entire weekend for it, but that said, with six spots, ranging from cemeteries to hotels, this trip is more than worth your time. You’re sure to feel some of the hairs on your neck rise as you travel!
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More to Explore
Creepy Alabama
Sara Dager|December 28, 2022
What are the most haunted places in Alabama that I can visit?
Nothing is more fun than exploring a good haunted place, if you're brave enough that is! Some of the most fascinating haunted places in Alabama are:
Another way to make the hair on your neck stand up is to discover an abandoned place that has been left to nature. The abandoned places in Alabama are truly haunting, you have to check out:
Are there any haunted hotels in Alabama that I can spend the night in?
If you aren't too concerned about getting a good night's sleep, then maybe a more... spirited hotel is right for you. You can stay in many haunted hotels in Alabama, such as:
