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Some people believe in ghosts; others don’t. But when you’re sitting around a campfire on a dark night, it’s a little easier to suspend your disbelief. Here’s a ghost story about a mysterious bandage man that might keep you up late at night, especially if you happen to be anywhere near Cannon Beach.

When you're snuggled around a campfire, ghouls and ghosts might be the last thing on your mind... until someone gets the bright idea to tell creepy stories.
Henry..../flickr
The story of The Bandage Man is an urban legend that's been around since the 1960s. It may have started as a way to deter young lovers from "parking" in overlooks along Highway 101.
The story goes that a young couple was parked in a truck somewhere near Cannon Beach.
Diana Anderson/flickr
Oblivious to their surroundings, they were making out when the truck shifted, as though someone had climbed up into the truck bed. They looked out the rear window to find a disfigured man, covered in bandages, rocking the truck back and forth.

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He started pounding on the window and the top of the truck as the boy pulled the truck out of the overlook and started racing down the highway.
Alex Weimer/Flickr
The couple drove for a few miles with the bandaged man still beating on the truck, until he suddenly disappeared. into the foggy night.
Stories of Bandage Man continue to plague Cannon Beach and the stretch of Highway 101 nearby.
sea turtle/flickr
Over the years, some drivers have reported a man covered in bandages jumping into their cars. Sweethearts in parking lots or overlooks report seeing The Bandage Man approaching their car. Others say that they've seen him on the beach and walking down the side of either Highway 101 or a short road known locally as "Bandage Man Road," which connects Cannon Beach. It’s one of the most well-known hauntings in Oregon.
Some believe that Bandage Man is the ghost of a logger who died after horrific injuries sustained while working nearby.
phillipe leroyer/flickr
He's said to smell horribly of rotting flesh, and sometimes leaves small pieces of bloody bandages in his wake. If you have a penchant for sinister stories this story will probably not faze you.

Of course, no fully reliable sources exist to prove that this ghoulish bandage man in Oregon exists, but at the end of the night, when you crawl into your tent alone and hear the snapping of twigs or footsteps nearby… you might just wonder if Bandage Man is on the prowl!

Have you heard this story before? Are there other Oregon legends that never fail to make you shiver? We’d love for you to share your experiences (even if they are terrifying tales) in the comments section below!

If you’re interested in more spine-tingling ghost stories, check out these 10 best places to spot a ghost in Oregon.

If you’re still in the mood for more fun Oregon adventures, take a look at this video:

 

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More to Explore

Adventures in Oregon

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | April 16, 2023

Where can we find beaches in Oregon?

  • Oceanside Beach is one of the state's less-crowded beaches and is recognized for its rugged natural beauty.
  • Lincoln Beach is recognized as having some of the best beachcombing for shells, starfish, sea glass, and more on the sand and in the tide pools.
  • South Beach is unique in that the sand is as white as you’d find in the Caribbean islands.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other beautiful beaches in Oregon.

Where can we find wineries in Oregon?

  • Bella Vida Vineyard in Dundee sources their grapes from the same vineyard, which provides a unique flavor profile for each.
  • Dana Campbell Vineyards in Ashland is set on land that offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
  • Domaine Drouhin Oregon in Dayton is historic, in that it has been in operation for well over a century.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful wineries in Oregon.

Where can we find state parks in Oregon?

  • Oswald West State Park in Arch Cape features hiking trails, old-growth forests, beaches, and dramatic beauty.
  • White River Falls State Park in Maupin has a beautiful waterfall, an abandoned hydropower plant, and lots of hiking trails.
  • Harris Beach State Park near Brookings offers camping and is dotted with incredible natural sea stacks.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fantastic state parks in Oregon.

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