Ozarks Folktales & Legends
Traditional stories from the public domain
These authentic Ozark folktales have been passed down through generations, preserving the wit, wisdom, and wonder of mountain storytelling. Each tale reflects the unique character and spirit of the Ozarks region.
The Arkansas Shakes
Some folks will compete over anything, even the flu
A medicine show tale from the Arkansas River bottoms about two brothers-in-law who settled their rivalry with the strangest contest ever witnessed—a pecan-shaking competition powered by nothing but the "shakes."
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The White River Monster
A monster hoax becomes Arkansas legend
Bill "Bossman" Phelps tells the true story of how he and the boys created Arkansas's most famous river mystery—using an upside-down scow, some rope, and the need for a day off from cotton loading.
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Ghost Touring at the Crescent Hotel
When a ghost tour guide at Eureka Springs' famous haunted hotel drinks himself into oblivion, Otis steps into the void.
Join yours truly for a terrifying descent into the basement of the Crescent, 'America's Most Haunted Hotel.'
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The Ghost on Mill Creek, Part One
A mysterious girl, four dangerous men, and something that can't be explained
William Stumpff tells of the day he saw a naked girl swimming in the creek and witnessed something supernatural that saved her from men with evil intentions. But following her into the woods revealed even stranger mysteries.
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The Ghost on Mill Creek, Part Two
The story continues as William returns to discover the truth about Stella
William Stumpff returns that night to witness a ritual summoning. Five girls and an old woman call forth the ghost of Stella Barnes, a murdered girl who now protects the living. What William sees changes everything he thought he knew about life, death, and the supernatural forces lurking in the Ozark woods.
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The Ghost on Mill Creek, Part Three
The conclusion of the haunting tale of Stella Barnes
William's father reveals the tragic truth about Stella Barnes, the beautiful young woman brutally murdered in 1912. Through the eyes of a reporter who interviewed the condemned man, we learn what really happened on that October day—and discover William's father's own connection to the story. A powerful conclusion about justice, sacrifice, and the protective spirit that still haunts the Ozark creeks.
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Alf Bolin, Bushwhacker: Part One
The tale of the notorious Ozarks bushwhacker
Ma Cloud sits on her porch on a July evening in 1888 and begins the story of Alf Bolin, the boy they took in who became the most feared bushwhacker in the Ozarks during the Civil War. A haunting tale of betrayal, violence, and the terrible cost of war in the hills.
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Alf Bolin, Bushwhacker: Part Two
Ma Cloud reflects on war and meaning
The killings continue as Ma Cloud chronicles Alf Bolin's reign of terror. But she also reflects on what war does to people—how it turns neighbors into ideas and ideas into enemies. A meditation on violence, belief, and the Kingdom of God that turns people back into human beings.
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Alf Bolin, Bushwhacker: Part Three
The final reckoning
The dramatic conclusion: Tom and Sarey Foster devise a deadly trap to end Alf Bolin's reign of terror. A tale of cunning, courage, and brutal justice as the most feared bushwhacker in the Ozarks meets his end. Ma Cloud dances on his severed head.
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A Consideration of Witches
Superstition, scapegoating, and the persistence of witch folklore
From Appalachia to the Ozarks, witch superstitions persisted well into the 20th century. Exploring the dark psychology of scapegoating through stories of flyting, effigies, silver bullets, and cats—and what these traditions reveal about power, fear, and the most vulnerable members of society.
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John Gaskins: Legendary Hunter of Bears
A bear, two whores, and a hero.
Uncle Johnny Gaskins killed 200 bears in thirty years, but none quite like this. When a she-bear terrorized the girls fetching water for the White Elephant—Eureka Springs' most notorious establishment—Aunt Min called for the famous hunter. What happened next left his shotgun barrels twisted like pretzels and became the stuff of Ozark legend.
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The Truth About the Ozarks Howler
Otis Bulfinch sets the record straight
Much has been written about the mysterious Ozarks Howler, but very little of it is true. She is not a series of or's but a concatenation of and's—a dark chimera dwelling in the deep caves of distant valleys. And by God, her eyes are green not red. The Howler howls in order to be.
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