An old Southern saying claims that a fool "ain't got enough sense to bell a buzzard." But what does that mean—and why would anyone put a bell around a buzzard's neck?

In 1920s Kentucky, a bitter property dispute between two neighboring farmers ends in murder. Sutton Metcalfe thinks he has hidden his crime forever in the depths of a mysterious cave. Then a lone buzzard begins circling overhead, an eerie bell clanging from its neck.

And wherever Sutton goes, the belled buzzard seems to follow!

Visit TheMoonlitRoad.com for more Southern ghost stories, legends, folklore, and original audio storytelling.

"The Belled Buzzard: A Kentucky Legend of Murder and Madness" was collected, adapted and directed by Craig Dominey

Storyteller: John Gentile

Music: Craig Dominey

Audio Production: Henry Howard

Episode Photo by John Bunting. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 Deed

Story Sources & Further Reading

• "The Belled Buzzard." American Folklore and Legend. Reader's Digest Association, 1978.

• Cobb, Irvin S. "The Belled Buzzard." The Saturday Evening Post, September 28, 1912.

The Moonlit Road Podcast is a production of The Moonlit Road, LLC.

Deep in the back roads of East Tennessee stands the abandoned Old Lockhart House, a place locals say is haunted. One Halloween night, two teenagers decide to test the legend—and discover that some places are better left alone.

Visit TheMoonlitRoad.com for more Southern ghost stories, legends, folklore, and original audio storytelling.

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"The Old Lockhart House" was written, recorded and told by Rick Baldwin

Additional audio Production: Henry Howard

The Moonlit Road Podcast is a production of The Moonlit Road, LLC.

Episode photo by Øyvind Holmstad. Licensed under CC BY SA 4.0

Widescreen episode photo from Library of Congress, no restrictions known.

ABOUT THE MOONLIT ROAD The Moonlit Road has been exploring the dark back roads of the American South since 1997. We are a large online archive of regional ghost stories, tall tales, and folklore from the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast, told by authentic local storytellers.

#TheMoonlitRoad #SouthernGhostStories #TennesseeGhostStories #HauntedHouse #EastTennessee #AppalachianFolklore #SouthernFolklore #HalloweenStories

Deep in the mountains of Tennessee, a young bride will do anything to save her husband's sanity from the legendary Wampus Cat. When a mysterious old woman offers her a strange mask with the power to confront the fearsome creature, the gift comes with a terrible price.

In this classic Appalachian mountain legend, courage, sacrifice, and the supernatural collide in one of the South's most enduring tales. Join The Moonlit Road for a haunting journey into Southern folklore and discover why the legend of the Wampus Cat continues to captivate storytellers and listeners alike.

For more strange Southern folktales, including stories not on the podcast, visit https://themoonlitroad.com

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"The Wampus Mask" was adapted from folklore by Craig Dominey.

Storyteller: Janice Butt

Audio production: Henry Howard

Wampas Mask photo by Jon Kownacki

The Moonlit Road Podcast is a production of The Moonlit Road, LLC.

ABOUT THE MOONLIT ROAD: The Moonlit Road has been exploring the dark back roads of the American South since 1997. We are a massive online archive of regional ghost stories, tall tales, and folklore from the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast, told by authentic local storytellers.

#WampusCat #Wampus #AppalachianFolklore #AppalachianLegends #TennesseeFolklore #SouthernFolklore #Folklore #MountainLegends #CreatureLegends #AmericanFolklore #Legends #Storytelling #Podcast #GhostStories #TheMoonlitRoad #SouthernStories #Mythology #CampfireStories #FolklorePodcast #Witchcraft