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

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"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

Don't Fish on Sunday!

Everyone in one small Virginia town knows the rule: don't fish on Sunday.

The old-timers insist the river's fish honor the Sabbath, refusing to bite on the Lord's Day. But one young fisherman named Moses laughs at the superstition and returns home every Sunday with a full catch—until the day he hooks something no one has ever seen before.

Part Southern folktale, part cautionary legend, this eerie tale explores the consequences of ignoring old traditions and reminds us that some stories survive for a reason.

Adapted from traditional folklore and performed by Veronica Byrd, this episode of The Moonlit Road Podcast brings another haunting tale from the backroads of the American South.

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

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"Don't Fish on Sunday!" was adapted from folklore and directed by Craig Dominey.

Storyteller: Veronica Byrd

Audio Production: Henry Howard

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 large online archive of regional ghost stories, tall tales, and folklore from the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast, told by authentic local storytellers.

A weathered mirror hangs inside an old shotgun shack, but some reflections refuse to stay where they belong.

In this haunting Southern tale from The Moonlit Road Podcast, a forgotten house, a strange mirror, and a lingering presence blur the line between memory and something far more unsettling. What begins as curiosity slowly turns into dread as the past presses against the glass.

Rooted in the eerie storytelling traditions of the American South, The Mirror is a quiet, atmospheric ghost story about reflection, loss, and the things that wait in empty rooms long after everyone else has gone.

FOR MORE STORIES: This is just one of the many legends found on the Southern back roads. Visit our archive of Southern ghost stories and folklore at https://themoonlitroad.com.

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"The Mirror" is an original story written by Elise Burke Brown.

Storyteller: Rick Baldwin

Audio Production: Henry Howard

Music performed by Barbara Bowman, with vocals by Mary Ann Howard.

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 large online archive of regional ghost stories, tall tales, and folklore from the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast, told by authentic local storytellers.

#southernghoststories #neworleansghosts #americanfolklore #darkfolklore #storytellingpodcast #campfirestories

In this eerie Tennessee folktale from Weakley County, a legendary fiddler emerges for one last contest, chasing the coveted "fiddler's dram."

Fiddling contests were once the heartbeat of rural communities—where pride, reputation, and a jar of fine whiskey were all on the line. But on this particular night, as the music begins and the crowd leans in, something about the man on stage feels… not quite right.

🎻 A backroads tale of music, mystery, and a performance no one could explain.

If you enjoy this story, take a listen to another "fiddling ghost story" - The Ghost of Fiddler's Rock: https://www.themoonlitroad.com/the-ghost-of-fiddlers-rock-tennessee

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

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"Fiddler's Dram" was adapted from folklore and directed by Craig Dominey

Storyteller: David Hirt

Music: Randall Franks - https://randallfranks.com

Audio Production: Henry Howard

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

Keywords: Tennessee folktale, Southern folklore, fiddle contest, American folklore, backroads stories, The Moonlit Road

Did the Devil himself really build a mansion in the heart of the Garden District? Discover the eerie legend of the haunted estate that once cast a shadow over St. Charles Avenue.

New Orleans is a city of secrets, but few are as unsettling as the story of the dark, imposing mansion that appeared almost overnight on one of its most prestigious streets. From the strange, hapazard construction to the terrifying sounds that echoed from within its walls, the "Devil's Mansion" became a landmark of dread for generations of locals.

Content Warning: This story ventures into darker territory, including moments of violence that some listeners may find unsettling.

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

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"The Devil's Mansion of New Orleans" was adapted from folklore by Craig Dominey.

Storyteller: Tom Coleman

Recorded at KRVS Radio Acadie, Lafayette, Louisiana

Additional audio production: Henry Howard

Music: Jez Graham

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.

#TheMoonlitRoad #NewOrleans #GhostStories #SouthernGothic #GardenDistrict #DevilsMansion #LouisianaFolklore #StCharlesAve #HauntedHistory #UrbanLegends #StorytellingPodcast

Bitterness between two sisters over a glittering diamond ring leads to terrifying consequences from beyond the grave in this chilling Georgia ghost story.

In the quiet town of Washington, Georgia, jealousy festers for years between Martha and her sister Jenny. When Jenny dies, temptation proves too strong—and Martha takes the ring she has always coveted.

But some things are never meant to be stolen.

Soon a voice begins calling in the night:

"Where's my ring?"

FOR MORE STORIES: This is just one of the many legends found on the Southern back roads. Visit our archive of Southern ghost stories and folklore at https://themoonlitroad.com.

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoonlitroad and X/Twitter https://www.x.com/themoonlitroad

"Where's My Ring?" was told by Nancy Riggs

Story adapted from folklore by Nancy Riggs with Craig Dominey

Director: Craig Dominey

Audio Production: Henry Howard

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 large online archive of regional ghost stories, tall tales, and folklore from the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast, told by authentic local storytellers.