Graveyards are notoriously scary places, especially after dark, and the same is true of old church houses. Churches, despite being houses of God, can also attract opposing forces, making them concentrated gathering points for both good and evil. My first experience with the darker side of churches came right after high school. After taking a vocational floor covering class … [Read more...]
Strange Sightings In Utah County: Don’t Walk Alone After Dark
I have spent my entire life collecting tales about the weird and mysterious elements of Utah — stories that at first seem completely unbelievable, but sometimes, just sometimes, there ends up being more of a foundation of truth than we’d like to admit. (See my article about The Giant Flying Manta Ray of Provo for evidence of this.) Since 2011, I have been documenting sightings … [Read more...]
Mysteries of the Great Salt Lake
MONSTERS, GHOSTS, CURSES, AND MORE...DEEP MYSTERIES OF A SHALLOW LAKE Abandoned places have a special allure, as if calling out to tourists, paranormal experts, and scientists alike. The Great Salt Lake is one of the most unique places on the planet. As the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere, and seven times saltier than the ocean, it’s hard to miss on a … [Read more...]
The (Other) Oldest Profession: Storytelling in Utah
No, not THAT profession! Get your mind out of the gutter! It’s storytelling! Storytelling has been practiced since the beginning of time. It has been documented that there have been primitive civilizations who functioned without the use of the wheel and yet, they had storytellers. These storytellers of old were instrumental in passing on traditions, genealogies, songs, … [Read more...]
The Last of The Hobos and Utah Phantom Train
I grew up on a “haunted” racehorse farm close to the border of Vineyard and Orem. Trains would run north and south along the tracks exactly west of the farm. These trains ran past a bar that was literally “on the other side of the tracks,” and just a stone’s throw away from my farm. I believe the bar was called Danna and Shirley's Hitching Post. Many of my nights were spent … [Read more...]
Bigfoot In Mormon lore … is Bigfoot Cain?
Who is this hairy hominid? The Sasquatch or Bigfoot (both terms are plural and singular) is North America’s largest cryptozoological mystery. The name “Bigfoot” has come to denote any unknown relic hominid that is reported throughout the world. However, each unknown creature does have is own label, such as the Yeti or Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas. It is … [Read more...]
Searching for Sasquatch in Utah
Searching for Sasquatch in Provo Canyon: I was deep up Provo Canyon around 3 am when I let out some whoops and left apples scattered in a perimeter about 150 yards from my camp. I sat up most of the night, my ears and eyes searching the darkness until sleep overtook me. I awoke early in the morning. Nearby, cowboys were unloading and saddling their horses. The sky was a … [Read more...]
The Faerie Folk of Utah
For centuries we have heard tales and people have had sightings of enchanted-diminutive humanoids. Their stories are found all over the globe... Even in Utah. I've spent my entire life studying Folklore and Legends and because of this I have accumulated an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Nature Spirit Lore... Or as most people have come to know them... “Faeries.” A little … [Read more...]
The Significance of the “Salamander” In Mormon and Occult Lore
Most of us have at least heard of the “Mark Hofmann murders” and the related “Salamander Letters,” but what's the deal with this so-called “Salamander?” Most people have heard of Mark Hofmann, his forgeries, that include the “Anthon Transcript,” the “Joseph Smith the 3rd Blessing,” and “The Salamander Letter,” which eventually led to one of the most compelling … [Read more...]
Lost and Discarded Love and Courtship Traditions In Utah and Abroad.
The J. Geils Band said it best... “Love Stinks”, but it doesn't have to be that way. Several years ago I wrote a lecture/performance piece with the sole purpose of impressing and eventually wooing a girl. The title of the performance was “Love, Luv, Wuv: One Man’s Bitter Interpretation of The Folklore and Mythology of Love.” It was a hit, not only with the girl I had a crush … [Read more...]