The Great Plains are known for their flat lands and big skies. There’s no place for a mysterious creature to hide in that great wide open … or so you thought. There’s something hiding in the flashing lightning and rumbling thunder at the very heart of the storm—the eyes and voice of the Thunderbird.

The mountains of Colorado have always been a quiet and rugged place but in the 1880s it drew a crowd with the promise of silver. Mining is dangerous work, but these men ran into more than the usual hazards. They stumbled upon something with fire-red eyes and a deep, dangerous rumble.

When you go to Lake Tahoe, chances are you’ll see Tahoe Tessie. She’s a sea monster and a minor mascot for the area—pasted on the sides of buses, restaurant menus and adorning knick knacks in every gift shop.

The problem is, if you look closely into the water you might see something that looks nothing like the charming and cheerful monster you’ve seen all over town. This episode is for those who love being out on the water... no matter what may lie beneath.

After the blast of Mount Saint Helens, the area around the mountain was filled with ash and silence. And then something began to appear in this barren landscape. It always came at night and it was always accompanied by a terrible silence. This week’s tale is for all of those who have ventured into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and felt the need to look over their shoulder because of that feeling that someone—or something—was following them.

Join us by the fire as we try to scare each other with stories about those things you hear pass too close to your tent late at night or what made that sudden rustle in the bushes as you walked by. Every part of the country has its own legends to explain what it was you thought you caught a glimpse of. We’ll be traveling the country telling stories of the things that live beyond the firelight.

While you listen, remember that these stories are just that: stories. Sure, some of them are based on the testimony of people who claim to have seen these creatures, but it’s up to you how much you believe, and how to explain away what you don’t.

Come closer to the fire and let’s hear this week’s legend.

The first episode of Camp Monsters is coming to your ears Tuesday, October 1st.