In this Thanksgiving episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob dive deep into two of the Northeast’s most mysterious and myth-soaked locations: Camp Hero in Montauk and Plum Island, just off the coast of Long Island. Both places have rich, complicated histories—military experiments, secret research, Cold War paranoia—and both have sparked some of the wildest conspiracy theories of the last half-century.
Joe explores the origins of Camp Hero, from its World War II radar towers to the chilling folklore of covert experiments that inspired the infamous Montauk Project. Rob digs into the strange past of Plum Island, the isolated government research facility that has fueled decades of speculation about biological testing, escaped creatures, and government secrecy.
Together, they unravel the history behind the rumors, separate fact from fiction, and talk about how the story of Montauk ultimately inspired Stranger Things—though the full book deep dive will come in a later episode. It’s an episode filled with shadowy research labs, abandoned bases, Cold War anxieties, and the strange way mystery takes root in isolated places.
And since it’s a holiday week, Joe and Rob wrap things up by wishing all of you a warm and spooky Happy Thanksgiving. Stay curious, stay safe, and as always—thanks for joining us on the trail.

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Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.