The Jersey Devil has haunted the Pine Barrens of New Jersey for over 250 years. With reports of winged, hooved creatures and eerie screams in the night, this legendary cryptid has inspired fear, fascination, and countless folklore tales. In this episode of The Dark Folio, May explores the history, legends, and spooky accounts that make the Jersey Devil a lasting figure of paranormal lore.

👻 Perfect for fans of cryptids, ghost stories, and paranormal folklore.

• McCloy, James F., and Ray Miller Jr. The Jersey Devil. Middle Atlantic Press, 1976.

• Coleman, Loren. Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest True Stories, and Bizarre Phenomena. Simon & Schuster, 2007.

https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/10/13_places_the_jersey_devil_has_been_spotted_in_the.html

https://medium.com/myths-legends-lore/a-devil-hides-in-the-pine-barrens-101814a3b904

 Got your own eerie story or hometown legend? Email me at [email protected] — you might just hear it on a future episode. Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help our spooky little community grow.

🎙️ More bite-sized creepy stories: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheDarkFolioPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579233608896

Until next time… stay curious, stay cautious… and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Music Credit: Zapsplat. Horror music box ghostly haunted musical tune

The Haunted Whaley House | Dark Folio Podcast: Ghosts, Tragedy & FolkloreThe Whaley House in San Diego has been called the most haunted house in America. From family tragedies to chilling ghost sightings, its walls hold stories that refuse to fade. In this episode of The Dark Folio, May unpacks the history, folklore, and paranormal legends that make the Whaley House one of California’s most infamous haunted places.

Perfect for fans of ghost stories, haunted history, and eerie folklore.

Got your own eerie story or hometown legend?

Email me at [email protected] — you might just hear it on a future episode.

Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a quick review. It helps our little spooky community grow.

Find me on: YouTube: @the dark folio

stay curious, stay cautious… and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Whaley House Museum 2476 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA Open for tours Wednesday-Sunday Special ghost tours available evenings Reservations recommended, especially for evening tours Part of Old Town San Diego Historic District

Have you visited the Whaley House or experienced something unexplained in a historic location? Share your story with us – you might hear it featured in a future episode of The Dark Folio.

Sources & References:

• Built as oldest brick structure and multifunctional home, theater, courthouse (Greek-Revival, 1857) (Wikipedia, San Diego Ghosts)
  

• Construction on execution site and Yankee Jim legend (Ghost City Tours, San Diego Ghosts)
  

• First haunted observations by Thomas Whaley (Old Town Trolley Tours, Wikipedia, US Ghost Adventures)
  

• Family tragedies: Thomas Jr. (scarlet fever), Violet (suicide) (San Diego Ghosts, Ghost City Tours)
  

• Abandonment and restoration by Francis Whaley 1909, family deaths inside house (Old Town Trolley Tours, Wikipedia, Ghost City Tours)
  

Ghost sightings and phenomena (Anna, Thomas, Yankee Jim, sounds, scents) (US Ghost Adventures, ghostsandgravestones.com, Ghost City Tours)

• Whaley House Museum official historical records • San Diego Historical Society archives • "The Whaley House: A History" by June Reading • Contemporary newspaper accounts from San Diego Union-Tribune historical archives • Paranormal investigation reports from The Atlantic Paranormal Society • Visitor testimonies from Whaley House Museum guest logs (1960-present)

• Whaley House Museum: https://www.whaleyhousesandiego.com/

• Old Town San Diego Trolley Tours: https://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego/whaley-house

Regis Philbin Gets Answers After GHOST Sighting - The Haunting Of... (S1 Flashback) | LMN

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/#TrueCrime #Folklore #Paranormal #Podcast #Mystery #Hauntings #Cryptids #GhostStories #WhaleyHouse #SanDiego #AmericasMostHauntedHouse

The Dark Folio — Show Notes

Welcome to The Dark Folio — your 15–20-minute dive into eerie folklore, haunted places, and strange true stories.

This episode:The Winchester Mystery House — A Mansion Built by Spirits?

Step inside one of America’s strangest homes: a sprawling 160-room mansion full of staircases to nowhere, doors that open into thin air, and endless construction said to be guided by restless spirits. Was Sarah Winchester driven by guilt, grief, or ghosts? Let’s unlock the legend.

In this episode of The Dark Folio, May takes you through the twisting hallways of the Winchester Mystery House, a labyrinth of oddities born from tragedy and mystery. We’ll explore the myths of Sarah Winchester’s supposed curse, the architectural riddles she left behind, and the blend of fact and folklore that still keeps this San Jose mansion a hotbed for ghost hunters and curious visitors alike. Was it truly the work of spirits—or just one woman’s obsession?

• The tragic losses that changed Sarah Winchester's life forever

• 38 years of non-stop construction resulting in 160 rooms of architectural mysteries

• Separating supernatural legend from historical reality

• The practical explanations behind the house's bizarre features

Winchester Mystery House 525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, CA Daily tours available, including special flashlight tours Website: WinchesterMysteryHouse.com

Have you visited the Winchester Mystery House? Do you have your own encounter with the unexplained? Reach out to The Dark Folio — your story might be featured in a future episode!

Here are some of the sources that shaped today’s episode—perfect for your own late-night rabbit hole:

• History.com – Why People Believe California’s Winchester Mystery House Is Haunted
  

• Wikipedia – Winchester Mystery House
  

• Wikipedia – Sarah Winchester
  

• SFTravel.com – The Guide to the Winchester Mystery House
  

• PEOPLE.com – 12 Real-Life Haunted Houses with Chilling Histories

• Winchester Mystery House official archives

• San Jose Historical Museum records

• "The Winchester Mystery House: An Architectural Puzzle" - Historical Society of San Jose

• Contemporary newspaper accounts from the San Jose Mercury Herald (1884-1922)

• "Captive of the Labyrinth" by Mary Jo Ignoffo - debunks many Winchester myths

• Earthquake damage reports from 1906 San Francisco earthquake

• Stephen King interviews regarding Rose Red inspiration https://www.stephenking.nl/skfnieuw/specials/special-rose-red/special-rose-red-interviews-en-recensies/special-rose-red-interviews-en-recensies-abc-news-interview-met-stephen-king/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

  https://youtu.be/t0Wc2YwhP48

• "The Winchester Mystery House: An Architectural Mystery" - Winchester Mystery House Official Website https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

• Burton, Mary Jo. "Captive of the Labyrinth: Sarah L. Winchester, Heiress to the Rifle Fortune" (2010)

• San Jose Historical Museum Archives - Winchester Family Records

• "The Truth About Sarah Winchester" - Smithsonian Magazine, October 2016

• Peninsula Ghost Hunters Society Investigation Reports (1982-2010)

• San Francisco Chronicle Archives - "The Winchester Widow" (1922)

Got your own eerie story or hometown legend? Email me at [email protected] — you might just hear it on a future episode.

Like what you heard? Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a quick review. It helps our little spooky community grow.

🎙️ Want more bite-sized creepy stories? Find me on:

• YouTube: @TheDarkFolioPod
  

• Facebook: The Dark Folio
  

Until next time… stay curious, stay cautious… and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Music credit goes to Zapsplat.

SHOW NOTES

"The Pope Lick Monster: Kentucky's Deadly Guardian of the Rails"

Explore the dark legend of Kentucky's Pope Lick Monster – a half-man, half-goat creature that haunts an active railway trestle. Unlike other cryptids, this beast has a documented body count. From circus train disasters to government experiments, discover the origin theories behind this territorial cryptid and why the real danger might not be supernatural at all.

SAFETY WARNING: The Pope Lick Trestle is active railway infrastructure. Trespassing is illegal and extremely dangerous. Multiple people have died on this trestle from train accidents. DO NOT attempt to visit or explore this location.

Safe Alternatives for Cryptid Enthusiasts:

• Kentucky After Dark tours (20+ paranormal sites statewide) • The Nightmare Gallery in Somerset, KY (by appointment - best reviewed attraction of its kind)

• Waverly Hills Sanatorium paranormal tours

• Kentucky Railway Museum with train rides and events • Kentucky Dinner Train for railway experiences

• Local folklore festivals celebrating Kentucky legends

• Various haunted tours throughout Kentucky

Sources:

• Louisville Courier-Journal historical archives

• Norfolk Southern Railway safety records

• Kentucky Folklore Society documentation

• "Weird Kentucky" by Jeffrey Scott Holland

• Local paranormal investigation reports

• Eyewitness accounts compiled by Kentucky cryptid researchers

Pope Lick Monster, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Lick_Monster&oldid=1292100938 

The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster

• The Nightmare Gallery, Somerset: paranormalroadtripper.net/nightmaregallery/

• Kentucky After Dark tours: kentuckyafterdark.com

• Kentucky Railway Museum: kyrail.org

• Kentucky Dinner Train: kydinnertrain.com

Railway trespassing is a federal crime punishable by fines and imprisonment. The Pope Lick Trestle is active Norfolk Southern infrastructure with regular freight traffic. Multiple fatalities have occurred. The Dark Folio does not encourage or endorse visiting this location under any circumstances.

Have you encountered unexplained creatures in Kentucky or elsewhere? Share your story safely – no dangerous locations required. Your experience might be featured in a future Dark Folio episode.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Welcome to The Dark Folio — your 15-minute dive into eerie folklore, haunted places, and strange true stories.

This episode:

The Greenbrier Ghost — a haunting that helped solve a murder in West Virginia.

The chilling true story of Zona Heaster Shue, whose death in 1897 was initially ruled natural causes until her ghost allegedly appeared to her mother, revealing she had been murdered by her husband. This led to an exhumation, autopsy, and murder trial that made legal history as the only case where ghost testimony played a role in a criminal conviction.

Sources & References:

Got an eerie story or local legend? Send it to me at [email protected], and you may hear it on an upcoming episode.

Like what you heard? Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help grow our spooky community.

Find me on: YouTube: @the dark folio

Until next time… stay curious, stay cautious, and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/

Welcome to The Dark Folio — your 15-minute dive into eerie folklore, haunted places, and strange true stories.

This episode:

The Villisca Axe Murders — a hundred-year-old case, still unsolved, still haunting Iowa.

On June 10, 1912, the small town of Villisca, Iowa, woke to one of the most horrific and mysterious crimes in American history. Eight people — the Moore family and two young houseguests — were brutally murdered in their sleep with an axe. What makes this case truly haunting isn't just the violence, but the bizarre ritualistic behavior of the killer, who spent hours in the house covering mirrors, draping windows, and leaving strange clues that have puzzled investigators for over a century.

Sources & References:

• The Villisca Axe Murders, Iowa PBS

• Villisca: Living with a Mystery documentary archives

• “The Ax Murders of Villisca, Iowa” — Historic Council Bluffs

• Villisca Axe Murder House official site: www.villiscaiowa.com

• Old newspaper accounts via Library of Congress archives

• "The Man from the Train" by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James
• "Murdered in their Beds" by Troy Taylor

• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation case files

• Villisca Review newspaper archives, June 1912

• Montgomery County Sheriff's Department records

• "The Midnight Assassin" by Skip Hollandsworth

• Villisca Axe Murder House official documentation

• Historical accounts from the Villisca Historical Society




Visit the Villisca Axe Murder House:

• Website: villiscaiowa.com

• Address: 508 E 2nd St, Villisca, IA 50864

• Tours and overnight stays available (booking required)

Got your own eerie story or hometown legend? Email me at [email protected] — you might just hear it on a future episode.

Like what you heard? Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a quick review. It helps our little spooky community grow.

Want more bite-sized creepy stories?

Find me on: YouTube: @thedarkfolio

Until next time… stay curious, stay cautious, and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Content Warnings

This episode discusses violent crime and murder, though details are kept family-friendly and focus on the mystery rather than graphic descriptions.

#TrueCrime #UnsolvedMysteries #Iowa #SmallTown #1912 #AxeMurder #ColdCase #Paranormal #History #Mystery #Villisca

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/

FULL SHOW NOTES

Welcome to The Dark Folio — your creepy little coffee break.. 15-20-minute stories of eerie folklore, haunted places, and strange true crime.

This episode:

The Mothman — from West Virginia legend to global omen. Discover how sightings of a winged creature with glowing red eyes gripped Point Pleasant, led to a tragedy, and sparked a legend that still flies today.

Sources & References:

• “The Mothman Prophecies” by John Keel (1975)

• West Virginia State Archives — Mothman records

• Point Pleasant local newspaper archives (1966-1967)

• Smithsonian Magazine: “The Enduring Legend of Mothman”
• An Ode to a Hometown Creature: Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia | Folklife Magazine

• Interviews from the Mothman Museum Home
• The Real Story of The Mothman Prophecies - IGN

Have a spooky hometown story or local legend? Send it my way at [email protected]. It might just be our next episode.

Like what you heard? Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and share it with someone who loves a good eerie tale. Please leave a review to help more curious souls find our cozy little haunt.

Find me on: YouTube: @The Dark Folio

Until next time…stay curious, stay cautious, and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case. 🌙

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/

Welcome to The Dark Folio - Your Creepy Little Coffee Break

Step into the shadows with host May as she introduces you to The Dark Folio — where history's strangest, darkest, and most haunting records come alive in just 15 -20 minutes.

Think of it as your creepy little coffee break: folklore that sends shivers down your spine, hauntings that defy explanation, and true crime mysteries that time forgot. All delivered with an intimate, conversational tone that feels like sharing ghost stories by lantern light.

What to expect:

• Ghost Files: Famous and local hauntings (like the Bell Witch of Tennessee)

• Monster Files: Cryptids and creatures that lurk in the unknown

• Dark Ledger: Bizarre historical crimes and unexplained vanishings

• Family-friendly scares (PG-13, perfect for your coffee run or car ride)

• Fascinating facts you can actually source

• A healthy dose of skepticism mixed with wonder

No jump scares, no gore — just intelligent storytelling about the mysteries that make you lean in and listen a little closer. Whether you're a folklore fanatic or just love a good mystery, The Dark Folio has something waiting in the shadows for you.

"Where the shadows keep their records."

Perfect for: Quick commutes, coffee breaks, or whenever you need 15 minutes of delicious darkness in your day.

Follow The Dark Folio for new episodes, and remember — keep that flashlight handy. Just in case.

#TrueCrime #Folklore #Paranormal #Podcast #Mystery #Hauntings #Cryptids #GhostStories #TheDarkFolio

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/

Episode: The Bell Witch — Tennessee’s Most Talkative Ghost

Welcome to The Dark Folio — your 15-20 minute dive into eerie folklore, haunted places, and strange true stories.

My name is May, the host of The Dark Folio. After several years in radio and many years of studying the paranormal, folklore, legends, true crime and just the weird in general, I decided to merge them into a podcast to share with you! This is new to me, breaking out on my own, so be gentle as I learn and grow in this endeavor.

Episode 1 - The Bell Witch — Tennessee’s most infamous haunting, and maybe the only ghost that actually talked back. It started with scratching and whispers in a frontier cabin… and ended with a death some say was caused by the witch itself. Since I live right here in Tennessee, it hits a little close to home and is a perfect first episode for The Dark Folio.

Have your own eerie story or local legend? I’d love to hear it. Email me at [email protected] and you might even hear your story in a future episode.

Like what you heard? Follow The Dark Folio wherever you get your podcasts, and if you’ve got a second, leave a quick review. It helps our little creepy community grow.

Until next time…stay curious, stay cautious…and keep that flashlight handy. Just in case.

Sources & References:

• Tennessee Historical Commission marker on the Bell Witch

• The Official Home of the Bell Witch https://www.bellwitchcave.com/

• Bell Witch Cave archives & local historical accounts (Adams, TN)
• Bell Witch explained? Austin Peay chemistry professor explores the science in the talehttps://www.apsu.edu/news/october-2021-bell-witch-1029.php#:~:text=The%20most%20compelling%20piece%20of,his%20family%20that%20did%20it.

• An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch by M.V. Ingram (1894)

• Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture, “Bell Witch” entry

• Legends of America: The Bell Witch of Tennessee

Music credit goes to Zapsplat. https://www.zapsplat.com/music/horror-music-box-ghostly-haunted-musical-tune-version-2/