Welcome to The Lesser Known - Off The Map edition. Today's episode is Whatever Wednesday where we talk about...whatever! Our topic in this episode is Roadtrip or Nah? We talk about which we prefer but want to hear from you too! Comment below what your preferred method of traveling is :).

"In the heart of a Midwestern city, where riverboats once docked and pioneers pointed west, something strange cuts across the skyline."

"a monument unlike any other — not a tower, not a statue, but a single, sweeping curve of steel that touches the clouds. Built with astonishing precision, this gleaming structure stands taller than the Statue of Liberty, yet offers no stairs, no ordinary elevator… only a strange, hidden tram that spirals visitors upward in a way that feels more like a ride than a climb."

Its surface reflects the sky, while hidden at the top a time capsule waits to be revealed and beneath it all lies a story of visionaries and setbacks and a quiet rule that no president is ever allowed to reach its peak."

"Designed by a man who never lived to see it finished, it was once the subject of wild proposals — from colossal bells to bizarre obelisks — before becoming the iconic curve we know today."

"To most, it’s a symbol of westward dreams. But to those who look a little closer, it’s something more — an engineering marvel wrapped in mystery, balanced perfectly between progress and the past."

"You may have seen the postcard… but the story behind it? That’s a whole different view."

Sources:

https://www.umweltimrecht.blog/gateway-arch/

https://www.nps.gov/jeff/learn/news/gateway-arch-national-park-purpose-and-significance.htm

https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/materials-and-techniques.htm

https://www.thirteen.org/programs/american-masters/american-masters-eero-and-elio-saarinen-compete-st-louis/

https://weather.com/news/news/famous-landmarks-under-construction-photos-20130610

https://www.history.com/articles/st-louis-gateway-arch-surprising-facts

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/the-time-a-base-jumper-parachuted-off-the-st-louis-arch/

https://morethanjustparks.com/gateway-arch-national-park-facts/

https://www.dogtownpizza.com/blog/fun-facts-about-the-gateway-arch/

Show Notes:In this episode, we’re heading deep into the misty hollows of New River Gorge National Park, where beauty and darkness intertwine. 

We dive into ghost stories and eerie legends from the heart of West Virginia, where strange whispers echo through the woods and history refuses to stay buried. Hear chilling tales of ghostly miners, tragic smallpox outbreaks, and the mysterious hauntings of Red Ash Island, a place shrouded in sorrow and spectral sightings.

You'll meet the elusive Lantern Man, encounter the mysterious Nunnehi, and uncover the darker side of this wild and rugged landscape. From Appalachian folklore to real-life tragedy, we peel back the layers of one of America’s most hauntingly beautiful parks.

Links:

Red Ash Island:

https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm%3Fid%3DA612F389-7CAD-4496-8A6E-E924BA94A4D2?

Red Ash mine:

https://www.nps.gov/places/red-ash-community-and-mining-ruins.htm

“Beneath the mist of an ancient river, a forgotten world clings to the cliffs and forests. Here, coal towns once roared with life—and now stand abandoned, their saloons and opera houses silent under creeping vines. Hidden islands hold graves of miners and plague victims, lost to time. Fossils of ancient trees and sea creatures still press against the canyon walls, telling stories millions of years old. Bats roost in old mine shafts, while waterfalls tumble over secret sandstone ledges known only to the boldest adventurers. And if you're daring enough, you can even walk a steel catwalk suspended hundreds of feet above it all.

Today, we’re peeling back the layers of one of America’s most haunting and beautiful places. Welcome... to New River Gorge National Park”

• https://morethanjustparks.com/new-river-gorge-national-park-facts/

• https://newrivergorgecvb.com/7-facts-about-americas-newest-national-park-new-river-gorge-national-park-and-preserve/

• https://www.wvnstv.com/news/west-virginia-news/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-new-river-gorge-national-park/

• https://www.wvnstv.com/news/west-virginia-news/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-new-river-gorge-national-park/

• https://parkjunkie.com/new-river-gorge-facts/

Travel with us deep into Northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park—a land of boiling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and spooky legends that’ll make your spine tingle. This week, we're stepping off the trail and into the supernatural side of one of the country’s most underrated (and eeriest) national parks.

From ancient Native American beliefs about sacred spirits to hikers who swear they've heard whispers in the steam, Lassen is more than just a geothermal wonder—it’s a hotbed of paranormal mystery. We explore ghost stories from Lake Helen, the haunted history of Drake’s Bad Guest Ranch, and the unsettling vibes of Bumpass Hell (yep, that’s a real place and it’s as intense as it sounds).

We also talk about the strange case of a missing hiker, unexplainable sightings, and the overwhelming feeling that someone—or something—is watching. Whether you're into geology, ghost stories, or both, this episode blends natural beauty with supernatural chills.

Takeaways:

• Native American tribes viewed Lassen as sacred ground, filled with powerful spirits.

• Bumpass Hell is equal parts deadly and otherworldly.

• Drake’s Bad Guest Ranch has a ghostly reputation that still lingers.

• Visitors have reported apparitions, eerie sounds, and vanishing hikers.

• Lake Helen has its own ghost: a mysterious woman with a paintbrush.

• The line between natural wonder and the paranormal is paper-thin here.

• That creepy “being watched” feeling? You’re not alone.

Grab your hiking boots and your EMF reader—we’re heading into the mist.

Links:

Terrifying Encounter: The Titanic Skeleton of Lassen Nation

Hibernation is nature’s way of pressing pause—a survival strategy that allows creatures to endure harsh winters by slowing their metabolism, often for weeks or months. But sometimes, nature’s slumber lasts far longer. Lassen Peak, the fiery heart of Lassen Volcanic National Park, remained dormant for 27,000 years before awakening in an eruption so powerful it was felt 200 miles away.

Though this rugged landscape sleeps once more, its geothermal wonders hint at the power still lurking beneath. Boiling springs, bubbling mud pots, and steaming fumaroles whisper of an earth that is never truly at rest.

Join us on a journey into a world where ancient forces and deep slumbers intertwine, creating a landscape as mysterious as it is mesmerizing.

https://morethanjustparks.com/lassen-volcanic-national-park-facts/

https://www.nationalparked.com/lassen-volcanic

https://softschools.com/facts/national_parks/lassen_volcanic_national_park_facts/2833/#google_vignette

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/painted-dunes

https://morethanjustparks.com/lassen-volcanic-national-park-facts/#:~:text=9.-,Every%20Rock%20At%20Lassen%20Originates%20From%20Volcanoes,erupt%20about%20825%2C000%20years%20ago.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PypZySjNVJc

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-lesser-known-facts-about-Lassen-Volcanic-National-Park

https://www.californiatrailcenter.org/peter-lassen/

https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-mount-st-helens-national-volcanic-monument#:~:text=eventually%20reaching%20Mt.-,St.,to%20erupt%20onto%20the%20surface.

https://www.upstateca.com/account/cold-boiling-lake

https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/bumpass-hell-lassen-volcanic-national-park/7e87f31e-223a-4149-a101-79b431a2e2e7

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/california/volcanic-eruption-hike-norcal

https://npshistory.com/publications/lavo/index.htm

Join us as we dive deep into the eerie and mysterious world of the Smoky Mountains! In this chilling episode, we explore the ghostly legends and haunting tales that have been passed down through generations. From the spooky Pink Lady at the historic Grove Park Inn to the abandoned towns of Cades Cove and Proctor, the Smoky Mountains are a treasure trove of supernatural stories.

We’ll take you on a journey through the mysterious history of the Smokies, where we discuss:

• The Pink Lady at the Grove Park Inn – Discover the chilling history behind the ghostly woman who haunts one of Asheville’s most famous hotels.
• Cades Cove & Proctor – Learn about the abandoned towns of the Smokies, their eerie remains, and the haunted stories that still linger in the shadows.
• Spearfinger – Meet the terrifying figure of Cherokee folklore who roams the mountains in search of her next victim.
• Underwater Graveyards in Proctor – Explore the haunting remnants of this forgotten town, submerged beneath the waters, adding to the eerie mystique of the Smokies.
• Camping in the Smokies – Could your next camping trip lead to ghostly encounters and strange happenings? We’ll discuss spooky encounters that visitors have had in the national park.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/proctor-lost-ghost-town-hazel-creek

https://experiencecadescove.com/blog/cades-cove-cemeteries/

https://apnews.com/general-news-1bb1c365271e4ad68d87a6855f2dbb0c. 

If you have anything to add, please email us at [email protected].AND don't forget to follow this podcast and subscribe to us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheLesserKnownPodLINKS:

On this earth there is a place where darkness is just as vibrant as daylight. Where Ancient peaks, cloaked in blue haze, stand as a fortress in the heart of Appalachia, holding memories of a time before time.

By day, millions flock to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drawn to its breathtaking vistas. But when the sun dips below the ridgeline, and shadows stretch like long fingers across the valleys, a transformation takes hold. This is when the park truly awakens.

Trails once bustling with hikers become the domain of creatures that light up the forest floor. Towns once booming with life have been drowned and left to fill the lakes floor.

Join us as we venture off the beaten path, beyond the overlooks and gift shops. We'll  trace the footsteps of those who sought refuge in these mountains, discover pockets of life untouched for millennia, and confront mysteries that even science can't fully explain.  From the depths of an underwater graveyard to the eerie glow of fireflies pulsing in unison, the Smokies are about to reveal their secrets.

Sources:

The "Lost" Settlement of Proctor:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/proctor-lost-ghost-town-hazel-creek

The Greenbrier Lights:

https://smokymountains.com/park/blog/facts-bet-didnt-know-great-smoky-mountains

http://www.mysmokymountainvacation.com/facts.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Wzl4Nzat0&t=579

https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/moonshiner-tunnels-under-smoky-mountains/

https://www.moonshineuniversity.com/media/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-moonshines-history

https://www.theappylodge.com/blog/history-of-moonshine-in-gatlinburg-and-smokies/

https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/moonshiner-tunnels-under-smoky-mountains/#:~:text=Archeologists%20found%20that%20the%20walls,and%20warnings%20with%20one%20another.

https://appvoices.org/2023/08/03/bioluminescence-in-appalachia/

Beneath the towering trees and mist-covered peaks of Olympic National Park lies a darker, more mysterious side. In this episode, we uncover chilling tales of restless spirits and eerie legends that continue to haunt the land.

Deep within the historic Lake Quinault Lodge, the spirit of Beverly, a former housekeeper, is said to linger. Staff and guests report strange occurrences—beds mysteriously made, whispers in empty hallways, and fleeting apparitions that vanish into thin air. Who was Beverly, and why does she remain tied to the lodge?

Lake Crescent holds a grim secret—the tragic fate of Hallie Illingsworth, whose body was found eerily preserved three years after she was murdered by her husband. Some say she still roams the lake, seeking justice or perhaps simply unable to rest. Witness accounts of a soaked woman standing at the foot of their bed add to the unnerving mystery.

The indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest tell stories of the Stick People, shadowy figures lurking in the deep woods. Described as small, silent beings that move just beyond sight, they are known to whistle in the night, play tricks on travelers, and lure the unwary into the unknown. Are they guardians of the forest—or something more sinister?

Join us as we explore these haunted legends and supernatural encounters from one of the most breathtaking yet eerie national parks in America.

Follow & Subscribe for more!
Have a paranormal experience to share? Send a message on [email protected]

Stick Indians:

https://astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2018/11/25/the-stick-indians

https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7968453

Find a grave: Hallie

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20841050/hallie-brooks-illingworth

Grave Internment:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20841050/hallie-brooks-illingworth#view-photo=174429756

Hallie:

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/life/back-when-part-2-the-lady-of-the-lake-murder-mystery/

“The law of conservation tells us that mass and energy cannot be created or destroyed—only transformed, shifting from one form to another in an endless cycle. But isn’t it true that sometimes, destruction is the price of creation? That in order for something new to rise, something else must fall?

Here, shrouded in mist and shadow, lies Olympic National Park.  Nearly a million acres of wilderness whispering secrets in the language of ancient forests and glacial lakes. A story written not in ink, but in fire and time. A story of something ancient, something powerful and something that was once somewhere else entirely. 

The very mountains themselves, thrust skyward not by volcanoes, but by the slow, relentless collision of tectonic plates, a testament to the immense energy hidden within our planet's depths. And in the heart of it all, Lake Crescent shimmers, a glacial enigma holding secrets in its sapphire depths, home to creatures found nowhere else on Earth. 

Journey with us now, as we explore the intricate tapestry of Olympic National Park. We’ll trace the path of the Elwha River, reborn after decades of slumber, and discover a 2,600-year-old basket, a whisper of ancient lives lived in harmony with this land. We’ll venture into tide pools teeming with life, stand in the shadows of giants on the silver screen, and learn how even in a place seemingly untouched by volcanic fire, the law of conservation reigns supreme. In this episode we talk about the history of the park, some interesting facts about the park and the surprising connection between Olympic and Yellowstone NP.”

Podcasts:

National Parks After Dark

Exploring The National Parks with Dirt In My Shoes

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MPlUTylp4yTw8GHPeB8cm

Links:

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article257588103.html

https://wa100.dnr.wa.gov/olympic-peninsula/how-olympics-formed

https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/adopt-a-fish.htm

https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/mysterious-stories-blog/2017/11/19/john-devine?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970915/2560584/investigators-flown-to-helicopter-wreckage----search-for-73-year--old-hiker-is-suspended?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/brother-still-has-questions-about-hikers-death-in-olympic-national-park/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.kiro7.com/news/body-missing-hiker-recovered-olympic-national-park/43511817/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/missing-hiker-james-griffin-found-dead_n_6550116

https://outdoor-society.com/the-hidden-history-of-olympic-national-parks-lake-crescent/#:~:text=For%20decades%2C%20the%20depth%20of,in%20a%20process%20called%20saponification.

https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/geology.htm#:~:text=As%20hikers%20follow%20the%20ridge,as%20we%20know%20it%20today.&text=Mountains%20are%20one%20of%20Olympic,incentive%20for%20all%20to%20visit.

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.kuhl.com/borninthemountains/olympic-national-park-facts%23:~:text%3D8.,Olympic%2520National%2520Park%2520by:%2520Madhusudhanan.&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi1tZWkrrqLAxXphu4BHTmNAnoQzsoNegQIOBAW&usg=AOvVaw18x_aIPOV-4JWmg9g5YGnf

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://olympicpeninsula.org/stories/rare-nature/%23:~:text%3DTree%2520Of%2520Life,despite%2520the%2520ravages%2520of%2520erosion.&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi1tZWkrrqLAxXphu4BHTmNAnoQzsoNegQIOBAK&usg=AOvVaw1b1IOXfkxmwu7ZTg7wLVA_

https://morethanjustparks.com/olympic-national-park-facts/

https://outdoor-society.com/the-hidden-history-of-olympic-national-parks-lake-crescent/

https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/tidepool-activities.htm

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=ygUJI2Jhc2VhbmVo&v=gWZfbWie3C8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=ygUUI2p1Z2FuZG9taXNzaW5naGlrZXI%3D&v=lsZM5753FvY