Buzz
Urban legends tend to settle where tragedies have unfolded.
Around the world, roads often become the site of deadly accidents, eventually growing into the heart of spine-chilling tales. In Wildwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, there is Zombie Road, which winds through a valley and ends near the Meramec River. Largely abandoned since the 1950s, it became a favorite spot for teenagers to gather away from adult eyes. Local lore also claims it was the hunting ground for the ‘Zombie Killer,’ a figure believed to stalk the area, seeking out young couples. Today, ghost hunters flock to the road, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spirit of the wife of a local judge, who tragically died in 1876 after being struck by a train nearby.
Here are some more of the world’s creepiest roads and the eerie legends that made them infamous.
10. Pray or Perish
National Highway 33, also known as the Ranchi-Jamshedpur NH33 in Jharkhand, India, looks much like any other busy road in the country. It stretches from Arwal to Farakka, connecting the states of Bihar and Bengal.
At both ends of this highway, there are temples, and it’s said that travelers must stop and pray at each to avoid fatal accidents. Between 2010 and 2013, 245 people lost their lives in accidents on Ranchi-Jamshedpur NH33, sparking rumors that the road is cursed.
Numerous drivers have reported seeing the figure of a tall woman in a white saree “patrolling” the highway.
9. The Haunted Mountain Pass
South Africa is home to several haunted roads, with the most notorious being the N9 national route that passes through Uniondale. Here, you may encounter the ghost of Maria Roux, who is said to ask for a lift from unsuspecting drivers.
The famous Swartberg Pass in the Karoo connects Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn. Built by hundreds of convicts in the late 1800s, the pass is infamous for the death of thirty convicts during a snowstorm. It’s believed that as you pass the location of the tragedy, the temperature drops noticeably—even during the hot summer months.
At another point along the mountain pass, a guard who accidentally shot himself is said to still linger in the area. On certain days, when the wind blows just right, you can hear the sorrowful wails of a family who perished in a blizzard.
8. The Road Without a Name
In Annandale, New South Wales, Australia, there is a narrow street running parallel to a rail viaduct, which has become known as 'The Street With No Name.'
The bodies of several murder victims, including six children, have allegedly been discarded here, giving rise to an urban legend. It’s said that anyone who finds themselves on this street will likely experience a deep sense of fear, anxiety, and foreboding. With many of the murders remaining unsolved, the atmosphere becomes even more desperate. Locals claim that children and animals act strangely in the area, and that late-night visitors have heard disembodied footsteps, whispers, and unexplained sounds.
Those who believe in ghosts are convinced that the spirits of the murdered children cannot find peace and are eternally trapped in what’s known as an ‘evil street.’
7. The Werewolves of the B1249
A 2020 survey revealed that one in seven Brits have experienced paranormal phenomena while driving. This isn’t surprising, given that the UK is home to many haunted roads, such as the A229 with its ‘Blue Bell Hill Bride’ and the A696, where the ghost of a dead RAF officer is said to linger.
Until the 15th century, wolves were common in the farmlands of East Riding of Yorkshire, which may explain the numerous werewolf sightings on the B1249 between Driffield and Staxton Hill. In the 1960s, a truck driver encountered a creature with glowing red eyes that attempted to break through his windshield. This eerie event was recounted by the author, Charles Christian.
In 2016, a young woman reported seeing a ‘dog bigger than her car, but with a human face’ while driving along this road.
6. Never Look Back
The Karak Highway in Malaysia is notorious for being treacherous in more ways than one. It’s known for fatal accidents and is also said to be the hunting ground of a terrifying creature. The legend originated from a story about a couple whose car broke down on the highway. The husband left to seek help, and while he was gone, his wife fell asleep. She awoke to the sound of something pounding on the car’s roof. Too frightened to get out, she remained inside as the noise grew louder and louder. Just when she was about to flee, a police car appeared. An officer told her to exit the car through the driver’s side and walk toward him. As she did, he instructed her to not look back.
Unable to resist, she glanced over her shoulder and saw a massive creature perched on top of the car, holding her husband’s head in its claws and smashing it against the roof.
On the Karak Highway, there have also been reports of a driverless yellow VW Beetle that overtakes other vehicles, only to reverse while staying ahead of them, scaring the living daylights out of other drivers.
5. The Haunted Road
Scotland is renowned for its eerie legends and ghostly tales. Not only are there haunted roads, but the land is also home to hellhounds, loch monsters, and spectral beings that haunt bridges and overpasses.
The A75 Kinmount Straight is considered the most haunted road in Scotland. It was here that brothers Derek and Norman Ferguson were driving when they saw a hen fly directly at their windscreen, followed by cats, dogs, and other animals. All the animals vanished on impact with the windscreen.
Truck drivers on the A75 have also reported unsettling experiences. One driver quit his job after waking up one night to see an endless procession of apparitions passing his truck. Motorists have also reported hitting people who suddenly appear in the middle of the road, only for the figures to disappear when the driver stops to help.
4. Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Roads
Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow roads run parallel on Long Island, also known as No Man’s Land. Driving along these roads may lead you to encounter a group of ghostly teenagers who, according to legend, followed through with a suicide pact many years ago.
Motorists have reported sightings of the ghost of a child, killed in a hit-and-run, sitting on the overpass, and of a policeman who is missing half of his head. Some have even seen a man holding a basket filled with severed heads. Another tale claims that a mental asylum once stood on Mount Misery Road, but was set ablaze by a female patient who perished in the fire. Now, her ghost wanders the road at night, still wearing her hospital gown.
3. Ghosts at Every Turn
Route 66 was one of the first highways in the U.S. Highway System. Though it was officially decertified in 1985, parts of the route are still accessible as part of the designated “Historic Route.”
Along with the many attractions that Route 66 offers, ghosts are said to haunt almost every twist and turn along the road. In Missouri, specters are known to roam the Bethlehem Cemetery and the Bloody Hill Ghosts at Wilson Creek. In Oklahoma, apparitions appear in places like the Tulsa Little Theatre and the Gilcrease Museum.
In Arizona, travelers can take a break from their journey and visit the Navajo County courthouse, haunted by the only man ever hanged there. Meanwhile, in California, the haunted Georgian Hotel and the cheerfully ominous Suicide Bridge await curious souls.
2. The Haunting Roads of Thailand
Thailand is home to many roads with ghostly reputations, perfect for those seeking a spooky adventure. Among them is Tha Chaom-Nong Chang Road, where headless spirits and a mischievous female ghost who enjoys sticking out her tongue are said to roam.
Another eerie location is Chak Phra Road in Thonburi, Bangkok. This two-lane road carries a grim tale of a husband who murdered his pregnant wife. Her restless spirit is said to haunt the road, often appearing in front of the Wat Taling Chan temple. Many taxi drivers avoid the road at night, fearing encounters with her ghost.
1. The Shadowy Side of Paradise
The Old Pali Road is known for the legend of the half-faced girl, while Morgan’s Corner is infamous for the screaming ghost that haunts its curves. These are just a few of the eerie tales surrounding the roads of Hawaii.
Another chilling story involves a woman who tragically died in a car crash on Palani Road in the 1950s after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Even today, drivers report seeing her ghost standing in the middle of the road, causing them to swerve and crash in panic.
While constructing the H-1 Highway in Oahu, workers uncovered the bones of ancient Hawaiians. This discovery came after several workers claimed to have seen the spirits of Hawaiian warriors, leading to a seven-year delay in the project as it became impossible to find workers willing to continue.
