10 Extraordinary American Urban Legends

From legends about unexplained mysteries to creatures living in the woods, here are extraordinary American urban legends.

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Number 10 Thunderbird
Born in a small Arizona town, the legend of the Thunderbird has drawn the fascination of supernatural enthusiasts for over a century. They were on horseback in the desert, near the former mining town of Tombstone, when the creature passed them overhead. The creature was described as an alligator with wings, which has led many to theorize that the Tombstone Thunderbird was actually a pterodactyl. The obvious issue is that these winged reptiles went extinct millions of years ago. In the initial report from Tombstone Weekly, the creature was described as having eyes as big as dinner plates and a 160-foot wingspan.
Number 9 Char-Man
The premise generally mentions a wildfire that occurred in Camp Comfort County Park, in 1948. Regardless of the origin story, Char-Man is still said to roam the region’s woods. There’s a certain bridge in the park that’s claimed to be his preferred site.
Number 8 Bobby Mackey’s Music World
This particular location has the reputation of being “the most haunted nightclub in America”. Bobby Mackey’s Music World is a honky tonk and nightclub found in Wilder, Kentucky. It was then torn down and reopened as a roadhouse until Mackey purchased it in 1978. One of the most frequently-cited legends about Bobby Mackey’s place is that the location hides a portal.
Number 7 Dark Watchers
The Dark Watchers are shadowy figures said to observe travellers as they go through the Santa Lucia Mountains, in California. These featureless silhouettes appear to own human-like characteristics in their contour. They’re sometimes described as giant-sized but no one has seen one up close. The legend has it that they disappear as soon as people try to approach them.
Number 6 Hookman
This is a popular urban legend that has risen to fame as the quintessential story to tell around a campfire. The premise is usually the same. A couple is in a parked car when they hear reports on the radio about a man with a hook for a hand. From this point, the story tends to differ.
Number 5 Ship
This extraordinary story comes from Wyoming and traces its roots to the 19th century. Leon Webber was building a log cabin at the edge of the North Plate River. It was there that Webber saw the rolling fog begin to take shape. An ancient ship emerged and, on its deck, the phantom crew surrounded a young woman. Webber was then struck by the harrowing realization that the woman was his bride-to-be. He jumped in the water and tried to make his way to the ship, but it vanished before his eyes. Webber waited on the shore for signs of his beloved but she never returned. A second sighting was reported in 1887, near the town of Casper.
Number 4 The Petrified Forest
Petrified forests are the result of a natural process called permineralization which takes places over millions of years. Trees buried by floods were subsequently covered in minerals which stopped their decomposition process, turning them to stone. The color of the petrified wood varies depending on the type of mineral deposit. Iron-containing minerals, for example, will produce a red hue and manganese will turn wood pink. It’s a stunning sight that many people are eager to explore in parks found in various locations across the US, including Utah and Arizona.
Number 3
This legend and its artistic depiction were born on the Internet, in 2009, as the result of a Photoshop contest on a forum. Although much younger than other urban legends on our list, his impact is undeniable. He has inspired numerous works of fiction in various mediums. He’s also a prime example of a myth created on the Internet which evolved into an urban legend. He typically wears a black suit and tie.
Number 2 Spook Hill
Objects, including cars set in neutral, seem to be rolling up the incline. In reality, it’s an optical illusion created by the partially or completely obstructed horizon. Without a reference point, objects in the landscape appear to be at a steeper angle. Our minds essentially make up a new horizon and apply it to the surrounding environment.
Number 1 Humans Can Lick Too
“Humans Can Lick Too” also known as “The Licked Hand” is a popular urban legend with multiple versions. The most common is that a young girl is alone in her house when she hears a news report. The young girl then goes to her bedroom, taking the family dog with her. At night, she hears dripping sounds coming from the bathroom but is too scared to check it out. She then reaches her hand to the floor, and receives a reassuring lick from her dog.