Goatman’s Bridge | Ep. 71

Welcome to another episode of Believing the Bizarre. This week, we head down to Texas and visit Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman’s Bridge.

Various origin stories are tied to this urban legend, including a successful black goat farmer that was lynched along with multiple demonic rituals. Either way, this bridge is known to be incredibly haunted.

But, do we believe it? Listen now to find out!

Can a landmark become haunted for no reason? 

Why does the death of a Goat farmer still loom over a small city in Texas? 

Is it true that red eyes stare from the forest for those that dare to knock? 

What’s up Bizarros? This week we dive into the tale of The Goat Man Bridge.

In a small city, north of Dallas is one of the most infamous locations in the paranormal world. 

The old Alton Bridge, aka The Goat Man Bridge, in Denton, Texas.

The bridge is closed for vehicles but is currently still open for foot traffic. 

But what is the Goat Man?

It is said to be a giant demonic spirit that is half man half goat. People have been known to go to this location during the day to try to antagonize it, but the best results happen when the veil is thin at night. 

Sometimes in the woods, a woman’s voice or a woman’s laughing can be heard. To make sure he sees you and to summon him, you must knock somewhere on the bridge three times, and when you do you will be able to see his yellow glowing eyes in the forest.

He is said to lurk after the people that cost the bridge. People claim to hear his hoofs on the wooden planks. They even see him in the trees sometimes. The spirit is even known to get physical with those that come to his home. Even reportedly throwing a person off. 

Is this true? Is there a goatman haunting the Alton Bridge in Texas?  

Listen to this one encounter. 

I had just heard stories from classmates back when I was in high school about how creepy the bridge was, but it wasn’t until 2 or 3 days ago that I visited it for myself. Before I go any further with the story though,

Legend tells of a black goat farmer who moved his family to a residence just north of the bridge. A few years later, Oscar Washburn was known as a dependable, honest businessman. North Texans endearingly began to call him the Goatman. 

But the success of a black man was still unwelcome to many, and Klansmen in the local government turned to violence after he displayed a sign on Alton Bridge: “this way to the Goatman’s”. 

In August 1938 Klansmen crossed the bridge and kidnapped Washburn from his family. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.

The first night I was there, my brother and a friend of mine met up with a group of ghost hunters called Haunted Texas paranormal group (or something of the sort) and they told us the story of how the bridge came to be known as Goatman’s bridge. 

While we were there the group of ghost hunters decided to show us just how serious it all was. They grabbed a flashlight and placed it in the spot where Oscar Washburn was lynched and asked if he could show us all his presence by turning off the flashlight. 

To my amazement, the flashlight turned off. I was watching intently as the light started getting dimmer and dimmer until there was nothing but darkness. 

To me, the scariest part was when he was asked if he was angry at the people who had murdered him and if he thought they should be brought to justice without hesitation, the flashlight came back on and seemed to be brighter than before.

Last night, I was back at Goatman’s Bridge and I decided to go prepared with my flashlights and camera. It was raining so our stay wasn’t for very long but I managed to capture something odd in one of the pictures. 

There seems to be some sort of thick mist on the right side corner of the picture. At first, I thought it was my breath, but it wasn’t that cold outside and even if it had been, the wind would have carried it out so the mist shouldn’t be so dense. 

We also heard strange noises coming from the side of the bridge. We were alone unlike the night before so we knew there couldn’t have been other people there. 

There are woods somewhere along the bridge and it is said that Oscar has been seen there at night. The weather was too shitty for us to walk the trails, but as soon as it gets better I will be returning to the bridge.

What Is The Source Of Paranormal At Goatman’s Bridge?

One source of the paranormal beginnings of the bridge stems from the KKK. A Klan member allegedly killed an unnamed African-American goat farmer off the side of the road in the late 1800s.

However, there are no records of a goat farmer, and no name and the records are vague. So it’s hard to trace this as the sole source.

Another possible source of the haunting is that the bridge was home to devil worship. The oak trees around the area are also home to the remains of sacrificial animals.

What do you think Bizarros? Is the devil residing at the Alton Bridge? Is it the ghost of a lynched African American goat farmer?

Would you knock on the bridge and summon the Goatman.