The Phoenix in the Forest | Ep. 43

It is listener submission time again and this week we are traveling to the woods of Georgia.

In this personal experience, we follow two best friends, Ian and Sam, as they encounter a dark, malicious entity in the woods behind Sam’s grandmother’s home.

After losing the entity initially, the boys completely map out the woods in hopes of finding, and catching, this creature.

Will their quest be successful or are they biting off more than they can chew? Listen now!

Remember, if you want YOUR personal paranormal experience told on the podcast, submit your encounter here.

There’s More Than A Devil In Georgia

There are more than peach trees and oak groves in Georgia’s woods. Something sinister lurks in the trees and underbrush of Dallas, Georgia. 

The woods behind Ian’s grandma’s house were a favorite spot for him and his best friend Sam. From building bows and arrows to constructing a bridge to cross one of the streams, they enjoyed spending time in the woods…that is until they found out they weren’t alone. 

One day they were playing soccer on Sam’s back porch. During these porch soccer games it was not uncommon for the ball to roll into the woods. On this particular game is when the boys would have their first encounter with what they would later call, “The Phoenix”.

As Ian started to chase Sam’s errant shot on goal as it rolled into the woods he saw a muscular figure standing over 6 feet clouded in shadows. His piercing ruby red eyes were shone through the darkness. The Phoenix stood menacingly, staring at Ian, as if he were watching them. 

Sam spotted the Phoenix as well from his vantage point on the porch and quickly charged after it. But as the two teenagers got to the spot where it had been standing it had disappeared. 

Not sure what had happened or where the creature went they devised a plan.

They would search the woods, creating a map of landmarks and other important details that may signal where, or maybe what this creature was. 

During their mapping process, they found that the woods ended at a large lake. At the end of the large lake was a barn that they were never able to get to. 

Is that where the creature lived? 

Another odd landmark they mapped were large “nests” littered throughout the woods. These nests would have one tree in the center bent down to the ground and then layered with sticks and branches and another material that Sam and Ian couldn’t discern. 

With their map now finished the boys took to investigating where the Phoenix may live. 

During their initial search, they saw no sign of the creature. As it had started raining and it was getting dark the boys decided to call it a night and come back another day to continue the search. 

Ian had just jumped over the small creek to get back to their yard. He turned to look for Sam and saw The Phoenix heavily breathing menacingly at him. 

Taken aback by the large creature’s red eyes and beak-like mouth Ian froze. 

“Sam!!!” Ian managed to yell. Sam turned and saw the Phoenix standing there and the chase was on. They chased the creature through the woods. Around trees and through underbrush but then it vanished leaving no trace. 

The duo searched and searched for the creature but wasn’t having any luck….until one hot summer day. 

For this particular canvassing expedition the two decided on a new path. 

This path ran along a stream of water that lead to a giant dead tree. The pair found it odd that there would be such a large dead tree near such a good water source. 

As they were investigating the tree and the hit Georgia sun bore down upon them they heard a noise. 

It was the sounds of chain being dragged through the leaves that covered the forest floor. The chain sounded heavy and seemed to fill the woods with its rattling. Then it started to move faster. 

Sam and Ian turned and ran, but this time they ran away from the noise. They ran searching for their way back to the safety of their yard. 

As they neared their yard Ian turned and snapped a photo of the Phoenix with his iPhone. 

As the boys broke through the plane of the woods and into their yard they ran into Ian’s mom. 

He immediately showed her the photo he had captured. 

“It looks like a gorilla,” Ian’s mom said. 

Finally, confirmation. Even though a gorilla is an unlikely inhabitant of the woods in Georgia someone else could see that there was a creature in the woods. 

The boys were never able to find the creature again. But even to this day when Ian visits his grandmother he gets the sense of foreboding. 

He has not seen the Phoenix, or heard the rattle of chains but the sense of fear still fills the forest. It reaches out to you like the branches of the trees. Wanting to pull you in. 

If you live in Georgia be aware of your surroundings when you enter the woods.

While Ian’s woods may not be home to the Phoenix anymore, yours might be.