Image via WikipediaWhen does getting on TV cause local trouble? When that exposure comes on sensational "paranormal" shows that spur a cottage industry based on completely fake stories of ghosts and monsters.Near Ellisville, MO, a wooded trail has become a magnet in recent years for amateur "ghost hunters" who find themselves rubbing shoulders with drug dealers, gang members, and possibly even rapists.
During the day, the unobtrusive nature trail is home to birdwatching groups and hikers, but once the sun goes down it's not ghosts that cause the problems according to local police.
"The result (now) is a collection of violators (who) range in age from 12 years old to 50 years old," Capt. Gary Crews said. "We have parents (who) bring their 12-, 13- and 15-year-old children down there for fun after midnight. We have 22- and 23- year-old men with 15- and 16-year-old girls."
He recalled the recent case of three 16-year-old ghost-hunting girls who were followed down the trail by three men in their 30s who were carrying drugs, beer and knives.
"The parents of the girls first were irate with our officers, saying they were being inconvenienced, until we showed them the knives, beer and dope," Crews said. "The potential of what could take place there is a huge concern."
According to local officials the trouble really began after Sci-Fi's "Children of the Grave" aired an episode featuring the Zombie Road and spinning false tales of murders and paranormal activity. The trouble was compounded by Troy Taylor repeating similar false claims in his published works.
The reason for the sudden, drastic increase in problems "has been ... based in large part to numerous Internet rumors of the property containing paranormal occurrences," Crews said.
"There are several Web sites and a documentary that is total nonsense that is playing on the Sci-Fi station encouraging people to make this area an attraction, he said.
Crews said police "have a DVD where 'supposed' police officers advise anyone (who) travels Zombie Road to make sure they are armed."
"We are not sure, but we think that the same 'paranormal experts' that we have allowed on at least two occasions to investigate activity on Zombie Road are partly responsible for the ridiculous information being presented," Crews said.
Ellisville Police Chief Tom Felgate also is familiar with the troubles on Zombie Road because his department deals with trespassers who park in the Ridge Meadows Elementary School parking lot on Ridge Road and in subdivisions near the northern entry to the trail.
"We're going to be meeting with Ridge Meadows officials, who would like to see us crack down on trespassing, and we're starting immediately to issue summonses to violators," Felgate said. "They've had a recent spike in problems ever since that TV show aired.
"It's a safety issue. People are down there in the dark, and there is potential for injury; plus they just have no business parking in subdivisions and on school property."
Ridge Meadows Elementary School principal Carol Kottwitz said she's pleased with the action by Wildwood and Ellisville police.
"How did we get so lucky as to be next door to Zombie Road?" Kottwitz said jokingly.
She said she had seen the TV show, which listed the school's name, location and parking lot.
"However, I've been here 20 years, and it always seems around Halloween that we get more visitors, though I think they picked up after the show," Kottwitz said.
Sci-Fi and Troy Taylor fail to do due diligence:
Featured in the Sci Fi Channel's recent special "Children of the Grave," author Troy Taylor in his book, "Out Past the Campfire Light: Hauntings, Horrors and Unsolved Mysteries of the Great Outdoors," writing about Zombie Road, notes that "numerous legends and stories sprang up about the place, from the typical tales of murdered boyfriends and killers with hooks for hands to more specific tales of a local killer who was dubbed the "zombie."
"He was said to live in an old dilapidated shack by the (Meramec) river and would attack young lovers who came here looking for someplace quiet and out of the way. As time passed, the stories of this madman were told and retold and ... there are many other stories too, from ghostly apparitions in the woods to visitors who have vanished without a trace.
"There are also stories about a man who was killed here by a train in the 1970s and who now haunts the road and that of a mysterious old woman who yells at passersby from a house at the end of the road. There is another about a boy who fell from the bluffs along the river and died but his body was never found. His ghost also is believed to haunt the area. There are also enough tales of Native American spirits and modern-day devil worshippers here to fill another book entirely."
That's why I have such deep respect for my friends who are authors and bother to check out myths and legends for accuracy before publishing!
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2 comments:
It's important to remember that many of these stories are just for fun - even if there is a kernal of truth to them. However, common sense must prevail. Why would one brave a gang-infested crack den just because it is an old house, said to be "haunted"? It's lunacy. And, statistically speaking, I've never seen compelling data to support the assertion that somehow night is the best time to investigate. I think, for many, it's just the "funnest" time to investigate.
What I find so odd about this is that Sci-Fi would include it in a TV show. Nearly every community has a "Zombie Road" of some description. My own hometown had "Zombie Land" with almost identical Urban Legend type stories including the ubiquitous "Cry Baby Bridge." None of them have a shred of truth. The real purpose of Zombie Land and, I'm sure the Zombie Road were to take a date and scare them into your arms or the back seat. Nothing more.
As for the night hunt. I've always puzzled about that, especially when the claims are during the day! But as an investigator once told me, "Night is so much cooler and spookier." Oh well....
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