Creepy Shit

There is a 50-acre patch of woods in Mathews County, Virginia that has been terrifying people for over 300 years — and the paper trail to prove it goes all the way to a federally funded government archive at the University of Virginia. 
Old House Woods is one of those locations that makes you question everything, because the witnesses aren’t anonymous internet strangers. They’re named. They’re dated. They gave their accounts to newspapers. And the history underneath those accounts — pirates, Revolutionary War gold, a royal governor who went rogue, Blackbeard operating miles away, a plantation built on a burial ground that caught fire and put itself out — is all on the record. 
This week, I'm joined by Ale and Tom from Macabre Monday to dig into one of the most layered, most documented, and somehow most overlooked haunted locations in America. Phantom ships. Skeleton soldiers in armor. Treasure that was never recovered. And a storm ghost who rises above the trees to scream warnings at fishermen. Welcome to Old House Woods. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
PS. This is just the beginning - This is the official kickoff to our Summer Series of Woods, Roads, Lakes and Lighthouses & More. Are you ready? Press Play

Everyone thinks they know the story of H.H. Holmes — America’s first serial killer, the Murder Castle, two hundred victims, trap doors and gas chambers. But what if most of that was invented?
In this episode of Creepy Shit, we go full deep dive on H.H. Holmes - pulling from historical records, newspaper archives, and court documents to separate verified fact from the yellow journalism myths that have dominated this story for over a century. Because here’s the thing: the documented truth is scarier than the legend.
We cover it all! This is not your average H.H. Holmes episode. No exaggeration. No inflation. Just the records — and the haunting that followed.
Listen if you’re into: true crime, paranormal history, haunted locations, Chicago history, serial killer deep dives, ghost stories, historical true crime, dark history podcasts
New episodes of Creepy Shit drop every Monday. Follow us on Instagram @creepy_shit_podcast. Support the show on Patreon for exclusives, early release episodes & more (Patreon.com/creepyshitpodcast).
Research sources: 
Chicago Tribune historical archives, Wikipedia (H.H. Holmes), Britannica, Adam Selzer / Harold Schechter scholarship

We’re diving deep into America’s deadliest aviation disaster and the absolutely wild paranormal activity that started within HOURS of the crash. I’m talking about American Airlines Flight 191, the DC-10 that fell from the sky at Chicago O’Hare on May 25, 1979, killing 273 people in thirty-one seconds of pure hell.
But here’s where it gets really messed up: the passengers never left. We’ve got phantom knocking on doors, ghostly figures reeking of aviation fuel asking for help, mysterious radar blips of planes that don’t exist, and a warning voice that’s been helping air traffic controllers prevent disasters for decades. Airport employees are seeing passengers in outdated clothes trying to catch flights that will never take off, and residents near the crash site are dealing with security systems going haywire because spirits keep opening doors that aren’t there.
This isn’t your typical ghost story - this is 270+ souls who were interrupted mid-journey and are still trying to get home. From the maintenance fuck-up that caused the disaster to the ongoing hauntings that’ll make you think twice about flying through O’Hare, we’re covering it all.
Trust me, don't listen to this if you are about to step onto a plane. 
References & Resources
Primary Sources:
- National Transportation Safety Board Final Report: American Airlines Flight 191 (December 21, 1979)
- Chicago Tribune archives and victim profiles (1979-2024)
- American Hauntings Investigation records
- Aviation Safety Network crash database
Paranormal Documentation:
- Haunted Places directory: American Flight 191 Crash Site
- Aviation employee forum testimonials (anonymous sources)
- Mobile home park resident accounts (1979-2010s)
- Air traffic controller unofficial reports
Historical Context:
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10 maintenance records and procedures
- Federal Aviation Administration investigation files
- O’Hare International Airport expansion documentation
Additional Reading:
- “Ghosts of Flight 191” - American Hauntings archives
- Aviation maintenance safety protocols post-1979
- Electromagnetic field studies of crash sites
- Trauma psychology and collective memory research
*Note: Many paranormal accounts come from unofficial sources due to airline industry policies regarding supernatural reports. Employee testimonials are anonymized to protect careers.*

She's been inside the most haunted places on Earth alongside Sam & Colby - and she didn't just survive them. She READ them. 
Ashley Ryan is an officially ordained Hermetic Priestess, a practitioner of ancient esoteric tradition, and one of the most highly sought after, as well as fascinating figures in the paranormal world.
in this episode, she sits down with us to talk about what it actually means to hold that title, what Hermetic practice looks like in real life, and what she's witnessed on location that cameras cant always capture.
This isn'ta ghost story. It's the framework behind one.

Okay, so imagine getting your wedding photos back and finding THREE GHOSTLY FIGURES standing behind a kid at your reception. Now imagine those figures are probably the gangsters who got murdered there in the 1930s. Welcome to the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul, Minnesota – where John Dillinger used to dance, Ma Barker planned heists, and apparently some mobsters never got the memo that the party’s over.
This week I’m diving into one of the most well-documented haunted locations in the Midwest. We’re talking bullet holes still visible in the walls, an actual unsolved gangland murder, newspaper archives, historical photos, and HUNDREDS of witnesses reporting the same phenomena for decades. Plus there’s this wedding photo that tour guides still show people that’ll make your skin crawl.
But here’s the twist – you can literally book your wedding there RIGHT NOW. It’s a functioning event venue with swing dancing on Thursday nights. How fucking cool is that?
I’m breaking down the full history: the French mushroom farmers, the Prohibition-era speakeasy, the “safe city” deal between gangsters and corrupt cops, the night someone asked the band to leave early (spoiler: not good), and why these particular ghosts seem obsessed with being nice to kids.
Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, this story is *wild*. And it’s all documented, all accessible, all verifiable. Come for the gangster history, stay for the phantom jazz music and the guy in the Panama hat who keeps disappearing through walls.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
Primary Sources:
- Wabasha Street Caves official tours and historical archives (wabashastreetcaves.com)
- Minnesota Historical Society - Castle Royal photographs (1933)
- St. Paul newspapers - 1930s gangland murder reports
- Star Tribune - “Most Haunted Place in Minnesota” feature
Historical Context:
- “The O’Connor System” - St. Paul’s safe city arrangement for criminals (1920s-1930s)
- FBI records on John Dillinger, Ma Barker, and the Barker-Karpis Gang
Paranormal Documentation:
- Twin Cities Paranormal Society investigation reports
- Ghost Adventures & Mysteries at the Museum TV episodes
- Multiple tour guide firsthand accounts (Brett Williams, Donna Bremer)
- Wedding photo - shown during ghost tours (not publicly available online)
Visit:
- Wabasha Street Caves: 215 Wabasha St S, St. Paul, MN 55107
- Tours: Historic Cave Tour, Gangster Bus Tour, Lost Souls Ghost Tour
- Swing Dancing: Thursday nights with live big band music
- Phone: (651) 224-1191
Further Reading:
- “Minnesota Hauntings” by Ryan Jacobson
- Atlas Obscura - Wabasha Street Caves entry
- Explore Minnesota Tourism - Gangster history resources
*All research conducted Dec-Feb 2025-2026. Historical facts verified through multiple independent sources.*