Campfire Files

Step into the eerie and enchanting world of yōkai, the supernatural beings that have haunted Japanese folklore for centuries. In this episode, we explore the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and cultural beliefs surrounding these mysterious creatures. 

In 1988, a quiet South Carolina town was shaken by reports of a scaly, red-eyed monster lurking in the swamps. From shredded cars to terrified witnesses, the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp became a legend that refuses to die. Join us as we explore the sightings, theories, and enduring mystery of one of the South’s strangest cryptids.

In this episode, we journey to the heart of Palma de Mallorca to uncover the chilling legend of El Drac de na Coca—the dragon said to have haunted the city’s medieval streets. Was it a monstrous beast lurking in the shadows, or something far more mysterious? From its origins in Mallorcan folklore to the enduring myths that still echo through Palma, we explore how this dragon’s tale became one of the island’s most haunting stories.

Step inside the chilling halls of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia. Once a beacon of hope for mental health treatment, it became a place of overcrowding, suffering, and tragedy — and now, one of the most haunted sites in America. From heartbreaking patient stories to spine-tingling paranormal encounters, this episode uncovers the asylum’s dark history and the lingering spirits that refuse to leave

Step into the shadowy world of brujas mystical figures feared, revered, and misunderstood for centuries. From ancient rituals and whispered curses to the modern reclamation of witchcraft as empowerment, we unravel the tangled web of myth, magic, and truth. Are brujas agents of darkness… or protectors of hidden wisdom? The answer lies in the smoke of the candles and the echo of the spell.

With a special guest, we explore the haunted history of Lake Shawnee, a cursed West Virginia campground built on bloodshed, burial grounds, and childhood tragedy. But the ghost stories don’t stop there. Stick around for three eerie bonus legends from forgotten summer camps across the U.S., where campers vanished, spirits wandered, and not everyone made it home.
Because sometimes… the scariest part of summer camp isn’t the woods, it’s the past.

What really happened to Pier Zanfretta on that freezing night in 1978? When the Italian night watchman radioed in, screaming about huge, glowing creatures, no one believed him—until the hypnosis sessions, the polygraphs, and the terrifying details he could never forget. Was he abducted by reptilian aliens, or did he stumble upon a secret meant to stay hidden? In this episode, we dive into one of Europe’s most chilling and controversial UFO abduction cases: the Zanfretta Incident.

Deep in the misty forests and icy waters of coastal Alaska lurks a creature from ancient Tlingit legend—the Kushtaka, or “land otter man.” In this chilling episode, we explore the eerie folklore of this shapeshifting predator, its haunting whistle, and the terrifying fate it offers to those who cross its path. Is it a myth, a metaphor... or something more? Listen—just don’t follow the sound.

Dive into the dark waters of legend and science as we explore three of the ocean’s most fearsome creatures. From the tentacled terror of the Kraken, to the biblical sea serpent Leviathan, and the prehistoric giant Megalodon, we uncover the myths, truths, and mysteries surrounding these legendary beasts of the deep.

Join us tonight for a hike through the Appalachian Mountains to uncover three haunting tales rooted in local legend and eerie truth. Discover the true-crime ghost story of Zona Heaster Shue, whose spirit helped convict her killer. Then, drift into the mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights—strange orbs that dance above the treetops with no earthly explanation. Finally, face the infamous Bell Witch of Tennessee, a spirit so terrifying even President Andrew Jackson fled her wrath. 
Come and join us by the campfire.