#denton county

[offthebeatenpathtexas]

Old Gas Station. Pilot Point, Texas. 2019

[cryptidbelief]

Goatmans Bridge

[read my post about Goatmans origins, and some information on the bridge!]

The Areas of the Bridge

I actually went myself here, however I did not explore as much as I could. There is the bridge itself, the underside of the bridge, and the woods around it. All of the places I just mentioned have freaky aspects to them, be sure to explore.

“Summoning” Goatman

The first thought of people planning to visit the bridge have important questions: how do I see him, or how do I trigger him to come out?

There’s a few told methods specific to Goatman’s Bridge. As a local in Denton County, I’ve definitely heard the “knock three times at midnight”. When doing this, some have reported smells of burning flesh, seeing red eyes, sounds telling you to leave, or hooves stomping the ground. Another common tradition would be driving across it without headlights or honking three times.

Non-specific to Goatman methods that have conjured results would be the use of a Ouija board, or Spirit Box. Although these were unsuccessful for Shane and Ryan, entities like this are best spotted by locals who spend prolonged amounts of time there. In addition, if you read the origins post I made, there’s some incidents that could explain Goatman, and using these you could curate how to bring him out.

Protection From Goatman

How can one protect themselves from Goatman? Easy question: don’t go there, especially if you could be at risk, buddy! Don’t visit demons if you’re scared, could be hurt because of biases the entity has, or because of the entities ability to easily manipulate those with mental illnesses. As I stated in my origins post: Goatman will target those with a family history of racism, and will also target women and those with mental illnesses.

But knowing that this rarely stops people, do your basic demon research. Goatman has no specific weaknesses that have been written of, however in his case it seems to be significantly safer before dark. With demons or ghosts in general, the way you protect yourself from the entity is subjective. Bring comforting items of any religion you subscribe to, salt, weapons that are safely placed with you, and have a plan if you need to run. (…And bring nerf guns filled with holy water.)

Finally, if this didn’t come with common sense, bring a team. You need other people with you, and you’ll be thankful you did if something goes wrong and you need help.

(be sure to find your own truth, here are my sources! x x x)

[candy--heart]

[offthebeatenpathtexas]

Pilot Point, Texas. Farmers & Merchants Bank. 2019.

[offthebeatenpathtexas]

Zion Cemetery, Denton County, Texas. 2019.

[cryptidbelief]

Goatmans Bridge Origin

In Denton County, Texas, there is a famous bridge named Old Alton Bridge - or better known as Goatmans Bridge.

Popular after Buzzfeed Unsolved covered it, there’s many questions about this bridge. As someone who’s been there and lives in Denton County, I’d love to tell you the stories that could answer the questions of why goatman chose to haunt this area! [warnings for mentions of racism, klu klux klan, & allusion to animal death]

1930 Oscar Washburn Story

Denton’s website covers the most popular story, of African-American entrepreneur Oscar Washburn and his family who owned a farm by the bridge. It is believed he hung a sign saying “This way to Goatman” by the bridge, which infuriated Klansmen who lynched him and his family in the 1930’s over the bridge. However, it was later found their nooses empty. In fear of their disappearance, the Klansmen burned their empty house. The bridge would always be haunted, and Goatman in some reports may act especially violently to people with a family history owning slaves or participating in the Klu Klux Klan.

1860 Jack Kendall Story

Another variation goes to 1860, with Jack Kendall, Creole slave goat-herder, who was lynched by where the bridge would be built. Through some dark force, he was led to replace his head with a goat head.

Demonic Portal Story

A more recent origin says that Satan was spawned onto the bridge after demonic rituals. Sounds goofy to someone knowing that stories of satanists are so commonly fear-mongering, however black cats became at risk in the area because of animal sacrifice.

Maybe Goatmans bridge belongs to nothing, maybe it holds a racist-hating and very understandably vengeful ghost, or maybe a demon triggered by teenagers interested in satanism. Find out yourself! (sources x x x x)

[offthebeatenpathtexas]

Coyote managed to get its head stuck in a plastic container. It was stuck on there pretty good :) She was wandering a neighborhood bumping into stuff, so catching her was the easy part. Getting the container off without hurting her (or getting my face eaten) was interesting. Once we got her on the truck I had to lean into the bin and cut the container loose with a pair of tin snips, since the plastic was too thick to easily cut away with my knife.

She was none the worse for wear. Hopefully she learned her lesson, but I doubt it :) Video is of me releasing her.

[offthebeatenpathtexas]

Found by a co-worker this week, stranded and swimming like crazy in a “water feature” in the middle of town. Mom was no where to be found so she had to go to a rehabber. She was cute little deer….

But I tried not to... FAWN ALL OVER HER!!!!

Bam ! Dad joke. NAILED IT!!