We at The Murder Mystery Co. love a good spooky campfire story! Here are some of our favorite tales we found while researching areas surrounding our dinner theater show in Dallas. 

Trigger warning for ghosts, cults, and religious extremism, racial discrimination, witchcraft, violence, and, of course, murder.

White Rock Lake

Known for its scenic trails and botanical gardens, White Rock Lake is located just northeast of downtown Dallas. This location offers locals and visitors a place to escape the city without having to drive too far. Many locals know the Ghost Lady of White Rock Lake: a legend from 1943 that is a typical retelling of the “lady-in-white-drowns-and-becomes-a-ghost” trope. 

What is not as well known is that when Bonnie Nettles, former leader of the deadly Heaven’s Gate Cult, died in 1975, her ashes were spread in the White Rock Lake to ascend into heaven via UFO transportation. There’s no telling if she succeeded in making contact with aliens, but it’s pretty creepy to know that a cult leader’s ashes flow through the waters. 

Goatman’s Bridge

If you’re up for a drive near Lewisville Lake, it’s worth it to check out Old Alton Bridge over Hickory Creek south of Denton, Texas. The bridge was built in 1884 and worked as a trade route connecting rural Texas to the greater Dallas area. The tale of the Goatman begins with Oscar Washburn, a successful African American goat farmer. In the early 1900s, Oscar put a sign on Old Alton Bridge that read “This way to the Goat Man.” Oscar’s popularity grew and he unfortunately caught the attention of the Ku Klux Klan, the  infamous racist group, who did not like that a Black man was advertising his business. This innocent action lead to Washburn’s lynching at the bridge. However, when the Klan marched back the following day, Washburn’s body had disappeared. Outraged by what they assumed to be a successful escape, the group then killed his family in a house fire. 

The tragic legend says that Oscar’s spirit presents itself as a half-goat, half-man and haunts the bridge. Three knocks on the bridge’s frame will summon his soul, and if you’re unlucky enough to have the blood of a Klansman, it’s at the OId Alton Bridge where you will meet your untimely demise. 

Although there is little evidence that Oscar ever existed, the horrors of lynching are true and horrible. Yes, Goatman’s Bridge may be a tall tale, but what isn’t is the terrifying reality of 20th-century racially motivated hate crimes in the United States. Some say that time has passed. Others know that hatred hides in the darkest corners, just waiting for a passerby to lean in a little too close. 

Chalk Hill Road

In a blue-collar neighborhood where cement factories spit dust into the sky, lives Chalk Hill Road. Rumors of satanic sacrifice, murder, and haunted sights float through the air, and some locals even corroborate these spine-tingling stories. This area was once called the “Dallas West Slums” by 1960s city leaders, framing the location as a place for the untouchables of society. The street has seen many fatal car crashes, train accidents, and several discovered bodies over the years. 

Ghostly figures, mysterious mechanical malfunctions, and unsettling encounters with strangers occur here, so if you’re ever wandering by, watch your back. 

La Lechuza

The owls are not what they seem… especially in Texas. La Lechuza is a story from Texan and Mexican folklore about a scorned woman who shape-shifts into an owl. Legend is that she was a mysterious woman who lived alone far away from a small town in the desert. People grew suspicious of her, and when a young boy went missing, townsfolk began accusing La Lechuza of witchcraft. Out of spite due to the hateful accusations, she made a deal with the Devil so she could shapeshift into an owl and terrorize those who once pointed the finger at her. 

La Lechuza is a cautionary tale mothers tell their children in order to keep them from running off at night. If you’re out at night and hear the hoot of an owl, be warned that La Lechuza may be near. She will grab you with her talons and sweep you away to offer you to the devil himself. 

Murder Mystery at Blue Mesa Grill

Legend says there are murder mystery dinner theater shows a few times a month in Dallas at Blue Mesa Grill on Montfort Drive. Although there’s no scary story, there is a comedic murder mystery paired with a great three-course meal. Each month brings a new story, so if you want an escape from bloodthirsty mosquitoes and the occasional horse fly, bring your friends to a show to die for right in the heart of Texas. We promise this is a night you’ll never forget.