ghost stories for the campfire

10 Ghost Stories for Kids and Teens that Won't Keep Them Up All Night

These funny, creepy tales are perfect for telling around a campfire.

These kid-friendly scary tales are best told around the campfire or with the lights out for full effect, and you can tell our short versions below or click on the links for longer ones.

Each of these 10 ghost stories for kids are sure to bring on some goosebumps but hopefully not keep anyone from sleeping. So read on for some some spooktacular stories to tell all season long, and perhaps get passed on in future years.

The Ghost of the Bloody Finger

A little gory, slightly spooky, this is a story about a bloody finger inching ever closer to a man spending the night alone in a haunted house. It ends with a joke, however, so all that tension is released with a good giggle. For extra fun, be sure to use a sinister voice for the ghost, making it louder and scarier the closer he gets—right up until the last line, when asks for a Band-Aid. Then, he can sound as congenial as Casper the Friendly Ghost.

The Big Toe

Also known as The Hairy Toe, this is a classic story about an old woman who finds a toe in the woods and, depending on the version, eats it (ewwww) or puts it in glass jar. The tale gets creepier as the toe's very large owner comes looking for it, but the fantasy/folklore feel of it helps keeps things light, as does the ending. Children of all ages should be able to enjoy this fable without getting too frightened.

The Ball Pit

More of a play on parental worries about ball pits than a story addressing any kids' concerns (come on, do you think they fret about those things being a bacteria factory the way we do?), "The Ball Pit" is really an urban legend instead of a proper ghost story. But while it may have kids pondering the potential hidden dangers in their favorite play space for a moment or two, the silly ending will get everyone laughing.

Most kids love a good play on words, and this uncanny story about a coffin chasing a man all the way from the cemetery to his bathroom ends with the king daddy of all puns. As you tell the tale, be sure to emphasize the scary BUMP BUMP BUMP sound the coffin makes as it clomps down the street following the poor fellow. You might even want to have a bottle of cough syrup ready to hold up, too, showing what the man throws to stop the coffin. ( They'll love it. Trust us.)

Yellow Ribbon

Spooky to be sure, this long-told-tale revolves around a married couple and the yellow ribbon the woman wears around her neck, which she refuses to remove. Various versions have him untying it while she's sleeping, or the wife allowing her husband to take it off, but it all ends the same way: with her losing her head—and we don't mean metaphorically.

This rollicking ghost story has everything kids love: pirates, hidden treasure, and rowdy, glowing skeletons. The legend goes that on one dark night, the infamous buccaneer Captain Kidd and his crew showed up on the coast, burying their ill-gotten gains on a quiet stretch of sandy land. The treasure was never seen again—except on certain evenings, when the phantom pirates sail in to unearth it once more, celebrating by singing, dancing jigs and telling tales about their days sailing the high seas.

The Lady with the Emerald Ring

A parable about greed, this story set in the late 18th-century actually has a happy ending, well...for some of the characters. The story involves a woman, believed dead, a vicar who steals her emerald ring, and the bad end that comes to him. The only ghost in this story is the one the woman's husband believes her to be, but that's doesn't mean this story isn't spooky.

If you're hosting a gathering of older kids, this is the urban legend for you. Like "The Lady with the Emerald Ring" and "Yellow Ribbon," you can have fun stretching the story out, building the suspense the longer it goes. The story of a couple who park in Lover's Lane, ignoring reports of an escaped killer from a local asylum, it ends with the kind of scare that will have kids jumping out of the their sleeping bags.

The Thing at the Foot of the Bed

Short and (not quite so) sweet, this is a cautionary tale for little ones about an old man who awakens in terror at the thing he sees lurking at the foot of his bed. He takes drastic action instead of investigating, much to his regret. Both spooky and amusing, this story could help kids understand that the scary things at night they think they see in their closet and under the bed are just figments of their imagination.

Fifty-Cent Piece

Not all ghosts are scary. Some just want to be helpful, like the spirits in this story, who host a husband and wife too tired to continue their travels. The pair leave a coin as thanks the next morning, but soon hear the truth about the old couple from neighboring villagers. Eerie rather than disturbing, this story can be told to all ages.

Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.

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14 Scary Campfire Stories To Tell Your Friends

Put your own spin on these terrifying tales.

If you ever went to summer camp, had an older sibling, or had a particularly macabre set of school bus friends, you've probably heard scary campfire stories before. In fact, you might still wake up in a cold sweat some nights, thinking you can hear the distant scraping of a hook against a car door. And yet, you still can’t resist the urge to re-spook yourself every Halloween. ‘ Tis the season to celebrate all things scary, rebranding them as festive.

Even if you weren't much for pitching tents and starting bonfires, you might recognize some of these creepy campfire tales from Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark . That's because Schwartz, like many ghost story writers before him, drew inspiration from American folktales and urban legends (and then he added those horrific illustrations from Stephen Gammell, to more effectively haunt our every waking thought). Most of these scary stories have no known origin and no original author on record. They're good old-fashioned oral tradition, kept alive around campfires, at sleepovers, and in the dark places beneath playground equipment. (Which means you can tailor them with whatever details you know will scare the pants off your friends the best.)

Here are some of the most memorably haunting campfire stories that still make us feel all weird inside to this very day.

1. The Hook

A pair of attractive teens are parked at Make Out Point (or Lover's Lane, depending on your version of the story), an isolated spot on the edge of town. The boyfriend switches on the radio for some mood music, and the two start canoodling. But just as things are getting hot and heavy, they're interrupted by a breaking news story: A murderer has escaped from the nearby state asylum. He's armed and dangerous, and he has a hook in place of his right hand .

The girlfriend is obviously frightened, and wants to go home straight away, but the boyfriend insists that they'll be fine. He locks all the car doors and tries to kiss her again. She calmly explains that no means no, and that she wants to go the heck home . Annoyed, the boyfriend slams the gas pedal and drives her back to her house. It's only when they both get out of the car that he notices something dangling from the door handle — a bloody, steel hook .

2. Bloody Mary

This one might be slightly more popular at sleepovers than campfires, but I bet that you're still just a little scared to actually try it. The story goes that if you look into a mirror in a darkened room and chant "Bloody Mary" three times, you'll see the ghostly visage of Bloody Mary herself staring back at you. That, or she'll pop out of the mirror and kill you. The real Bloody Mary was actually Queen Elizabeth's ill-fated older sister, and she's probably not coming to kill you — but staring into a darkened mirror for a prolonged period of time can cause very creepy hallucinations .

3. Wolf Girl

You might know this story as " The Blonde Wolf ," which is admittedly not the creepiest of titles. But the story goes that a pregnant woman went into labor in a remote part of Texas. Her husband went for help, but both of their bodies were discovered the next day, ravaged by wolves. The baby was nowhere to be found. Over the years, sightings were reported of a little girl living with a pack of wolves, and later a grown woman, covered in hair, nursing wolf pups... and finally sightings of a strange-looking wolf with suspiciously human-like features.

4. Don’t Turn On The Light

Two college roommates are in the same science class, and the big midterm is tomorrow morning. Marie wants to stay in and study, but Tara wants to go out and party with a cute guy from the lacrosse team. She leaves Marie to her studies. When she gets home very late that night, Marie is in bed and the lights are off . Tara goes to bed without turning the lights on, trying not to disturb her studious friend. In the morning, she goes to wake Marie so they won't be late for the test... but Marie's body lies stiff, and her bed is soaked in blood. On the wall above her, scrawled in blood, are the words " Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?"

5. The Clown Statue

A babysitter has been hired to watch two children for the night. After she puts the kids to bed, the parents ask that she watches TV in their bedroom upstairs, because the children have been having nightmares recently. She puts the kids to bed easily enough, and settles in the parents' room to watch TV. But in the corner of the room there's a large life-sized clown statue. She tries to ignore it, but it's just too creepy. Finally, she calls the dad to ask if she can watch TV downstairs instead. "Sure, but why?" he asks. She tells him that the clown statue is just creeping her out too much. There's a pause. " Get the children and leave the house ," says the dad. "We don't have a clown statue."

6. The Green Ribbon

A man marries his beloved: a beautiful young woman who always wears a green velvet ribbon around her neck. On their wedding night, he asks why she never takes the ribbon off . "If I do, you'll be sorry," she says, and goes to sleep. Night after night, he keeps asking, but she always gives him the same reply. He begins to go mad with curiosity. Finally, one night, while she's sleeping, he steals the scissors from her sewing box and cuts through the ribbon himself. The ribbon falls away... and her head rolls right off her neck and falls to the floor with a sickening thud.

7. The Hitchhiker

"The Vanishing Hitchhiker" might be the most famous campfire story of all time. A couple are driving late at night when they notice a girl hitchhiking. They pick her up, and she thanks them profusely and gives them a nearby address. They drive her home, trying to make polite conversation. But after a few minutes, the girl falls silent. The driver asks if they've reached the right intersection, but when they turn to the backseat, the girl is gone. She's vanished without a trace. When they reach the address she gave them, an elderly couple greets them at the door. They don't know of any girl... but their own daughter was killed in a car accident many years ago, just a few miles up the road.

8. Doggy Lick

A girl is just a little afraid of the dark, so every night her dog sleeps under her bed. When she's afraid, she puts her hand down, and her dog licks it to reassure her. One night, she wakes to hear a strange dripping sound. She puts her hand down and feels the dog lick it, so she feels better and goes back to sleep. The next morning, she wakes to find the body of her dog hanging in the middle of the room, dripping blood. On the wall someone has written, " Humans can lick too! " (The same murderer as that dorm room one? Possibly.)

9. The High Beams

A young woman is driving home late one night, when she notices a truck driving up directly behind her. No one else is on the road. She waits for the truck to pass her, but instead it stays directly behind her and flashes its high beams . She becomes unsettled. No matter how fast she drives, or which back roads she heads down, the truck stays close behind her, flashing its high beams every few minutes. Terrified, she speeds home, with the truck right on her tail, and pulls into her driveway. She leaps out of her car and tries to run to her front door, but the truck driver gets out too — and he's holding a gun. He points the gun in her direction and shoots. The woman screams, but the bullet wasn't for her: She turns to see the body of a man fall out of the back seat of her car, clutching a butcher's knife. The shaken truck driver explains that he noticed the man in the backseat of her car, and was trying to signal to her. Every time the man raised his knife to stab her, he flashed his high beams.

10. The Golden Hand

In a small town, a man is taken by a newcomer — a widow who always wears black gloves, even inside. One day, he strikes up a conversation with her at the store, and as she brushes her hair out of her face, he notices gold gleaming through the glove of her right hand. She explains that she lost her hand in an accident, and instead of getting a traditional prosthetic, she treated herself to a solid gold hand. The man becomes obsessed with her hand. His heart beats for the the heavy, shiny, gold limb. He ends up courting the woman and eventually marrying her, only to poison her slowly. After only a month or marriage, she passes, and he buries her without the hand. One night, he wakes in a cold sweat to find the his bride standing at the end of the bed, gold hand intact. She strangles him with it and he goes limp. The next morning, a maid find the man, alone in his bed, with nothing but the golden hand gripping his lifeless neck .

11. The Spider Bite

A young woman is on vacation. She’s so relaxed while reading by the pool that she falls asleep. When she wakes up, hours have passed. She stretches, yawns, and notices that her face feels sore. She goes inside to find a mirror, assuming she just got too much sun, but she has a giant red blemish on her cheek . It looks and feels like a pimple, so she washes her face and tries not to think about it. The next morning, the spot has grown. It’s swollen, bulging, and very painful. She places a hot washcloth on her cheek and then examines the sore in the mirror. She gives it a little squeeze and what looks like a long black hair pokes out of the bump — but it moves. She shrieks and the spot bursts open, releasing dozens of baby spiders . Blood and pus and fast-crawling insects ooze down her neck, biting her everywhere.

12. The Car Breakdown

A young woman and her boyfriend are driving down a very rural road in the woods at night when suddenly the car’s engine begins to sputter and eventually breaks down . With no cellphone reception, the boyfriend offers to walk to the nearest big road to find help. He tells his girlfriend to stay in the car and lock the doors before he sets out into the pitch black dense woods. Scared and shivering from the cold for hours, still waiting for her boyfriend to return, the girlfriend suddenly hears a loud tapping on the roof of the car and begins to panic, but she’s also too scared to get out of the car and look. The tapping noise goes on and on, and soon it’s joined by a scratching noise.

The girlfriend, huddled and terrified, listens to the noises all night until she sees bright headlights coming through the trees — it’s a cop car. A policeman shouts out asking if there’s anyone in the car, to which the girlfriend replies, “It’s just me. My boyfriend left me here and hasn’t come back yet.” The officer instructs her to walk toward him and, whatever she does, not turn around, but she lets curiosity get the better of her. She screams in horror, as her boyfriend is beheaded and hanging from a tree branch above the car, blood dripping from his neck and his fingernails scraping against the roof as he sways in the wind.

13. The Peeling Wallpaper

A young couple moves into an old decrepit house that’s definitely a fixer upper. While the husband is taking care of some construction, the wife is tasked with removing the wallpaper that decorates every wall and ceiling in the house. The task is incredibly boring and tedious at first, but she begins to find it super satisfying when she can peel off big chunks at a time — think peeling a sunburn. She then discovers there’s writing under every corner of each piece of wallpaper: a date and a name. When she searches one of the names and dates on the internet, it comes up as a missing person. She does more digging and finds that all of the names and dates line up with missing people, so she and her husband contact the police. When detectives come over to investigate, she overhears one of them say, “Yep, it’s definitely human.” She’s confused — what’s human? Then, they come over to her and ask, “Ma’am, where is all of the material that you’ve removed so far? It wasn’t wallpaper.”

14. The Hike

A guy had just moved to a new town in New Hampshire and was out with a hiking group he had recently joined as a way to make friends. He left his cellphone in the car as a way to connect with nature, and the group of 12 set off on a beautiful, remote trail . An hour in, they passed a bathroom, and the man asked the group to wait for him while he used it. When he came out, they were gone. He started down the trail alone to try and find the group, but hours were passing and it was getting darker. He started to get disoriented in the woods as the sun set, and eventually it was fully dark and he didn’t know how to get back to the parking lot — plus, he felt like something was watching him. Getting more and more freaked out, he finally spotted another bathroom and decided to stay inside for the rest of the night. The man tried to get some rest, but he soon heard the sound of someone weeping outside, getting closer and closer. Paranoid and scared, the man sprinted out of the bathroom and back into the woods. Running for what felt like miles, he somehow ended up back on the road where he flagged down a car and got help.

This article was originally published on Oct. 28, 2016

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Short campfire ghost stories.

Delight your family at your next campfire by telling these short campfire ghost stories for kids.

Telling stories around the campfire is a great way to end the day. This might become one of your favorite camping traditions!

Tips for telling short campfire ghost stories

Keep your audience in mind..

Some children get very scared by ghost stories - even very silly ghost stories like these one. Wait until they are older .

In the meantime, sing campfire songs together!

Some sensitive children might enjoy these stories if you are careful in the telling. Choose a gentler tone of voice and make the story silly, rather than scary.

Make the story your own.

You could read this story to your family - but it will be much more effective if you tell it in your own words .

You don't have to memorize every detail. Just learn the general idea of the story, and add your own details as you go along.

Be dramatic!

If you have bigger kids who enjoy being scared in a deliciously fun way, ham it up ! Make your voice spooky. Pause for effect. Use sound effects. Have fun!

Short Campfire Ghost Story #1: The Ghost of The Bloody Finger

This scary story turns into a funny story at the very end.

Be sure to make the ghost’s voice very mysterious and spooky . Have him get louder and louder and scarier and scarier as the story progresses.

Then, at the last sentence, change his voice completely . Make him sound conversational and friendly.

In a small town not far from here, there was an old abandoned house. No one ever went near it because everyone said that it was haunted. One day, a bunch of local people were sitting in a coffee shop, chatting about bravery.

One man in particular was bragging loudly. “I’m not afraid of anything!” he boasted.

“Oh yeah?” asked his buddy. “I’ll bet that you aren’t brave enough to spend a night alone in that old abandoned house!” The boaster didn’t want to admit that he was afraid, so he agreed to sleep in the house that very night. At dusk, he arrived at the house alone. He checked every room and found nothing unusual. He chose an upstairs bedroom, spread out his sleeping bag on the floor, and tried to sleep. He had just dozed off when he heard a faint noise from downstairs. He strained to hear what it was. It sounded like someone moaning these words: “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am in the front hall!” The man told himself that he was just imagining things. It must be the wind, he thought. But then he heard, a bit louder, “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am at the bottom of the stairs!” “My imagination is running wild!” thought the man. “I am just going to go to sleep, and soon it will be morning.” But then he heard, even louder, “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am at the top of the stairs!” The man dove inside his sleeping bag, but he could still hear the ghost coming closer. “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am in the upstairs hall!” The man hid his head under his pillow, but he could hear the ghost coming even closer. “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am at the bedroom door!” The man was shaking with terror. The door creaked open. “I am the ghost of the bloody finger! I am in the bedroom!” The ghost paused in the doorway. “I am the ghost of the bloody finger!” (pause) “Do you have a bandaid?”

Short Campfire Ghost Story #2: Rap, Rap, Rap

Here's another classic scary and funny ghost story. Be sure to make your voice very mysterious when you say the last sentence. Pause dramatically before revealing the last words.

There was once a woman who inherited an old house. The neighbors told her that it was haunted, but she didn’t believe them.

When she inspected the house, she was delighted to see that it was completely furnished. She didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, and she moved right in. On her first night in the house, she got into bed happily. She was just drifting off to sleep when she heard an odd sound, way off in the distance. It sounded like this: “Rap, rap, rap.” She tried to ignore the sound, but she couldn’t. Finally she decided to get out of bed and investigate. When she opened her bedroom door, the sound was louder: “Rap, rap, rap”. She walked down the hallway. The sound got louder: “Rap, rap, rap”. She headed downstairs. Now it was even louder! “Rap, rap, rap.” She went into the dining room. It was so loud! “Rap, rap, rap.” The sound seemed to be coming from a corner of the room. She walked in that direction. “Rap, rap, rap.” There was a chest of drawers in the corner. The sound was overwhelming now. “Rap, rap, rap.” She opened the top drawer. There was nothing there.

“Rap, rap, rap.” She opened the second drawer. There was nothing there.

“Rap, rap, rap.” She opened the third drawer. There was nothing there. 

“Rap, rap, rap.” She opened the bottom drawer - and saw ……… a roll of wrapping paper!

I hope your family enjoys these short campfire ghost stories! And once the fire has burnt down to coals, be sure to enjoy some camp fire cooking !

You'll find lots more information to help you plan your next camping trip at The Camping Family home page .

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3 True Ghost Stories for Your Next Backyard Campfire

These spooky tales will make you feel like you're out in the backwoods—almost

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We’ve given up so much outdoor recreation this year. Not that we’re mad about it. Saving lives matters more than backpacking trips and summer marathons . But as the days get warmer, I feel myself craving the smoke-in-my hair smell from a campfire. I miss the sound of owls, the dwindling supply of beer in the cooler, and the way time suspends as you wait for the flames to die.

Mostly, though, I miss the stories. There’s something about the light of the fire in the backcountry darkness that makes you lean in and listen a little closer. And, of course, a few sips of whiskey never hurt a good tall tale.

We can’t bring back your spring campfires with friends. We can, however, bring our favorite campfire stories to you. Save these three for retelling   when things return to normal—or tell them now over a Zoom call with your friends.

The Ghost of Oxford Milford Road

The storyteller: writer and editor brad culp.

When Brad Culp was a student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, there was a rumor that the town was one of the most haunted places in America. When Culp started an on-campus magazine, he couldn’t wait to write about several of the area’s most famous phantoms. Not long after his story published, though, he kept finding himself thinking about one ghost in particular—the ghost of Oxford Milford Road.

As the story goes, many decades ago, probably sometime in the 1940s, there was a young man courting a young woman in a rural part of town. Because the woman’s parents didn’t approve of the match, each night he visited under the cover of darkness. After her parents went to bed, the young woman would sneak out of her farmhouse and flash the lights of her parent’s car three times. Then her young suitor would ride his motorcycle down the road.

“One night he took the turn right before her house a little too sharp,” says Culp. The motorcycle went one way, he went the other. His injuries were so severe that he did not survive. Rumor has it, however, that his lovestruck ghost still haunts this stretch of Milford Road.

Curious, Culp, his girlfriend (now his wife), and a friend decided to head out there one night to see if they could verify the tale. His girlfriend was worried she’d be completely freaked out. “She believes more in that stuff than I do,” Culp says. But he was mostly concerned that his suspicions—that none of this was actually true—would be confirmed. On this particular night, as Culp passed the abandoned farm, an idea came to him, and he pitched it to his girlfriend (how could she not say yes?). Though reluctant, she relented, and Culp turned a short way into the farmhouse driveway.

He killed the engine and flashed his lights three times. “No joke, there was a single headlight that appeared three-quarters of a mile down the road,” Culp says. “You saw it start to come, going pretty slow. It kept coming and coming. My wife was freaking out. It was coming closer and closer.” As a collision seemed imminent, Culp turned on his car’s lights. He expected to see a kid on a bike, bailing out from his prank now that he’d been caught. “But there’s nothing there. The light is just gone,” he says.

They got out of the car. They walked around, trying to figure out what it was they could have seen. “To this day, we still talk about it. I saw something I cannot explain,” he says. If you get him and his wife around a campfire, they’ll swear up and down that the story is true. And if you’re ever in Oxford, Ohio, consider parking for just a few minutes on Oxford Milford Road at night to test your own nerve.

Was It People or Was It Aliens?

Storyteller: doug averill, retired owner and manager of the flathead lake lodge.

Doug Averill grew up as one of eight boys on his parents’ sprawling dude ranch, the Flathead Lake Lodge, in rural Montana. As a teen, the Averill boys ran wild. “We rode around as a little gang of cowboys,” he remembers. They’d saddle up and head off to check cattle on the three giant tracts of land the family managed, which formed a triangle around some of the state’s most remote rangelands.

One summer in the 1960s, the brothers came across a ghastly sight. There, on the ground, were three dead cows neatly arranged in a circle. No obvious wounds were visible, but their reproductive organs had been removed. “But there was never any blood. It was almost surgical removal,” Averill remembers.

During this decade, America was obsessed with aliens, and write-ups in the local newspapers posited that perhaps this was the work of extraterrestrials. People mused that aliens had taken the reproductive organs for testing. But one day, Averill and his friends came across a lance in their path. Attached to it was a cryptic note with a threatening message. “That’s when we thought, It’s gotta be people doing this,” he says.

Then things got really strange. Over the next few days, a series of odd events unfolded. First, the brothers stopped in at a local bar to grab a hamburger, leaving their horses in the back of a stock truck. The horses were packed in tightly, and the Averills were only gone for a few minutes. When they came back, the horse packed into the middle of the truck was mysteriously out—with no signs of a struggle. “We had no idea how they possibly could have gotten that horse unloaded without unloading all the others,” he says.

The next day, a new wrangler on the ranch fell off his horse and was badly injured. They’d all been riding together, but not a single other member of the crew saw the accident. “It was the weirdest thing,” Averill says. The man’s injuries were so severe that he was left permanently disabled.

Finally, the last terrible thing happened. An old camp cook drove out to meet the brothers and ride for a day. But when he arrived, the tailgate on his stock truck had somehow gone missing, even though it had been there when he’d loaded up. His horse, Betsy, had fallen out of the truck and been dragged behind the vehicle for who knows how long. They had to put her down on the spot. “To be honest, it just killed him to see what had happened to Betsy. We probably should have put him down, too,” remembers Averill. “Those three events were just boom, boom, boom—three things in a row that were so weird all tied together, because they were right after we saw that spear,” he remembers. Three things: like the three dead cows left in a circle.

Averill used to tell the stories from that summer around the campfire quite a lot. But over the years, he’s gotten new stories, and so they’ve been shifted out of rotation. Besides, they’re awfully grim. But he recently got a call about a downed bull, a buffalo. It was out in one of the most remote parts of his ranch. “A neighbor had seen a pack of 16 wolves, and normally, wolves don’t bother buffalo, but 16 of them? I thought, Well, maybe.”

He went to investigate. There, lying in a snow-covered field, was the bull. But there were no bullet holes or teeth marks or gashes on its corpse. Even stranger, scavenging animals and birds hadn’t touched it. “Not even the buzzards, which is really unusual,” he says. One other thing was amiss: its reproductive organs were gone. And there wasn’t a single footprint in the snow around it—or anywhere along the mile-long walk into the ranch from the nearest road.

Ask Averill whether he thinks he’s dealing with aliens or humans, and he’ll tell you he’s pretty sure it’s humans. “But I’d rather it was aliens,” he adds. After that summer back in the sixties, seeing what humans were capable of, he’d pick aliens any day.

The Ghost of La Parva Ski Resort

Storyteller: drew tabke, professional skier.

Throughout Latin America, you’ll hear variations of the story of La Llorona, or the wailing woman. Sometimes she’s lost her husband. Sometimes she’s lost her children. Sometimes it’s both. But in La Parva, a ski spot in the Chilean Andes, the wailing woman is named Lola, and everyone in the area swears they knew her before she died. “A local restaurant owner said he dated her,” pro skier Drew Tabke says, adding that the ski patroller he heard the story from pointed at the exact hut where this tale takes place.

The story starts on a nice day in peak ski season. Lola   and her young son planned to spend the day on the slopes. “As can happen in the Andes, a thick fog rose up from the valley, which often precedes the arrival of a real storm. The clouds enveloped the two as they were making their way down from the top of the mountain, and they lost contact with one another,” Tabke says.

Desperate to find her son, Lola began screaming his name as she ran through the thick fog. Unable to see clearly, though, she stumbled down a steep slope and began sliding toward a rocky couloir.

“By chance, a local lift operator who was returning to his cabin came across her body. He was afraid she was dead, but on closer inspection, he found she was still alive, just barely,” Tabke says. Her body was covered in lacerations from sharp rocks, and the only word she said—in the faintest whisper—was her son’s name.

The lift operator worked to carefully pull her body to his cabin, which was just up the hill. He bandaged her cuts as best he could and then ran to fetch the doctor. Together the doctor and lift operator made their way back to his hut, the fog hanging thickly in the air. When they arrived, though, the bed was empty. Just the bloody sheets remained.

“Neither the woman nor her son were ever found,” Tabke says. But locals report hearing her wail for her child whenever they’re near that lift operator’s cabin.

And here’s the thing: Tabke does not believe in ghosts. Something, however, changes when he arrives in Chile each winter. Maybe it’s the fact that, from La Parva, you can see up to Cerro el Plomo , an Incan child-sacrifice site. Maybe it’s because Tabke has simply read so many magical realism books by authors like Juan Rulfo and Gabriel García Márquez. But sitting alone in his cabin in the Andes, with the wind whipping and the candles flickering, he swears that every now and then he just can’t tell if what he’s hearing is a woman or the wind.

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Freak Out Your Friends with These 13 Scary Campfire Stories

This article is brought to you by  Banner & Oak , a company with deep expertise in headwear. Their  ladies hats  are the perfect addition to your next camping trip. 

Seriously spooky (and sometimes cheesy) campfire stories are a classic way to pass the time while camping. Paired with campfire desserts , a cozy blanket, and a captive audience, these 13 stories bring everyone together—and not just because you’ll be afraid to return to your tent. 

Take caution and pick your stories wisely if you’re camping with the kids . Some of these are seriously frightening. If it’s an adults-only trip, then break out the cocktails and dive in. 

Either way, the experience of sharing stories around the campfire is sure to be a memorable one.

1. The Wolf Girl of Devil’s River

This Texas-based scary campfire story dates back to the 1800s. The story of “ The Wolf Girl “  is centered around the notoriously haunted Espantosa Lake , often avoided by travelers who fear the ghostly fog that covers the lake each night. In 1845, a young boy reported seeing an unclothed girl devouring a goat alongside a pack of wolves. The girl was later captured by cowboys who tried to lock her in a shack. She escaped in the middle of the night, and the wolf girl has never been found.

2. The Creak

“ The Creak ” is less of a scary campfire story and more of a creepy poem, making it pretty easy to remember. It also relies on a giant jump-scare at the end, so this one is great for those with some theatrical storytelling abilities. The poem is all about simple sounds, and all the scary things they could be, perfect for keeping your friends and family up all night with worry.

3. La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)

This scary story is perfect for campfires near a river. In Mexican folklore, La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) is the ghost of a woman who lost her children. The tale says she wanders near the river, looking for her children. La Llorona is said to kidnap children who wander near, as she mistakes them for her own.

4. The Deer Woman

The Deer Woman  is a modern scary campfire story based in Native American mythology. The deer woman is a shape-shifting creature living deep in forests. Appearing either as a deer or a woman, she lures unsuspecting lovers or promiscuous men into the woods, then stomps them to death with her hooves. 

5. The Hawaiian Night Marchers

Be sure to tell this one on your next beach camping trip: in this Hawaiian legend , night marchers are the deadly ghosts of ancient warriors. They are said to rise up from the ocean and march to ancient battle sites after sunset. The legend states that any mortal who looks directly at the night marchers will die a violent death.

6. The Red Spot

Based on an urban legend, this scary campfire story appears in the infamous Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. A tale told to make your skin crawl, “ The Red Spot ” is about a young girl who wakes up to find a spider bite on her cheek. We’ll let you guess what happens next.

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7. Axe Murder Hollow

As if the title isn’t terrifying on its own, this quick and scary campfire story follows a couple who get stuck in the mud during a rainy drive. They find themselves in — you guessed it —  Axe Murder Hollow . Ending in a cliffhanger, whether the couple makes it out alive is up to your imagination.

8. The Smiling Man

Creepy enough to become its own short film , “ The Smiling Man ” tells the story of a young man who goes on a simple evening walk. He runs into a man in a suit who is staring at the sky, smiling. The good news is this scary campfire story doesn’t end in a violent death. The bad news is there isn’t much resolve either.

9. The Rustling Corn

This scary campfire story is another one that comes in poem form. Sinister indeed, “ The Rustling Corn ” tells the tale of a shortcut home turning into the stuff of nightmares. What’s hiding in the cornfield is left up to the listener’s imagination.

10. An Open Wi-Fi Connection

This Reddit-born story puts a modern twist on the classic scary campfire stories we know so well. “ An Open Wi-Fi Connection ,” tells the story of a group of friends camping in the woods who, unsurprisingly, connect to an open Wi-Fi network. Sounds innocent enough at first, but this supposedly true story takes a creepy turn.

(You might be less inclined to connect to wifi at a campground in the future.)

11. The Lucienne Twins

Another Reddit contribution, “ The Lucienne Twins ,” is a tale retold after 10 years time. A first-year kindergarten teacher has a set of twins in her class. But after one twin dies in a tragic accident, the other finds a mysterious connection to the afterlife.

12. The Big Toe

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Whether you’re gathered around a fire in the woods or huddled inside a tent made of sheets in the glow of a flashlight, these spooky tales are the perfect entertainment. Remember to read all scary campfire stories in advance to make sure they’re appropriate for your audience. Then draw them out with your best sound effects and dramatic pauses, and your listeners will shiver in delight!

Drive of Danger

“The man revved his engine powerfully, almost angrily, again and flashed the Nissan’s brights, almost bumping the back of the pickup as he surged forward behind her.”

A young woman driving home late at night is spooked by the car behind her, who keeps flashing his high beams on and off. But it turns out the danger was much closer than she realized.

The Hook-Handed Killer

“they heard another thump, and a long, screeching sound like metal scraping on metal.”.

This old classic has been freaking kids out for ages. Two teens barely escape danger, as the bloody hook hanging on their car door can attest …

The Big Toe

“’Where is my to-o-o-o-o-e?’ the voice groaned.”

This one is creepy and gross (the family eats someone’s big toe!), but the ending is one of those terrific “gotcha” moments that make scary campfire stories so much fun.

Room for One More

“the driver called to him, ‘there is room for one more.’ then he waited for a minute or two, and he drove off.”.

A man receives an eerie invitation from a crowd in a hearse late at night. The next day, he receives the same invitation to join a crowded elevator. What happens next is downright spooky.

The Black Ribbon

“She was always dressed exquisitely, and she always wore a black ribbon around her neck.”

A young husband learns the horrifying truth when he ignores his wife’s warning and cuts the black ribbon she insists on wearing around her neck.

The Girl Who Stood on a Grave

“‘something has got me’ she screamed, and she fell to the ground.”.

When a girl agrees to stand on a grave at night, she’s sure there’s nothing to be afraid of. But her friends find her dead the next day. What could have happened?

The Gift of the Doll

“The doll was smiling slightly, and something about that smile made Madeleine uncomfortable.”

Some people love old dolls, while others find them a little creepy. Those in the latter camp will feel vindicated by the actions of the terrifying doll in this creepy tale.

The Hitchhiker

“when tom described the girl’s pretty features and her white dress, the woman immediately burst into tears.”.

Everyone knows it’s a bad idea to pick up hitchhikers. Tom learns this lesson the hard way when the pretty girl he offers a ride to turns out to have been dead for 10 years.

Clinkity-Clink

“And the money went Clinkity-clink, clinkity-clink, and the fire flared and flickered and snapped and popped, and the ghost of the dead woman cried, ‘Oh, where is my money? Who took my money? Whooo? Whooo?'”

This is one of those scary campfire stories that makes a real impact in the telling. Be sure to draw out all the sound effects, creating an eerie atmosphere leading up to the final dramatic moment.

The Ghost of the Bloody Finger

“i am the ghost of the bloody finger i am at the bedroom door”.

The tale of the ghost of the bloody finger is spooky right up until the last minute. After that, kids are likely to dissolve into giggles.

Bloody Mary

“She was glowing with an unearthly light as she set her evil spell upon the miller’s daughter.”

Have you heard that if you look into a mirror in the dark and say “Bloody Mary” three times, her face will appear? Find out exactly who Bloody Mary is in this tale, then dare kids to look into a mirror and tempt fate.

Rings on Her Fingers

“but when he cut into the finger with the wedding ring, it began to bleed, and daisy clark begin to stir.”.

A greedy grave robber gets a lot more than he bargained for when he decides to dig up a young woman and steal her rings.

Milk Bottles

“She was back the next day with two empty milk bottles. He replaced them with full bottles and watched as she hurried out the door.”

Travel back to the desperate days of the Great Depression, and learn the lengths a mother will go to in order to keep her baby alive.

“Rumors began to spread around the village. People said there must be something wrong with this beautiful girl.”

In this Japanese folktale, a young girl puts prospective suitors to the test with a truly gruesome challenge. At last, she thinks she’s finally found her match, but now there’s a horrifying surprise in store for her.

The Dog’s Lick

“If you get scared, put your hand under the bed and the dog will lick it. He’ll keep you safe.”

A dog can be a comforting presence in a scary situation—as long as it’s really a dog. But what if it turns out to be something else altogether?

The Cat’s Paw

“jed stared at the cat’s paw. only it wasn’t a cat’s paw anymore.”.

A man determined to stop a thief thinks he’s shot a cat. The truth is much more disturbing.

No Trespassing

“Something terrible had happened, she thought wearily, fear adding yet more fatigue to her already wounded body.”

These teens didn’t mean to trespass, but that didn’t make any difference to whomever had posted the sign. This one will make you think twice about ignoring posted warnings.

The Golden Hand

“in that moment, a terrible lust woke in his heart—not to possess the lady herself, but to possess the solid gold hand that she wore under her long black gloves.”.

When a man marries a woman not for love, but for greed, he meets a very unhappy ending. This scary campfire story carries a bit of a moral too.

The Thirteenth Floor

“The light in the elevator was flickering as they stepped in and, as the doors began to close, the lights went out completely.”

Ever been in a building without a 13th floor? Learn the story behind the old superstition about the very first unlucky 13th floor and the elevator that led to it.

The Red Spot

“while ruth slept, a spider crawled across her face. it stopped for several minutes on her left cheek, then went on its way.”.

Part urban legend, part spooky story, this tale is sure to creep out arachnophobes and arachnophiles alike!

Looking for more scary campfire stories for kids? Check out these 10 spooky short stories, complete with lesson plan ideas.

Plus, get all the latest teaching ideas straight to your inbox when you sign up for our free newsletters.

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10 Scary Short Stories To Share With Your Students This October

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13 Ghost Stories Books to Read Around the Halloween Campfire

Light your campfires and get your flashlights ready. here are 13 ghost stories books filled with the best campfire stories….

• 1 Light your campfires and get your flashlights ready. Here are 13 ghost stories books filled with the best campfire stories…
• 2.1 1. 50 Real American Ghost Stories
• 2.2 2. The Worlds Favorite Ghost Stories
• 2.3 3. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
• 2.4 4. Ghost Stories (Paranormal Locations Series)
• 2.5 5. Classic Campfire Stories: Forty Spooky Tales
• 3.1 6. Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories
• 3.2 7. Collected Ghost Stories
• 3.3 8. Complete Ghost Stories
• 3.4 9. 50 States 500 Scary Places to Visit
• 3.5 10. A Haunted Road Atlas
• 3.6 11. Civil War Ghosts
• 3.7 12. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories
• 3.8 13. Campfire Stories for Kids
• 4 15 Easy Campfire Snacks & Treats
• 5 New ebook from Mike and Jennifer Wendland – the Natchez Trace
• 6 Official RV Lifestyle QUICK Links to ALL our eBooks

Faces only partially visible by firelight. A pitch-black backdrop of the wild outdoors. Sounds of the unknown surrounding you. 

All that’s missing is an ominous voice telling a tale of horror to all those brave enough to listen!

The following ghost stories books are filled with scary, spooky (and sometimes silly) campfire stories. With them, you can be the ominous voice that scares adults and children alike!

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases at no added cost to you. Thank you for your support. You can read our  full affiliate disclosure here.

13 Best Ghost Stories Books

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As you can see from this video, Jennifer and I are fans of spooky stories. We love to hear about the local tales and myths of monsters, ghosts, and mysteries wherever we travel. (Whether we believe them or not.)

From stories based on real events to creative fiction, this list of the best ghost stories books has something for every RVer. Some can even be used as guides to plan your next road trip!

1. 50 Real American Ghost Stories

This book of 50 Real American Ghost Stories is a collection of America’s haunted heritage. It is written by bestselling author and ghost historian MJ Wayland.

As described: “From the downright chilling, to scary and the weird, this collection of REAL ghost stories is ideal for a Halloween thrill or an insight into a unique haunted history.”

2. The Worlds Favorite Ghost Stories

The World's Favorite Ghost Stories is an illustrated anthology that includes 13 creepy tales from around the world. They include ghost stories about the jikininiki from Japan, sinister specters from South Africa, the ominous silence in Russia, and more.

The stories “are so vivid that they almost feel real. But they couldn’t be—could they?…”

3. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a 3-books-in-1 collection with original artwork and jacketed hardcover. It's even been made into a major motion picture.

The stories are “some of the most terrifying tales of horror, revenge, and supernatural events of all time, collected and retold by Alvin Schwartz.”

4. Ghost Stories (Paranormal Locations Series)

The first book in the series, Ghost Stories is a collection of the world’s scariest haunted locations, paranormal encounters, and demonic possessions. 

Who knows, maybe you’re camping in one of those haunted locations now! The only way to find out is to look inside this book…

5. Classic Campfire Stories: Forty Spooky Tales

Written by a doctor (of what, no one knows!), Classic Campfire Stories is a collection of scary classics and frightening folktales is for young and old.

The ghost stories are all fun and easy to read, remember, and retell!

Official RV Lifestyle 2023 Merch

6. Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories

The Amazon description for Roald Dah's Book of Ghost Stories says it best:

Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected? From the author of such beloved books as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Witches comes a collection of spooky tales carefully curated by the author himself, Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories.

Of the many permutations of the macabre or bizarre, Dahl was always especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. As he relates in the erudite introduction to this volume, he read some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. “Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story,” Dahl writes. “It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts.”

7. Collected Ghost Stories

Though the book cover looks similar to #2 on this list, it is a different book by a different author.

Collected Ghost Stories is a collection of classic ghost stories are written by the “finest ghost-story writer England has ever produced,” M.R. James. They are described as “superb examples of beautifully-paced understatement, convincing background and chilling terror.”

This book has certainly caught my interest… they sound quite elegant for ghost stories!

8. Complete Ghost Stories

The Complete Ghost Stories is another collection by M.R. James, which we referenced as the “finest ghost-story writer” in the previous description. He was an English author, medievalist scholar, and provost of King’s College, Cambridge, and Eton College.

James is known for his ghost stories because they abandoned “many of the formal Gothic clichés of his predecessors and using more realistic contemporary setting.” Even though these stories were written in the early 1900s, they still stand up today.

9. 50 States 500 Scary Places to Visit

Hardcore ghost story fans can use 50 States 500 Scary Places to Visit as a travel guide for their next RV adventure. Organized by state, it takes you on a tour of the scariest haunts in every state. 

Creepy destinations include the House of the Seven Gables, the LaLaurie Mansion, the Winchester Mystery House, the Bell Witch Cave, and many more. It also features full-color photos to bring the tales to life.

10. A Haunted Road Atlas

A Haunted Road Atlas is another possible travel guide for horror-loving RVers. It’s created from the hit true crime podcast And That’s Why We Drink . 

The book is “Jam-packed with illustrations, fun facts, travel tips, and beverage recs, this guide includes some of the country’s most notorious crime scenes, hauntings, and supernatural sightings.”

11. Civil War Ghosts

If you’re traveling in Civil War territory, Civil War Ghosts is for you. It’s a book of real ghost stories reported in newspapers at the time of the Civil War, covering 1860-1865.

“Civil War Ghosts is a unique supernatural look at America while the states battled each other.”

12. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories

This unique collection of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories were printed in newspapers and magazines during the Christmas season. Some of the authors are very well-known, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Elizabeth Gaskell, while others are “anonymous and forgotten.” 

It's a nice twist on ghost stories to read at Halloween and prepare you for the oncoming Christmas season.

13. Campfire Stories for Kids

To end this spooky list on a lighter note, I’m including one of the best ghost stories books for kids . Aptly named, this book is perfect for telling scary and funny tales around the campfire. 

It includes 21 stories and urban legends that will “make you laugh out loud, or have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering how it will end.”

15 Easy Campfire Snacks & Treats

Campfire stories are always better when enjoyed with treats! That's why planning one of these Easy Campfire Snacks & Treats is a must for your spooky evening.

For more campfire fun, check out these articles:

• How to Tell a Good Campfire Story
• 30 of the Best Campfire Songs

New ebook from Mike and Jennifer Wendland – the Natchez Trace

The Natchez Trace Parkway  will capture your imagination, soothe your jangled travel nerves, open your mind and inspire you with the history that unfolded along its 444 miles.

Each of the 7 Days of the ebook has:

• Suggested Mileposts to explore
• Places to Eat in each area of the 7 sections
• Campground descriptions and links
• Links to all the special places and information
• Links to videos that show more in detail
• and a lot of highlighted information for each section

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a printed, hard copy guide.

Whether you want to follow the footsteps of explorers, discover natural beauty, or visit historic sites, the Trace has something to grab your attention and leave you eager to see what’s at the next milepost.

You can see why this is one of our favorite US routes to explore.  We’ve traveled it a half dozen times!

Official RV Lifestyle QUICK Links to ALL our eBooks

You can see ALL our eBooks here , or use the following Quick Links to go straight to what you need!

●     Adirondacks

●     Arizona

●     Colorado  

● Coastal Maine

●     Florida’s Atlantic Coast

●     Florida’s Gulf Coast

●     Florida Keys

●     Great Lakes Shoreline

●     Natchez Trace

●     Southern Utah

●     Upper Peninsula

● Lower Peninsula

●     Yellowstone

And MANY of these are BUNDLED together: 

Northeast Bundle Coastal Maine, Adirondacks

Ultimate Michigan and Great Lakes Bundle – 3 ebooks – Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula, and the Great Lakes Tour

Michigan Bundle Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula

The Great Lakes Adventure Guide Bundle The Great Lake Shoreline Tour & JUST the Upper Peninsula Guide

Florida Adventure Guide Bundle Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, Keys 

Southwest Adventure Guide Bundle Arizona, Colorado, Southern Utah) 

Ultimate 7-Day RV Adventure Guide Bundle Collection 1- our first 10 ebooks (does NOT contain Great Lakes Shoreline or Natchez Trace)

We also have a nice collection of ebooks that will help you navigate the RV Lifestyle. 

Like these :

RV Buying Secrets

The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking  

The Ultimate Guide to Cheap or FREE RV Camping Sites

Boondocking and Free RV Camping EBOOK Bundle

The Beginner’s Guide to Boondocking ebook and Ultimate Guide to Free Camping Sites

And ONE PRINT book 🙂 and yes, before you ask, we have plans for MANY more print books .

The Complete Guide to Boondocking – PRINT VERSION This is the same as the ebook titled The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking but in print.

And while you are exploring all our ebooks – check out the hoodies, T-shirts, Stickers, and mugs in our MERCH Store! You can get to it directly by just going here – SHOP!

Last update on 2023-10-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Published on 2023-10-07

Mike Wendland is an Emmy award-winning journalist, traveler, and producer of RV Podcast, the RV Lifestyle travel blog, and the RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube. Mike, traveling with his wife Jennifer and their Norwegian Elkhound, Bo, has vast experience and a great passion for exploring North America, previously working as a long-time NBC-TV News Channel Technology Correspondent and now sharing his love for the RV lifestyle with millions. Mike is not only an adept RV life enthusiast but also a skillful storyteller, bringing to his channels stories from the road that perfectly capture the magic and hardships of this lifestyle.

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Short Scary Campfire Stories That Inspire Fear In the Bravest of Souls

Tell these original campfire tales to give your audience the goosebumps.

Allison is a writer with experience writing for several websites.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Never is the mood more perfect for a scary story than when you're gathered around a firepit or classic campfire. With the flames dancing, the shadows flickering, and the darkness just within reach - these creepy, spooky, short, and scary campfire stories will have you huddling a little closer to your flashlight.

A Cursed Doll

Suzy loved dolls. In fact, one entire wall of her bedroom was dolls. Shelf upon shelf, she had two dozen dolls that she named and loved. One day, while out shopping with her mother, they passed a new doll shop. The store window was filled with dolls - all dolls Suzy wanted. But the best doll of all was sitting by herself in the corner. With curly strawberry-blonde hair, pale blue dress, and black shoes, she was definitely the prettiest.

• 15 Easy Camping Meals You Don't Need to Fret Over

Try as she might, Suzy's mom didn't want to buy her the doll or even set foot into the shop. Shop after shop, Suzy's mom looked at endless shelves of vases, paintings, and boring clothes.

That night, when she got home, she wished that the doll could be hers and only hers. She'd give anything. The next morning, Suzy woke up to find that the strawberry blonde doll was sitting on the shelf - only no other dolls were touching her. As though they were afraid of her. She ran into the kitchen to ask her parents when they bought it, but nothing greeted her except silence. In her arms, she heard the doll softly giggle.

The Motel Keyhole

After traveling all day for the fourth day straight, the man decided he'd had enough, and he was ready for bed. While he was hoping for a nice hotel, he was ready to call it quits and was more than happy to check into any motel - no matter how dumpy and rundown.

He regretted that thought, as the next motel was only six rooms and couldn't have been updated from when it was first built back in the 40s. The motel clerk looked up at him in surprise when he rang the service bell in the make-shift one room lobby that was also home to the coffeemaker and day-old bagels and doughnuts. On second thought, that coffee looked a few days old too.

The small clerk handed him a key to room four and told him to call down if he needed anything during his stay. She'd be there all night.

As the man walked past the first room and the second room, he realized his car and the clerk's car were the only ones in the parking lot. Which was odd, considering that as he approached room three, he saw the light flick on. He peered through the keyhole and saw a woman walking away from the door and into the bathroom soundlessly.

Unlocking his own door, he was happy to kick off his shoes and flop onto the bed. He heard soft crying from the room next door, but it didn't last long, and nor did he. He quickly fell asleep.

Around two in the morning, he awoke with a jolt, although he couldn't say why. There had been no noise and yet, his heart was racing. Deciding to clear his head, he stepped outside to go for a quick walk.

The light to room three was still on, and he once again peered into the keyhole, curious about this mystery guest. All he saw was a dark red. Strange, he thought, perhaps they hung up a towel.

He headed down to the lobby to see if maybe there might be a food to satisfy the need for a midnight snack. The clerk and her stale bagels were all that he found in the lobby. He started to leave but his curiosity got the better of him. "The guest in room three, is she okay?" The clerk looked confused, "There's no guest except for you tonight." The man swallowed slowly, while the clerk had a giggle, "Although some of the townies claim that a woman's ghost inhabits that room. I've never seen her though. But they claim she has blood-red eyes."

• Funny Ghost Stories for Kids: Spooky (But Silly) Tales

The Missing Camper

(You'll want a partner to yell Terry at the very end to give the group a good fright.)

One summer, at a camp in the Adirondacks, a young boy was excited for his first sleep-away camp. Ready for adventure and to make friends, the first week flew by. Terry wrote home, telling his parents and brother of all his cool new friends, his archery skills, and how fast he could swim the dock in the middle of the lake now.

During the counselor's usual bunk checks around midnight, Cole flashed his light through bunk eight and saw Terry's bed was empty. Cole quietly left the cabin so as not to wake the other campers and headed to the counselor's cabin. "Guys," Cole said breathlessly, "Terry is missing." The group grabbed their sweatshirts, boots, and flashlights and head into the woods. Cole yelled, "Terry! Terry! Terry!" over and over. His voice grew quieter until it was nothing more than a distant whisper.

Another group of counselors found Terry behind the cabin, sleeping soundly after a sleepwalking journey. Cole never returned, but some say you can still hear him looking for the camper to this day.

The Secret to Telling a Scary Campfire Story

Telling a scary story well is simple! Follow these tips and you'll have everyone yelping with fright.

• Use varying volumes with your voice. Draw your listeners in with a whisper, then make them jump with a small yell.
• Don't be afraid of adding in sound effects using your voice, stomping your feet, or clapping your hands.
• Flicker your flashlight or suddenly aim it off in the distance to distract your listeners. That's a good time for a jump scare.
• Skip too many jump scares in a story. Otherwise they'll be ready for the next one.
• Sometimes, the best scary story is told in a whisper that'll live in their imagination - even without a jump scare.
• Grab a friend to help you in your scary story telling! Have them creep around, make sounds, or even jump in with a few unexpected lines.

Classic and Popular Short Scary Campfire Stories

There's a dark, spooky world of classic campfire stories. From urban legends to books that make you afraid to sleep with the lights off, these are the classics.

• The Velvet Ribbon - A little girl grows up, telling everyone around her she cannot, under any circumstances, remove the ribbon she wears around her neck.
• The Big Toe - Foraging in the forest, looking for ingredients to add to a stew, a young boy finds a hairy mushroom to add to the stockpot.
• The Hook - A couple finds themselves subjected to eerie taps and scratches when they're parked on a dark Lover's Lane.
• The Clown Statue - A babysitter finds herself unsettled by the life-sized clown statue in the house.
• The Vanishing Hitchhiker - It's late at night, after prom, and two teenage boys see a girl their age on the side of a country road. They give her a ride home only to find out things aren't what they seem.
• The Smiling Man - Insomnia has the best of a young man, and he goes for a late-night walk around his neighborhood. Only, he isn't alone. But perhaps the eerie four-minute short film will equally spook everyone - including you. Beware the jump scare!
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - The peak of scary stories, this book and its sequels will keep you and your friends up until sunrise.
• The NoNap Podcast - From the people who brought the NoSleep stories to life, these won't leave you with nightmares.
• Urban legends make for excellent stories to tell in the dark.
• 13 Really Scary Urban Legends to Send Shivers Down Your Spine

It's the Most Fun in the Dark With Scary Stories

Allow the spooky darkness to be your fellow storyteller in your scary campfire stories. Tell a new story to give everyone a fright, or keep it classic with an urban legend or even a creepy clown statue. You're going to want to make sure your flashlight has fresh batteries.

Exploring Campfire Traditions: Ghost Stories & S’mores

by Tanner Colley

The primal bond between fire and humanity goes way back. You can imagine how our ancestors quickly realized the importance of fire to their survival. With this kind of history, we’ve had a lot of time to think about what to do around a fire.

Let’s explore the origins of two of our favorite campfire traditions: telling ghost stories and the making of the S’more.

Ghost Stories

Imagine the time when you first gathered around a campfire. Chances are someone spoke out: “Let’s tell ghost stories!” What is it about fire that inspires us to share and scare?

We have been telling stories around a fire since we first were able to control it. The first evidence of domestic use of fire happened around 400,000 years ago in a network of caves in Israel. The evidence points to the use of a single hearth for cooking and warmth. 

The single hearth was important for the development of human civilization. The hearth formed a social focus while also helping to develop language. “Flames,” says the late Anthony Bourdain ,” attract people to talk to one another.” The idea of hearth and home is a source of comfort for us where we can support one another.

Today, most of us stand around the kitchen swapping stories after a long day. It strengthens our relationships. Our ancestors likely did the same around the fire. One study notes how these times spent around a campfire helped shape the tradition of storytelling around a fire. Our ancestors, more than likely, did the same.

When did ghosts get added to stories told around the fire? You may be surprised that telling ghost stories around a fire was once a Christmas tradition.

Famous English writer, Jerome K. Jerome, wrote this about ghost stories and Christmas in 1891: “Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet around a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories.” In 1800s England, spooky stories had long been a way to whittle away cold and long nights. The “Winter Tale,” made popular by Shakespeare, was a fantasy of goblins, elves, and fairies. Charles Dickens took the idea of the Winter Tale and applied it in his writing of A Christmas Carol (1843) about an old miser named Scrooge who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas night in order to help him abandon his greedy ways and embrace charity and his community. The tale was meant to be read around a fire, and Dickens thought the Christmas Yule Log the perfect stage.

While the Christmas tradition of telling ghost stories never caught on in America, the ghost story around the fire stuck.

S’mores

You just can’t help yourself when offered a sinful, decadent S’more around the fire, but did you know this tradition has its roots in medicine?

One of the pillars of the S’more, the marshmallow , was a swamp plant that produces a sticky, white sap used until the Middle Ages to make lozenges to soothe a sore throat. The Latin name for marshmallow is Althea Officinalis , which comes from the Greek “althea,” meaning to “heal” or “cure.” In the 1800s, French chefs started making it into a sticky sweet rather than a medicine. The original recipe was much more sticky and squishy than the marshmallow we enjoy today. The mallow plant extract was also expensive, meaning marshmallows were enjoyed mostly by the upper class.

Over time, the mallow plant extract was replaced by gelatin, a cheaper alternative, making it available to the lower class. This was when the tradition really got roasting.

By the end of the century, “marshmallow roasts” were the toast of the town. One New York newspaper reported in 1892 “the simplicity of [marshmallow roasts] is particularly charming. One buys two or three pounds of marshmallows, invites half a dozen friends, and that is all the preparation required.” The recommended way of eating at the time was right off the roasting stick. Marshmallows weren’t stuffed between graham crackers with chocolate until the early 1900s.

Whether inspired by the Mallomar or the MoonPie (commercial treats involving marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers) the sacred name and form of “S’more” wouldn’t have been solidified had it not been for the Girl Scouts. A recipe book published by the group in 1927, Trampling and Trailing with the Girl Scouts , includes the first reference to the recipe being called a “S’more,” although the name was “Some More” rather than the shortened “S’more.” “Though it tastes like ‘some more,’ one is really enough,” the book describes.

What other campfire traditions do you enjoy? Share them with us on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Ultimate Camp Resource

For Camp People, by Camp People

Scary Campfire Stories

These campfire stories are either really scary, or are suspenseful enough that they will scare you anyway.

A note about campfire stories from our "soapbox:" We love a good scary story, but be conservative when choosing your audience. Many children are just beginning to sleep out, and an upsetting experience could jeopardize their overall enjoyment of sleeping away from home, or camping out.

Enjoy! If you don't see your favorite story listed, or know a different version, please submit!

Once in a little village not that far from here, there was a problem. Animals had started dying off, one by one. In the morning their owners would see them lying outside with 10 holes in their chest. The people thought it was the work of their neighboring town (insert name). Then, one night a man by the name of …

A House of Terror

The car finally gave out. Jeff hit the dashboard in frustration. It was bad enough that the car had to break down, but at night, in the rain, in the middle of God knows wherever he was, it was a fitting end to his bad week. The week had seen his wife leave him, taking the kids with her. He …

Army of the Dead

A laundress, newly moved to Charleston following the Civil War, found herself awakened at the stroke of twelve each night by the rumble of heavy wheels passing in the street. But she lived on a dead end street, and had no explanation for the noise. Her husband would not allow her to look out the window when she heard the …

Backseat Maniac

There’s a girl driving along I-70 on the way back to Colorado after visiting her relatives in Illinois. It’s about 1:00 am and it starts raining when she realizes she’s almost out of gas. She sees a sign for a gas station about 3 miles ahead and breaths a sigh of relief. But when she gets there she sees it’s …

Blue Baby Bonnet

Once there was a young woman who had a child, but couldn’t afford to take care of it by herself, so she put a blue baby bonnet on it’s head and carried it two miles from her house and left it in the woods As she began to walk home she heard “Blue Baby Bonnet One Mile Away” As she …

“Creak”, a sound, faint, distant, but still heard. “Crack”, something snapping, or being trampled on. The man sits in his room, reading. The room is silent except for the quiet fire burning. “Creak”..Just the the house settling, nothing more. “Crack”, Perhaps some small animals outdoors. “Whoosh”, Was that the wind? The man stands up and peeks out the window. A …

Eversince Julie was a little girl, when she got scared she would put her hand under her bed and her dog would lick her hand to comfort her. Well now Julie was 14 and her parents were going out and were going to be out until late at night. Julie didn’t want to stay home alone but her parents told …

Don’t Turn on the Light

Once their were two girls who shared a college dorm together. Their names were Meg and Venida. The girls were out partying one night. Meg noticed she forgot her purse and went back quickly to the dorm. With out turning on the lights she walked in and grabbed the purse. Then she returned to the party. Later on in the …

Drive of Danger

Tell it at night, and sound effects work well to make the story scarier. It was a late night, rainy, and very dark. A young woman was driving home alone from work after a long, tiring day. Her two-seater pickup truck had been driving on steadily through the rain for the last half hour- aand she still had another half-hour …

Ghost on the Track

The number 12B Train was on its usual journey from Royston to Monkton taking workers to and from the coking factory. The day was supposed to be wet and gloomy and a mist is said to have swept in from the east that cold autumn night. The moon was full looking over Royston that night but still wives and children …

Girl at the Underpass

Not long ago, but before interstate highways ran around towns and cities, a young man left Greensboro late one night to drive to his old home in Lexington. At that time, just east of Jamestown, the old road dipped through a tunnel under the train tracks. The young man knew the road well, but it was a thick foggy night …

La Mala Hora

My friend Isabela called me one evening before dinner. She was sobbing as she told me that she and her husband Enrique were getting divorced. He had moved out of the house earlier that day and Isabela was distraught. I called my husband, who was on a business trip in Chicago, and he agreed that I should go stay with …

Nightmare House

It was a dark and stormy night. Steve had just came in from having tied down anything that could possibly blow away in the wind outside. Cold seaping into his bones, he decided to go sit by the fireplace to warm up. He closed the door to the large living room of the large house he had just purchased. His …

Not In My Neighborhood

When I was 18 I started babysitting my Aunt’s youngest three kids. I always got a very uneasy feeling when I went into her house, the only reason I agreed to stay in house was because I was just out of High School and I needed the money. You need to know that her house is a bi-level. When entering …

On Washington Rock

The dream was so vivid, she didn’t realize at first that it was a dream. The party was crowded, the guests cheerful, the food delicious. Then a rumor began to circulate among the guests. The Devil was coming to the party. The Devil was on the way. She didn’t pay much attention at first. Until a hush came over the …

Once there was a little girl whose name was Rose Marie. One night she woke up about midnight because she heard someone walking across the floor downstairs. step…step…step…step…step She quickly pulled the covers up over her head and shivered, holding her breath. Soon, she hears a wavery voice (say slowly in a scary voice). ” Rose Marie – I’m on …

SCARY STORY (Revised/Updated)

SCREAMS IN THE DARK She was my best friend. But I try never to think about her. It’s only on certain nights, when I’m all alone in my room, that I remember… It was last year when my best friend asked me to stay at her house overnight. She lived in a big, gloomy house set way back in the …

You can give them all a mirror while you say the story. (Or not!) To SCARE them Silly! Whoever is foolish enough to say Bloody Mary three times in the mirror is sure to die. Once upon a time, there was a woman called Mary Worth. Everyone insisted she was a witch, and no one dared go newar her house. …

Something Black and Cold

It started with little things, strange incidents that were sometimes inconvenient, sometimes almost amusing. But then the heavy trouble began… and the terror. In the early 1970s, two sisters, Lois Dean and Diantha Summer, moved their families into two old houses in the middle of Rawlins, Wyoming, a small city in the Rocky Mountains. Lois and her husband and their …

The trials and tribulations of living in today’s modern society can tend to wear on your nerves. One can grow very weary of dealing with bills, taxes, insurance, traffic, and pollution; not to mention anything about keeping food in the refrigerator. Often times the whole thing can make you wanna holler, throw up both your hands! And that’s exactly what …

The Big Toe

A boy was digging at the edge of the garden when he saw a big toe. He tried to pick it up, but it was stuck to something. So he gave it a good hard jerk, and it came off in his hand. Then he heard something groan and scamper away. The boy took the toe into the kitchen and …

The Birth of the Jersey Devil

A storm was raging that night in 1735, when Mother Leeds was brought to bed in child birth. The room was full of woman folk gathered to help her, more out of curiosity than good will. They had all heard the rumors that Mother Leeds was involved in witchcraft, and had sworn she would give birth to a devil. Tension …

The Black Ribbon

Long ago, a young man met and fell in love with a beautiful young woman. She was always dressed exquisitely and she always wore a black ribbon around her neck. Soon the man and the woman were married and moved into a little cottage by the sea. They started out very happily, but soon the young man became more and …

The Boy with the Brass Buttons

A young couple were delighted to purchase the old-fashioned house in the Stuyvesant Square section of Philadelphia. They moved into their dream home in the winter of 1889, bringing their six year old daughter with them. There was a lot of refurbishing to do, so the little girl tended to go up to the attic to play while her parents …

The girl hurried through her schoolwork as fast as she could. It was the night of the high school dance, along about 70 years ago in the town of Kingsville, Texas. The girl was so excited about the dance. She had bought a brand new, sparkly red dress for the dance. She knew she looked smashing in it. It was …

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Real people telling their true stories of supernatural experiences. Den of Geek said, "Jim Harold’s Campfire is perhaps the best tool we have currently in existence to hear real-life scary stories from other human beings since the actual campfire was invented."

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30 Scary Stories for Kids That Are Just Spooky Enough

These funny and spooky ghost stories for kids keep that eerie vibe going through the night

There’s nothing like telling ghost stories over a campfire or at a sleepover. Of course, we don’t want your little ones to be scared during this special bonding time, so we’ve rounded up 30 scary stories for kids that will leave your little ones laughing instead. Curious about other ways to keep the mood creepy but cute? Try out some DIY magic potions , or watch a few scary movies for kids 

Ghost Stories for Younger Kids

Sneakers — Ready for a scary story about a pair of stinky shoes? This not-so-scary story is a great one to tell around the campfire.

The Ball Pit — While those pits full of plastic balls are some parents' worst enemies, this story isn't quite scary, but it has a spooky twist for kids to enjoy.

Dem Bones — A colorful skeleton band and the illustrated book teaches kids about anatomy, rhyme, and language through this traditional African-American spiritual song.

The Ghost of the Bloody Finger — With blood, fingers, and ghosts, you'd think this story is too much for the young camper. But rest assured—it's a great way to introduce scary stories to kiddos.

Tommy Knockers — The ghosts of California miners are featured in this story that has a twisted and silly ending.

Underpants — This ghost keeps haunting his former wife because he has an important message for her. But what happens when she's too afraid to talk with him?

Yellow Ribbon — Jane and Johnny fall in love, but Jane can't forget the feeling of a yellow ribbon around her neck. One day, she tells Johnny to untie the ribbon, and the kids won't believe what happens next.

Rap, Rap, Rap -  A little old lady doesn't believe the rumors about her house being haunted. But then, one night, she hears a mysterious sound coming from downstairs. She follows the sound and what she finds is more silly than scary! Be sure to draw this one out with somewhat spooky sound effects. 

The Hairy Toe — What happens when an old woman finds a hairy toe in the woods and decides to eat it? You'll be surprised to find out, and we promise a laugh too.

The Lady with the Emerald Ring — This scary story has a happy ending when a woman returns from the dead because her husband has summoned her back.

The Open Window — A little girl tells a neighbor a spooky story, but the prank is on her.

The Pink Jellybean — How is a story about a pink candy haunted? You'd be surprised to find out about the spooky aspects of where this jelly bean lives.

Magic Castle — A curious woman decides to check out a magic castle at midnight, despite being warned to stay away. Yet she keeps going further and what she finds is a big surprise.

Related: Want to Hear a Ghost Story? Ask Alexa 

Scary Stories for Older Kids

Cow's Head — This ghost story is a twist on the classic "Cinderella." Young Oksana is tasked by her evil stepmother to go into the woods and find food. She encounters a spirit in a cow's head, and the rest is up to you to read.

The Coffin — This tale is about a haunted coffin that chases a camper. But rest assured, it's defeated in the funniest of ways.

Thing at the End of the Bed — One day, an old man sees something spooky at the end of his bed. But he's surprised to discover what lies at his feet.

The Thirteenth Floor — This ghost story is a little bit scarier than the others on the list! Find out why most buildings don't have a 13th floor according to this tale of a Halloween party gone wrong. 

The Knife in the Grave — When two friends decide to make a bet about who is most scared, they learn a lesson about how fear is often just in your head.

The Shrunken Head — This story is more than a little eerie, so save it for the older kiddos!

Fifty-Cent Piece — A couple is traveling home in a carriage when they have to stop at a house for the night. Before leaving the next day, they're given a fifty-cent piece, and what happens afterward is a spooky tale that won't leave kids scared.

Ghost Ship of Captain Sandovate — A group of pirates learn a valuable lesson after they dehydrate their captain to death. After their ship sinks, it becomes haunted and the sailors end up needing water.

Golden Hand — When a man tries to marry a woman with a golden hand, he then decides to poison her to get the gold for himself. It works, but he learns a valuable lesson and pays a price in the process.

The Flying Dutchman — You might recognize the name from "The Pirates of the Caribbean," but there's a real story to be told. Word has it that this ghost ship has been unable to make port, doomed to sail the seas for eternity. 

The Purple Gorilla — Nothing sounds scarier than a huge purple gorilla that's hunting people. But in reality, this beast isn't that scary after all.

The Wendigo  - Originating from Native American legend, this scary story tells the tale of how a monstrous creature came to be in existence. 

The Guitar Player - This story is about a man who plays guitar and encounters a man who asks to play his guitar, but is it a man?

The White Cap - This one is a spooky story about a fearless girl who has an encounter with a ghost, but it does not end expectedly.

Blue Hands - Your kiddo will find this story freaky at the very least! Find out what happens to Jose when he meets a figure with glowing blue hands.

The Hitchhiker - A classic ghost story for kids about a mysterious girl who gets picked up late a night. This one is fun to embellish or make your own. 

Something Was Wrong - This ghost story about a man who doesn't know he's a ghost is suitable for older kids because a little bit of gore is included! 

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Campfire Creeps is a lighthearted podcast where host Genesis Galilea and (occasional) friends talk all about what goes bump in the night. From ghost stories to cryptids. We are here to cover it all! Join us around the campfire, and sit back as Genesis tells us what spooky story is on her mind.

Campfire Creeps Genesis Galilea

• OCT 5, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 8: Spooky Aesthetics - Uncanny Valley, Liminal Spaces, and The Backrooms.

Welcome back Campers and Creepers!!!! Thank you for the patience with us for missing an episode last week, but we are back and better than ever. This weeks episode we introduce to our camp as a guest host, Andrew Stein! Andrew is a known skeptic, so listen in as we try out a different spooky direction. This episode we are discussing the freaky phenomenon of Uncanny Valley, Unsettling Shots of Liminal Spaces and the forced feeling they evoke, and the online folklore of The Backrooms. Make sure to follow the imagery on Instagram @campfirecreeps. We're having a giveaway! Open from now to Friday October 13th. Enter at our Tiktok or Instagram, both @campfirecreeps Follow the Hosts: Genesis Galilea - @genesisgalileha Andrew Stein - @andrewrstein Theme Music: Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay Cryptid of the Week Music: SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras

• 1 hr 22 min
• SEP 14, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 7: Teagan Take-over - Sk*n W*lkers, and Neer Deer, and W*nd*gos, Oh My!

Welcome back campers! This episode is a Teagan take over! Episode 7, we welcome back guest host Teagan Robinson. Only this time she's telling us the spooky thing on her mind. We are tackling on 3 spooky beast, the infamous: Sk*n W*lkers, and if they're the same thing as a Neer Deer. And Genesis's brings the discussion of wether or not W*nd*gos have any sort of cross over. Follow the host! Genesis Galilea: @genesisgalileha Teagan Robison: @peachyteag Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay Cryptid of the Week Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

• AUG 31, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 6: The Haunting of Genesis Galilea - JK it's just Larry

Welcome Back Campers! This episode Is a little different, as instead of dissecting a cryptid or the lore of a spooky place or thing, Genesis and this weeks co-host/childhood friend Joselyn Gomez, discuss ghost stories of their past, present, and warding off any in the future. Please note, we did have some technical issues towards the end. Thank you so much for sticking around if you noticed, we are still a small podcast learning as we go! Follow the instagram! @campfirecreeps Follow the hosts: Genesis Galilea @genesisgalileha Joseyln Gomez @josseyg13 Theme Music: Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay Cryptid of the Week Music: SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras

• AUG 17, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 5: Randonautica - Government or Manifestation, You Choose Your Fighter

Welcome back campers! This episode is a doozy, in our longest episode yet, we introduce host Sarah Sannoune, as we take a more modern take on spooky. We cover the creepy and dark side of Randonautica. A real life adventure app. Follow us on Instagram! Hosts: Genesis Galilea @genesisgalileha Sarah Sannoune @theonlysannouney DISCLAIMER: We do not have any hate with the app itself or the creators. We are simply discussing the online stories and personal experiences with the app. Theme Music: Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay Cryptid of the Week Music: SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras

• 1 hr 23 min
• AUG 3, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 4: Bigfoot Chaos! You win some, you lose some.

Welcome back campers! Todays episode we talk about the "man", the myth, and the absolute legend, Bigfoot. Join us around the campfire as hosts Genesis Galilea and Samantha Fromm talk Bigfoot, her homies and habits, and Joe Biden???? Follow us on Instagram! @campfirecreeps Hosts: Genesis Galilea @genesisgalileha Samantha Fromm @who_is_sh3 Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay

• JUL 20, 2023

Campfire Creeps Episode 3: The Bridgewater Triangle, like bermuda but dry!

This weeks episode Teagan is back! Genesis Galilea and Teagan Robison dive into the creepy happenings of the Bridgewater Triangle located in Massachusetts. Listen in as we discuss the land, it's creatures, and a scary encounter or two. Follow us on instagram! @campfirecreeps Host: Genesis Galilea @genesisgalileha Teagan Robison @peachyteag Theme Music Created by: Music by SoundsForYou from Pixabay Campfire sound Sound Effect by JuliusH from Pixabay

• © Genesis Galilea

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Campfire Ghost Stories

Scare Them ‘Til They Drop Their S’mores

At camp, dinner’s done, but the fire still glows. evening has turned to night and the circle of campers gathers close to the warm flames. outside the circle, deep shadows extend into the forest. the conversation slows, and someone says, “have you heard the story of the girl who stood on the grave”.

In honor of Halloween and the tradition of scary stories around the campfire, here are a few frightening tales for your next camping trip. You can find lots of creepy stories suitable for campfires by searching the Internet for “camping ghost stories.” Examples are these 28 stories from AmericanFolklore.net  and 14 stories recommended for kids at SheKnows.com .

When telling or reading campfire stories to others, do it slowly, exagerating parts of it to create a spooky atmosphere with your tone. In our research we did find one caution about not scaring younger children too much. It might make them afraid to be outside after dark or to go camping again! So make it as funny or as scary as your audience needs.

Here are versions of a couple of classics you probably heard when you were a kid.

The Girl Who Stood on a Grave

Some boys and girls were at a party one night. There was a graveyard down the street, and they were talking about how scary it was.

“Don’t ever stand on a grave after dark”, one of the boys said. “The person inside will grab you. He’ll pull you under.”

“That’s not true,” one of the girls said. “It’s just a superstition.”

“I’ll give you a dollar if you stand on a grave,” said the boy.

“A grave doesn’t scare me,” said the girl. “I’ll do it right now.”

The boy handed her his knife. “Stick this knife in the ground on one of the graves,” he said. “Then we’ll know you were there.”

The girl bravely took the knife and left.

The graveyard was filled with shadows and was as quiet as death. “There is nothing to be scared of,” the girl told herself. But she was scared anyway.

She picked out a grave and stood on it. Then quickly she bent over and plunged the knife into the soil and started to leave. But she couldn’t get away. Something was holding her to the spot!

She tried a second time to leave, but she couldn’t move. She was filled with terror. It must be the corpse’s hand that had grabbed hold of her, not letting her get away.

“It’s got me!” she screamed, and she fell to the ground.

When she didn’t come back, the others went to look for her. They found her body sprawled across the grave. Without realizing it, she had plunged the knife through her skirt and had pinned it to the ground. It was only the knife, not the dead hand of a corpse that had held her. She had died of fright.

And so the warning still remains. Who knows what can happen to someone alone….and in the dark….in a cemetery….with a grave beneath their feet?

The Big Toe

A boy was digging at the edge of the garden when he saw a big toe. He tried to pick it up, but it was stuck to something. So he gave it a good hard jerk, and it came off in his hand. Then he heard something groan and, with the toe in hand, he scampered quickly away.

That night, the boy was in bed. He had fallen asleep almost at once, but in the middle of the night, a sound awakened him. It was something out in the street. It was a voice, and it was calling to him.

“Where is my to-o-o-o-e? ” it groaned.

When the boy heard it, he got very scared. But he thought, “It doesn’t know where I am, It will never find me.”

The he heard the voice once more. Only now it was closer.

The boy pulled the blankets over his head and closed his eyes. “I’ll go to sleep,” he thought. “When I wake up it will be gone.”

But soon he heard the back door open, and again he heard the voice.

Then the boy heard footsteps move through the kitchen into the dining room…into the living room…in the front hall.

“Where is my to-o-o-o-e? ” The footsteps slowly climbed the stairs.

Closer and closer they came. The boy jumped up, slammed his door closed and dove back under the covers.

Soon the footsteps were in the upstairs hall. Now they were just outside his door.

“Where is my to-o-o-o-e? ” the voice groaned.

The door creaked opened. Shaking with fear, the boy heard the footsteps slowly move through the dark toward his bed. Then they stopped.

“Where is my to-o-o-o-e? ” the voice groaned right next to his ear.

Here’s a tale adapted for telling while camping at American River Resort.

As you know, gold was discovered long ago not 1/2 mile from here in Coloma. What followed was the famous California Gold Rush. Miners came from all over the world to search for gold.

This is a story that happened at one of the gold mines dug deep into a hillside nearby. No one’s sure exactly where it is, but what happened can never be forgotten.

One day, the mine tunnel collapsed, trapping a number of men inside. They were able to survive, after a fashion, by drinking water which seeped into the tunnels, eating rats, mushrooms, and their dead co-workers. They worked to dig themselves out, confident that on the other side, others were digging in from the outside to rescue them. Surely help was coming. They wouldn’t just be abandoned here to die.

It took them many weeks and maybe months, no one knows how long. But the miners finally managed to dig themselves out. But when they emerged, something strange had happened. They had lived in darkness for such a long time, that they could no longer stand the sunlight. Their eyes were pure white—all color had faded.

Also, when they emerged, they found no signs that anyone, not a single other miner or local authority, had lifted a shovel to dig them out. They’d been forgotten, betrayed, left to die and rot. In their anger they made a pact right then. They pledged to take revenge on those who had abandoned them, no matter what it took.

Soon after, mysterious instances began occurring near here. One by one, miners were found dead. They were usually mauled, bloody and torn, as if attacked by animals. Close examination though showed teeth marks on them made by human teeth.

People began seeing glowing white eyes moving among the trees at night. Or not moving, rather staying still, just staring and blinking in the dark. Panic spread. The White Eyes wanted blood revenge. They had become twisted monsters out to satisfy their taste for human flesh. The collapsed mine, now thought to be the lair of the white eyed miners was called by locals the White Eyes Mine. No one dared go near it.

As the gruesome murders continued, no person felt safe outside after dark. Soon all mining stopped in this valley as miners moved away to search for gold in safer places, far away from White Eyes Mine and its terrifying occupants.

All this happened more than 150 years ago. The location of the White Eyes Mine has never been discovered. And surely all the White Eyes died off long ago. So we should feel safe here by the river, surrounded by these hills and deep oak forests. Even sitting here, outside, after dark. Even if the lost White Eyes Mine might actually be quite close to where we sit now.

Or are we safe?

Just recently, on a trail nearby, a hiker was discovered dead. He’d been mauled to death by something people thought must be a mountain lion or a bear. But examining the wounds more closely, you know what they found? Marks in his flesh made by human teeth.

If this story makes you nervous or afraid, don’t look behind you on the way to your tent tonight. Don’t look into the dark, surrounding trees. Most of all, try not to imagine pairs of glowing white eyes staring, blinking at you, following you in the night.

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Got a ghost story? Something you just can’t explain? Tell us about it

Kayla Clarke , Senior Web Producer

Got a ghost story? Experience something you just can’t explain? We’d love to hear about it.

Ghost stories aren’t just for telling in the dark of night around a crackling campfire -- they’re also for sharing with strangers on the internet. Though I wouldn’t say no to a good story around a campfire (or a s’more) right now.

Unfortunately, the best I can do is a virtual campfire. So, this is it. Tell us about your ghost story (or otherwise unexplained experience) using the form below and we’ll share the best ones with the group. Don’t forget to mention where and when it happened!

---> Detroit ghost hunters reveal their scariest paranormal experiences, best evidence

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’Tis the season for horror and weird tales. Here are some favorites.

Finding the pleasing terror in the works of m.r. james, c.l. moore, robert hitchens and more.

The October Country. The season of mists and melancholy. That time of year when graveyards yawn and things go bump in the night and we break out worn copies of Herbert Wise and Phyllis Fraser’s “ Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural ” or the collected ghost stories of Vernon Lee and M.R. James.

In 2023, we can also celebrate the 100th anniversary of Weird Tales. Since its first issue in March 1923, this most famous of the pulp magazines would eventually publish nearly all the greatest American writers of fantasy and horror, from H.P. Lovecraft (“The Call of Cthulhu”) to C.L. Moore (“Shambleau”) and Robert Bloch (“Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”). Over the years, the “Unique Magazine” also featured the fantastic art of Hannes Bok, Virgil Finlay and Lee Brown Coye, not to overlook — which would be impossible — the brazenly provocative cover paintings by Margaret Brundage.

Though Weird Tales continues to be published, albeit somewhat fitfully, most pulp magazines died out by the 1950s or adopted a smaller digest format (as in today’s Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction). To a limited degree, the “shudder pulps” were replaced by what we now call men’s adventure magazines (MAMs), such as True, Cavalier, Real Men, Stag and Man’s Life. When I was growing up, you’d always find stacks of these luridly macho periodicals at the barber shop or next to the car repair manuals in the back of any good mechanic’s garage.

Escapist reading in the fantasy novels and weird tales from another time

Their contents emphasized first-person accounts, supposedly “true,” describing life-or-death battles with every sort of human or animal horror: sadistic Nazis, biker gangs, mad scientists, diabolical cults, ravenous monsters and nature run amok. “Weasels Ripped My Flesh” remains the genre’s frequently repurposed signature phrase: Frank Zappa used it to name a Mothers of Invention album.

In the illustrations for these stories, the muscular heroes are regularly shown bare-chested, while voluptuous damsels-in-distress — undress? — suffer attractively in bikinis or revealingly torn garments. Yes, much in these magazines would now be shunned as sexist or worse, yet their outrageous story titles remain a joy forever: “Kiss the Skull of Death, My Beautiful Muchacha,” “The Giant Shark That Guarded Rommel’s Treasure,” “I Fought Castro’s Cutthroat Guerrilla Squad” and “Terror of the All-Girl Posse and Their Necktie Parties.”

These days, examples of MAM fiction and art can be most readily found in the numerous volumes of the Men’s Adventure Library, a series of reprint books and magazines from the oddly named publisher New Texture. Its most recent title is the seasonally appropriate “ Atomic Werewolves and Man-Eating Plants ,” edited by Robert Deis and Wyatt Doyle, with fine supplementary essays by Weird Tales scholars Mike Chomko and Stefan Dziemianowicz. If you don’t expect too much, these stories provide considerable kitschy pleasure. Set in a dystopian future controlled by robots, writer Rick Rubin’s couple-on-the-run story, “The Hunted,” might easily have made an excellent “Twilight Zone” episode, while Peter Eldridge’s “Mad Doctor of No-Name Key” could be a gruesome campfire tale. In Gene Preen’s O.-Henryish “Killer of the Cave” something monstrous is inexorably murdering the few survivors of a nuclear war. But who — or what — could it be?

The same editors and publishers are also responsible for “ Cryptozoology Anthology ,” subtitled “Strange and Mysterious Creatures in Men’s Adventure Magazines.” Here one can happily suspend disbelief at Arthur A. Dunn’s “‘Fish’ with Human Hands Attacked Me,” as well as relish “factual” accounts of the Loch Ness monster, the Abominable Snowman and various half-man-half-ape combinations. Perfect reading, in short, for anyone drawn to B-movies like “ Creature From the Black Lagoon .”

This fall brings quite a variety of literary chills. The most recent reissues in MIT Press’s Radium Age series include William Hope Hodgson’s extravagantly baroque vision of a desolate future Earth, “ The Night Land ” (1912), and a period anthology called “ More Voices From the Radium Age .” In the latter, series editor Joshua Glenn reprints, among other good things, A. Merritt’s “The People of the Pit” (1918), a story that could have served as the template for half of Lovecraft’s contributions to Weird Tales. It features an Athabaskan medicine man, rumors of a mysterious region in an isolated area of Alaska, bizarre whistling sounds, a sinister blue haze, beings made of light and nothingness, a loathsome ancient god, and lots of deliciously florid prose.

What’s weird? These novels — brilliant forays into the otherworldly.

This year, the British Library’s Tales of the Weird imprint has again issued a clutch of highly imaginative anthologies: “ The Lure of Atlantis: Strange Tales of the Sunken Continent ,” edited by Michael Wheatley; Zara-Louise Stubbs’s exceptionally tasty “ The Uncanny Gastronomic: Strange Tales of the Edible Weird ”; and “ Holy Ghosts: Classic Tales of the Ecclesiastical Uncanny ,” edited by Fiona Snailham. Best of all, though, the series has also brought out “ The Flaw in the Crystal: And Other Uncanny Stories by May Sinclair ,” edited by Mike Ashley. A superb selection, it opens with the utterly banal yet unutterably horrific “Where Their Fire Is Not Quenched.” While Jean-Paul Sartre’s play “No Exit” needed three characters to demonstrate that “hell is other people,” Sinclair’s story needs only two and a tawdry hotel room.

To many ghost-story readers, Robert Hichens is no more than the author of “How Love Came to Professor Guildea,” in which an invisible entity grows creepily, physically affectionate. Yet Hichens, immensely prolific, wrote many fine tales of the uncanny. Take the title novella in “ The Black Spaniel and Other Strange Stories ,” a collection of his supernatural fiction edited by S.T. Joshi for Stark House Press. In this morally ambiguous conte cruel, death is no obstacle when a sensitive animal lover seeks to avenge the physical abuse of a pet dog.

Certainly, any devotee of horror, whether classic or contemporary, is already paying close attention to the moderately priced, intelligently chosen publications of Tartarus Press, Swan River Press and Valancourt Books. A recent offering from Valancourt is “ The Secret Life of Insects ,” a much-anticipated collection from the Mexican author Bernardo Esquinca, translated by James D. Jenkins. The title story opens with an irresistible hook: “Two items today: (1) I’m going to talk to my wife for the first time in two years. (2) My wife is dead. She passed away two years ago under strange circumstances.” Who could stop reading now?

While Tartarus Press may be best known for its multivolume edition of the “strange stories” of Robert Aickman, it has also championed current practitioners of the British tradition of supernatural fiction. This fall’s “ Time of Passing: Tales of Twilight and Borderlands ,” a fifth — and apparently final — collection from John Gaskin, demonstrates this restrained style of storytelling: In “The New Member,” conceited Algernon Smythe learns that the exclusive club he has just joined isn’t quite what he supposed, while in “The Gathering,” Professor Nichol and the surviving octogenarians of the Torpids Club assemble at an isolated country house for a last, distinctly unnerving dinner together.

More reviews by Michael Dirda

Of Swan River Press, can I just say it publishes the most elegantly beautiful books in the small-press world? Its two most recent offerings are a showcase anthology, “ Uncertainties 6 ,” edited by Brian J. Showers, and Timothy J. Jarvis’s “ Treatises on Dust .” The first story in the latter, “What the Bones Told Hecate Shrike,” reworks the familiar trope of an evil or magical book, in this case a volume of poetry called “The Bone Antenna” that can apparently open the way to an otherworld. But is that world a realm of ecstasy or horror? That getting there requires all those skulls and skeletal fragments from dead animals isn’t what you’d call reassuring. Not that anyone looks to tales of the supernatural for reassurance. Quite the contrary: We read them to be unsettled, to feel wonder, to experience, above all, a pleasing terror.

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