#spooklight

[ozarkdirtwitch]

[myhauntedsalem]

The Spooklight

The Spooklight, also called the  Hornet Spooklight or  Devil’s Promenade, is a mysterious visual phenomenon allegedly experienced by witnesses in a small area known locally as the “Devil’s Promenade” on the border between southwestern  Missouri and northeastern  Oklahoma west of the small town of  Hornet, Missouri . Despite the fact that it is named after a small, unincorporated community in Missouri from which it is most commonly accessed, the light is most commonly described as being visible from inside the Oklahoma border looking to the west. 

The Spooklight is commonly described as a single ball of light or a tight grouping of lights that is said to appear in the area regularly, usually at night. Although the description of the light is similar to that of other visual phenomena witnessed throughout the world, the term “Spooklight” when standing alone generally refers to this specific case. 

Numerous legends exist that attempt to describe the origin of the Spooklight, one of which involves the ghosts of two young  Native American lovers looking for each other.

[thereareeyesinsidethetrees]

current weather forecast: drip drip drip fall by ewy

now seemed like as good a time as any to make a new pinned post sO HERE WE GO

it/its, we often refer to ourself with we/ae/voi/it first person pronouns as well. you can refer to us as you BUT ALSO. if you want to use second person neopronouns for us that’d be cool too :) (not forcing, no pressure. do whatever you want forever as they say. you is perfectly fine)

most folks call us eyetrees, here’s some other names you pick and choose from to use for us-

creature, mako, egret, ermine, squid, frog, fisher, marten, moths, bug, bee, anomaly, chiton, mantra, isopod, xylem, catbird, stitchbird, deer, elk, stag, cervid, fawn, faun, (any cervid related words honestly), ocho, kalarmari, soma, spooky, spooklight, ghostlight, ?, treat, trick, tricky, trickster, harv/harvey, petrichor, pyrite, author, ford, stanford, six/sixer, lee, stan, mason, mabel, aym, baal, narinder, wyrm, ghost, hollow, broken, mossy, nosk, vessel, aspid, apis, hunter, am, nsh, suns, inv, enot, pebbles, spam, spamton, iko, greybird, icarus, lycan/lycaon, radio, moray/eel, kinito, cetus, stardust, and saturn

more are likely to be added over time 👍

plural hi :3 we got aym and baal and then ford and stan. aym and baal are the primary runners of the blog (and aym is always front and center)

we write fics and worldbuild and make art

here’s a few of our playlists!!

please feel free to send us asks and tag us in stuff x^

[casimircrane]

ive seen the spooklight, which is considered a cryptid

ive seen ghosts (multiple)

and ive had multiple premonitions that came true, some havent but almost

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[connectparanormal]

Spooklights

Spooklights, sometimes referred to as will-o'-the-wisps or ghost lights, are enigmatic, inexplicable lights that emerge in particular places all over the world. People commonly witness these lights hovering above the ground in rural or isolated regions, usually near marshes, swamps, or graveyards. They normally appear as luminous spheres that are frequently bluish or whitish in hue. For millennia, people have documented the phenomenon, frequently entwining it with regional mythology and history. The Marfa Lights, located in Texas, are one of the most famous examples of spooklight phenomena. People have been seeing these lights since the late 1800s, and they are now a well-liked tourist destination. Witnesses describe the lights as brilliant, colorful spheres that move rapidly, occasionally dividing into many lights or abruptly disappearing. Despite extensive research, science has yet to establish a clear explanation.

Diverse theories exist about the origins of spooklights. Some experts suggest natural causes, such as the combustion of gases like phosphine and methane, which can occur in marshy areas and trigger chemical reactions that produce bright lights. Another naturalistic theory focuses on insect or fungal bioluminescence. However, these theories cannot explain all recorded spooklight sightings, especially those in non-marshy locations or those displaying strange behaviors. Other theories attribute the explanation to atmospheric circumstances. For instance, some scientists believe that temperature inversions, where a layer of warm air traps colder air near the ground, cause mirages, which are visual illusions that magnify the appearance of distance and mystery. Scientists have also suggested the piezoelectric effect, a phenomenon where stress on quartz-rich rocks develops electrical charges that, when released, may produce light. Spooklights have supernatural or paranormal explanations, in addition to natural ones. There are stories from many cultures about spirits or ghosts appearing as lights to lead or deceive travelers. According to European tradition, the will-o-the-wisp is a malicious spirit who leads humans astray in the dark. Native American folklore also includes stories about spirit lights, occasionally interpreted as omens or messages from the hereafter. Spotlights have influenced numerous cultural allusions, including those in music, film, and literature. People experience a sense of mystery and wonder when they witness them. Spooklights continue to be one of the biggest mysteries of nature, defying a comprehensive understanding despite scientific and technological advancements.

Spooklights are studied by both professional scholars and amateur fans are both involved in the study of spooklights. Taking measurements of the surroundings, filming and photographing the lights, and speaking with witnesses are all common practices in field investigations. To examine the lights and their surroundings, some researchers employ high-tech tools like magnetometers and spectrometers. Although these attempts have yielded useful information, the riddle remains unsolved. In conclusion, spooklights are an intriguing and mysterious phenomenon that melds the domains of science and mythology. Whether believed to be the result of atmospheric circumstances, natural processes, or supernatural influences, they continue to enthrall and confound anyone who tries to figure out their origin and function. Spooklights' persistent mystery serves as a reminder of the world's numerous mysteries and unexplained phenomena.

[whitepolaris]

Lost Treasure

Between 1860 and 1900 the state of Oklahoma (or "Indian Territory" as it was then known) saw more than its fair share of greed. In addition to a fairly major gold rush, Oklahoma was the site of illegal cattle dives, bank robberies, and other nefarious activities. When one place hosts so many dishonorable men-even temporarily-it can only mean one thing. Buried loot.

So much gold and money was loved and lost in late nineteenth-century Oklahoma that an accurate calculation of the losses in impossible to estimate. The conquistadors of the American Southwest might be more acclaimed then the lode busters of the Sooner State, but that doesn't make Oklahoma gold any less shiny. In fact, because of the dearth of publicity for hidden Oklahoma gold, you might just have a better chance of finding some.

Just like George Hardsook did in 1913. Hardsook was digging a trench for a new oil pipeline in northeastern Oklahoma when his shovel hit metal. Upon inspection, Hardsook discovered that the piece of metal was a gold coin. He kept digging. After unearthing more than a hundred pounds of gold coins, he laid down his shovel and returned to town. In one day, a poor laborer became a very rich man. He never found out where the coins were from, or why they had been buried.

Stories of lucky people who stumbled upon buried treasure are interesting, but they've not nearly as exciting as stories of treasure yet to be found. These are the stories that give hope to treasure hunters, thrill seekers, and incurable dreamers. With some quality research, a little patience, and a good pair of hiking boots, anyone could become Oklahoma's nouveau riche. Prospective millionaires might want to start in Devil's Promenade.

In 1867, a German man settled in the northwest corner of Oklahoma, just off the Spring River. He was, by most accounts, a paranoid miser, and spent his days fearing for the safety of his life savings. He told his best friend, a local Indian, that he was plagued by dreams of ambush and theft. After years of torment, he decided the best course of action was to bury his fortune.

The German and his gold journeyed to the great sandstone bluff locally known as Devil's Promenade. He returned empty-handed and at peace, claiming that stashing his money finally afforded him a good night's sleep. On his deathbed, the German told his Indian friend where he had hidden the gold. He described a small cave on the side of the bluff, and said that a tin box full of ghost sat on a shelf inside the cave. The German's dying wish was that the Indian tribe use the gold for themselves. The tribe never located the cave to which the German referred.

Treasure hunters who seek the German's gold at Devil's Promenade should make time to stay around after dark for a glimpse of the Spooklight. If you park four miles south of the tristate junction in Ottawa county and look west, you might be treated to the appearance of a tight ball of light. A scientific explanation of the Spooklight has never been conclusively given, but some of the locals say it's the lantern of the German, forever protecting his treasure.

An even larger treasure remains unfound in Cimmarron County's Black Mesa. In 1804, a team of French traders traveled through the Oklahoma Panhandle on their way to New Orleans with six carts full of furs. Underneath the furs were hundreds of gold ingots. After a fellow traveler informed that New Orleans, and all of the land they could currently see, was sold to the Americans, the Frenchmen knew they had a problem. They knew the Americans would confiscate the gold, and so they decided to bury it until they could arrange its safe passage home to France. They never returned to collect their treasure.

The missing gold was legendary for decades after that, but it was not the object of serious quest until a series of markers was discovered in in the 1870s. The Frenchmen had constructed a Roman numeral eleven-XI-out of rocks. Exactly six miles to the east and six miles to the north were two other Roman numeral rock formations. For the better part of a century, treasure hunters couldn't decipher what the markers were triangulating in the barren panhandle. But that's because they never found the fourth marker.

In the mid-twentieth century rancher Cy Strong found the fourth marker, resembling a Greek omega and made from the same rocks the Frenchmen used on the other markers, on his land. The four markers formed a thirty-six-square miles area of nothingness, except for Sugar Loaf Peak in the dead center. Strong was certain the Frenchmen chose Sugar Loaf Peak for their hiding spot, but he was never able to find the cache.

In the annals of lost treasure lore, southwestern Oklahoma's Witchita Mountains appears again and again. In fact, Oklahoma's most mysterious lost treasure is rumored to rest near Elk Mountain behind a giant iron door. The legend began in the 1850s, when a Mexican inherited a map of the Witchita Mountains showing several stones of Spanish gold. After years of searching, he allowed a friend to make a copy of his map and try for himself. The friend formed an expedition, and followed the map to an enormous iron door on the side of hte mountain.

On the other side of the door was a cave containing gold bars stacked like firewood and baskets filled with bullion. Just then, a lookout warned of approaching Indians. The Mexican expedition managed to escape, but when they returned they found that the Indians had resealed the entrance and secured it with a large padlock. They marked the spot, planning to return with a greater number of men, but they were never able to find the door again.

In 1910, the iron door was once again found by a boy named Prince. It didn't arouse his suspicion at the time, but in the years that passed Prince found that he couldn't get the image out of his head. He tried to find the door again, but failed. Ten years later, a group of boys found a large padlock door. One of the boys kept trying to locate the door for the next fifty years, but he never did. A farmer found the door during the Great Depression and ran to town to find people to help him pry it open. He returned to the same spot, but the door wasn't there. over and over, the door returns, and then vanishes again.

No report of Oklahoma treasure is complete without a mention of Jesse James's lost treasure. In Mexico, the James Gang attacked a Mexico party and stole eighteen burros carrying gold. They fled north, only to walk straight into a Witchita Mountain blizzard. After deciding that the gold was slowing them down, they buried the the loot. Jesse James marked the spot by nailing one of the burros' shoes to a tree. The James Gang vowed to return together, and signed a pact etched onto a kettle.

Years later, Jesse James was killed in Missouri. Jesse's brother Frank and another gang member, Cole Younger, separately returned to Oklahoma to recover the gold. Frank was able to locate the burro's shoe, some etched rocks, and other clues left by his deceased brother, but he never found the treasure.

In 1932, a man named Joe Hunter acquired maps that were rumored to lead to the James fortune. The maps led to clues, which led to more maps and more clues. Hunter found the kettle inscribed with the outlaws' contact in 1948, but he died in the 1950s. Other treasure hunters are confident that they have narrowed down the location to the ruins of a James encampment on Mount Pinchot. No one knows for sure how much gold is in the James cache, but most estimate the treasure to be in the millions. -Craig Robertson

[consistantly-changing]

[Image transcripts in order:

Ghost light

One should always leave a light burning in an empty theatre.

an exposed incandescent bulb,

mounted in a wire cage on a portable light stand.It is usually placed near center stage

when the theater is unoccupied and would otherwise be completely dark.]

["every stage on Broadway has a lamp".

playwright Clyde Fitch allegedly appeared onstage during the final curtain call on opening night for his last play, The City. He strode to center stage, took a bow, then vanished before the eyes of the startled cast and audience. (Fitch had died on September 4 of that year.) The Lyric was one of two theatres demolished in 1996

Olive Thomas is said to have appeared several times since her death in 1920. Thomas may be the most sighted ghost on Broadway, although to date she has only appeared to men.]

[every theater has a ghost, and some theaters have traditions to appease ghosts that reach far back into their history.

ghost lights provide opportunities for ghosts to perform onstage, thus appeasing them and preventing them from cursing the theater or sabotaging the set

there were several reports of props and other items that were mysteriously moved or went missing.

Some superstitions claim that the ghost light is in place to scare away ghosts, not to appease them.]

[A ghost light is

a ball of fire, varying in size from that of a candle-flame to that of a man's head. It is generally observed in damp, marshy places, moving to and fro; but it has been known to stand perfectly still and send off scintillations.

will-o'-the-wisp metaphorically refers to a hope or goal that leads one on, but is impossible to reach, or something one finds strange or sinister.]

[See also

Apparition

Biogas

Chir Batti

Corpse road

Foo fighter

Halloween

Hessdalen Lights

Kitsunebi

Lantern man

Lidérc

Naga fireball

Omphalotus olearius

Orb (optics)

Santelmo

Simonside Dwarfs

St. Elmo's fire

The Spooklight

Yan-gant-y-tan

[As] a flame,

Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, Hovering and blazing with delusive light, Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; There swallowed up and lost, from succour far. -9.631-642

The Latin name ignis fatuus

can thus be literally translated into English as "foolish fire" or more idiomatically as "giddy flame".]

["That which most enchants the Parisians is the new lighting by gas of the boulevards... From the church of the Madeleine all the way to rue Montmartre, these two rows of lamps, shining with a clarity white and pure, have a marvelous effect."

As you approach it, it will move on,/keeping just beyond your reach;/if you retire, it will follow you.

That these fireballs do occur, and that they will repeat your motion, seems to be established, but no satisfactory explanation has yet been offered that I have heard. Those who are less superstitious say that it is the ignition of the gases

in the days of gas-lit theaters/dim gas lights were left burning to relieve pressure on the gas valves.]

[A ghost light is

sometimes known as equity lights or equity lamps, possibly indicating their use was originally mandated by the Actors' Equity

Many theaters forced to close have renewed the tradition of ghost lights as a way of indicating the theaters will re-open.

observations of interconnectedness of species are shared through the undulating light on an empty theatre stage".

included a show called Ghost Lights where famous theater characters perform on the empty stages of the world.]

[A beacon light's function is to say "here I am" and even a dim light provides enough contrast against the dark night to serve the purpose.

The practical use of a ghost light is for safety.

to avoid accidents such as falling into the orchestra pit and stepping on or tripping over set pieces. There is an unsubstantiated story of a burglar who tripped on a dark stage, broke his leg and sued the theater for damages.

that theatre was thought to be cursed.]

[Before the development of clearly defined ports, mariners were guided by fires built on hilltops.

placing the fire on a platform became a practice that led to the development of the lighthouse.

the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and has become uneconomical

The most famous lighthouse structure from antiquity was the Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt, which collapsed following a series of earthquakes

that theatre was thought to be cursed.]

[A ghost light is

A brightly lit figure out of the audience's sight below the stage reflected in a pane of glass placed between the performer and the audience. To the audience, it appears as if the ghost is on stage

The core illusion involves a stage specially arranged into two rooms or areas, one into which audience members can see, and a second (sometimes referred to as the "blue room") that is hidden to the side.

An early favourite showed an actor attempting to use a sword against an ethereal ghost, as in the illustration. To choreograph other actors' dealings with the ghost, Pepper used concealed markings on the stage floor

since they could not see the ghost image]

[Some superstitions claim that the ghost light is in place to scare away ghosts

Stray voltage

can accidentally electrify lampposts and has the potential to injure or kill anyone who comes into contact

Light pollution can hide the stars and interfere with astronomy.

Let there be a chamber wherein no other light comes, unless by the door or window where the spectator looks in.

outwardly, and clearly and certainly,/he will think he sees nothing but truth.

The Devil provides him with a single burning coal with which to warm himself, which he then uses to lure foolish travellers into the marshes.]

[One should always leave a light burning in an empty theatre.

One should always leave a light]

[mhuntington7]

HAUNTED HAPPY HOLLOW ROAD AND TUNNEL - Benton, Kentucky. Happy Hollow Road is a hidden-away, tree-lined Lover’s Lane located just north of Benton, Kentucky. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl who was killed here. Parking one’s car in the right spot and putting it in neutral is said to elicit a push by invisible hands which leave ghostly prints. The tunnel under the highway is spooky and riddled with profane graffiti and weird ritual symbols. Spooklights and orb phenomena have been alleged here. Boogie Men and Bigfoot are also rumored here. Beer cans abound. Photo by Michael Huntington - June, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #MichaelHuntington #StrangeTravels #Haunted #Ghosts #Paranormal #Phenomena #HauntedRoad #HauntedTunnel #UrbanLegend #HauntedHappyHollowRoad #LoversLane #HappyHollowRoad #BentonKentucky (at Benton, Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6144lJjUm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bonecouch]

The Spooklight

[transastronautistic]

Part 2 of my wife’s October cryptid comic (see part 1 here)! Our little Fresno Nightwalker meets the Joplin Spooklight! Can they guide him back to his friend?

The Joplin Spooklight appears in a small area known locally as “the Devil’s Promenade” on the border between Missouri and Oklahoma, west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. The Spooklight is commonly described as a ball of light, although some say it more resembles a camping lantern traveling a couple feet off the ground.

[lammergeierdust]

I haven’t contributed to the Flight Rising tag in like three years or something, so here’s Spooklight, the ringleader of a circus, hatched on All Hallow’s Eve. I’m considering finding someone to commission art from for him.

[thereareeyesinsidethetrees]

hi yes this post is very late all things considered. for the first time in forever you get confirmation on my names and pronouns woooo

mainly go by Eyetrees (thank you tumblr user @o-lord-heal-this-bike)

i actually have a ton of other names though (mostly all from blorbos or creatures)! currently, these are:

-Creature, Mako, Egret, Ermine, Squid, Frog, Fisher, Marten, Moths, Bug, Anomaly, Chiton, Isopod, Xylem, Catbird, Spooky, Spooklight, Ghostlight/s, ?, and Petrichor (Real Life Names™)

-Ford, Stanford, Lee, Stan, and Mason (gravity falls of course)

-Ghost, Hollow, Broken, Mossy, and Nosk (hollow knight beloved)

-Hunter, NSH, Suns, Inv, Enot, and Pebbles (world full of RAIN)

-Iko and Greybird (floating sky islands wooo)

-Icarus (you know)

-Lycaon/Lycan (WEREWOLF)

-Kinito (:

-Cetus, Stardust, and Saturn (SPAAAAACE)

are those too many names? no, of course not. i like to keep small joys and my absurdly large (and still growing) and very strange collection of names is very much one of those

i use it/its pronouns here!!

ford has scoliosis pass it on :]

playlist for all the lyrics i post -

[dean-boese-universe]

Episode 37 Haunted Missouri, a Road Trip through the Land of Odd

[richardtreyes]

Day Two Illustration for the #InkTober #drawingchallenge prompt #wisp ~ "The Flame is Giddy over the Bioluminescence of Her Toasted Marsh Gas Mallow Ice Cream" My theme for this challenge is based on the 31 flavors of @baskinrobbins ~ My series is inspired by my imaginary ice cream parlor for creatures and monsters, "Batskin Ratbones" ~ I will be posting one illustration per day based on this theme. #batskinratbones #inktober2020 #inktoberchallenge #inktoberdaytwo #aninktobertoremember #icecream #iscreamyouscreamweallscreamforicecream #bioluminescence #marshgas #spooklight #giddyflame @inktober @inktober20 @inktober_prompts @inktoberworld2020 @inktober_artist_ @jakeparker (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1KO1ujPRL/?igshid=12kz63oq3nc85

[betsybugaboo]

I wanted to make some cute little GSC style scenes of some of my personal favorite creepy/cryptid type things: stairs in the woods and spooklights.

Extra big versions and bonus under the cut!

Bonus: GSC style sprite of the Fresno Nightwalkers!