Blog- a.k.a My weird adventures

Photo credit: lakeplacid.com Hidden deep in the Adirondack Mountains, towering at 5,344 feet, Mount Marcy proudly holds the title of the highest point in New York State. While it’s a favorite among hikers for its stunning views and challenging terrain, this mighty mountain is more than just a scenic workout—it’s packed with quirky tales, rare ecosystems, presidential drama, and ghostly folklore that make it one of the most fascinating places in the Northeast. If you're think

Photo credit: Alicia De Roma (a.k,a Loco Coco) Nestled along the bustling Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee—a town known for its scenic beauty, kitschy charm, and eclectic attractions—sits one of the oddest theme park rides you’ll ever stumble upon: the Jurassic Boat Ride. At first glance, it might seem like a fun dino-themed experience perfect for kids. But once you step aboard this ride, you're transported into a fever dream of animatronic creatures, flickering lights, and s

Photo credit: LightScribe “There’s a part of the forest where time doesn’t move right. You’ll know when you’re there.” — Anonymous hiker, GSMNP trail forum Gatlinburg is famous for its charming tourist shops, taffy pullers, and views of the Smoky Mountains. But just beyond the postcards and pancake houses, tucked deep in the heart of the forest, lies a forgotten piece of Appalachian history that many believe was never meant to be found: Elkmont , the ghost town swallowed by t

Photo credit: Jeffrey Kreulen “It doesn’t matter how good of a swimmer you are. When the lake wants you… it gets you.” — Sandpoint resident, 2007 Beneath the pine-blanketed mountains of North Idaho lies a lake so cold, so deep, and so still that it feels like the Earth is holding its breath. Tourists come for the beauty. Boaters come for the calm. But locals? They don’t swim at night . They don’t linger too far from shore. And some won’t go out at all. This is Lake Pend Oreil

In 2020, when I took a road trip that fall to the Athens, Ohio campus, I took another detour to a location. This venture was inspired by a show I saw on YouTube called 'My Ghost Story' years ago. My venture there is interesting. The path driving there was by a cliff where I cautiously coasted through. When I arrived, hikers were coming and going through the graffiti-covered train tunnel. One person was even flying a drone through the tunnel. The History of Moonville In 1856

Photo credit: Marisa DeRoma Captain Tony’s Saloon is one of Key West, Florida's unique watering holes. Aside from bras and dollar bills hanging from the ceiling, a tree is in the middle of the bar. It’s one of the bar's unusual charms that many tourists come for. Not many patrons don't know that the tree itself has a dark past, as it was once used to hang people. The Lonely Ghost Woman in the Bar Because of the tree’s dark history, ghost stories have emerged. Among the 17

Photo Credit: Marisa DeRoma (a.k.a The Wandering Oddball) Nestled in North Chagrin, Ohio, a castle-like structure stands empty on the serene Cleveland Metroparks. This is Squire’s Castle. It was once a home from 1890 until the Metroparks eventually gained ownership. Today, it serves as a venue for photographers and selfie-takers. Unaware that there is a legend associated with the structure, some people claim they see a spectre of a woman roaming around the grounds. Some belie

Source: Old photo of chapel and tombstone found online "If you knew what I know, you wouldn’t go near that place after sunset.” — Former local sheriff, Douglas County, Kansas Deep in the heart of Kansas farmland, tucked behind overgrown brush and whispering winds, lies a cemetery so infamous it has earned a name that sends chills down the spine: Stull Cemetery . If the rumors are to be believed, it isn’t just a resting place for the dead — it’s one of the seven alleged gatewa

Photo Credit: Marisa DeRoma( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball) In 2021, I took a fall trip to the Cincinnati area. I decided to visit a pleasant, well-known cemetery called Spring Grove Cemetery. While I was there taking photos, I noticed a lot of walkers and students on a school field trip. Spring Grove Cemetery is home to a large Gothic mausoleum that resembles a chapel set on the cliffside of a cemetery. So the question is, who owns it? History Edmund Dexter was a well-known wh

Article by: Nico Schepis “They were gone. Every one of them. No bodies. No blood. Just one word carved into a tree…” — John White, 1590 America has its fair share of ghost towns — crumbling mining camps, abandoned asylums, sunken villages. But what if I told you that the most chilling story of all is about a town that didn’t just die… it disappeared ? No screams.No struggle.No clues. Only one word — carved into the bark of a tree like a whisper from the other side. CROATOAN

Photo credit: Cam (Adobe Stock) Article by: Nico Schepis A Message from the Wandering Oddball I decided to start a new blog series called Oddities from Around the world where stories are shared of the weirdest places. These are places I hope to or not hope to go to someplace. That way the you can read stories while I work on stories from my odd adventures. Today Loco Coco's boyfriend would like to share a tale he found odd. Take it away Nico! “If the clowns don’t get you, the

I was down in Islamorada, Florida, staying at a resort. While exploring the Florida Keys, Loco Coco wanted to stop for lunch at Wahoo’s Bar and Grill. The statue was the first thing that caught my eye to write this article. In front of the restaurant and dock was this statue of a hammerhead shark with scuba diving gear. I find it hilarious, considering sharks breathe water the last time I checked. According to RoadsideArchitecture.com , the fiberglass shark was installed out

In late September 2022, I took one of my yearly fall trips. I decided to head off to Vermillion to ride through Gore Orphanage Road and look for other oddities in the area. After riding down that road several times, I explored the area. Aside from an abandoned schoolhouse, I did discover another thing. Over the Vermillion River, a Pratt truss-style bridge stands for those who want to cross the river. Dean’s Bridge was built in 1898 by the Massillon Bridge Co. In 1978, the bri

Savannah, Georgia, is known as the city that builds upon its dead. Colonial Park Cemetery is a testament to that. When entering the cemetery through the gated entrance on Oglethorpe and Abercorn streets, you are already walking on top of the dead. That is because, in 1913, the top of a family vault was removed to build a gate. Once again, the television show Scariest Places on Earth drove me to this place in 2023. Yes, cheap scare entertainment brought me there, but hey, thi

Due to an abundance of Disney content creators out there, I will only do stories about Disney or any of their parks sparingly if they are weird or out there. So do not expect too much Disney content in The Wandering Oddball. Disneyland not only has lingerie in its closet but skeletons, too! Also, I will talk about a well-known urban legend towards the end that involves the ride. So, I will speedrun through the history of the ride. In 1955, Walt Disney’s ambitious project Dis

One unusual thing that caught my eye was the front of the church. Neatly lined in a small fenced-off section were old tombstones. The way they were lined up and in a small space, I debated whether they were even real. The church has some prehistory lore involving one of the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials. As an Episcopalian myself, I feel obligated to tell you about this bizarre burial arrangement. The Founder and history The land the church sits on was given by Ph

In Sleepy Hollow and Terrytown, many shops and businesses like to pay homage to the Washington Irving tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Shops name themselves after characters and decorations like countless animatronics of the Headless Horseman appear around Halloween. For instance, J.P Doyle’s Restaurant and Public House has its signature burger, the Headless Horseman Burger! I had it myself, and I recommend it not just for the awesome name but because it’s nice, beefy, jui

We are back at Tolemado Cemetery in St. Augustine. Don’t worry no one is going to blow up this time. We are done with the bishop and are leaving him to rest in pieces. Instead, we are here for three ghost stories and alleged sightings. The Ghost Bride Over the years, many people have reported seeing a woman in white gliding across cemetery grounds. Legend says it is the spirit of a woman who died one week before her wedding. Her family decided to bury her with her wedding go

We head back to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery for more stories. There is more to tell other than a Headless Horseman or a burial vault used for a movie. Here are some more stories from the cemetery: The Grave of William Rockefeller Given that Kykuit is in Sleepy Hollow, it should be no surprise that a Rockefeller would be buried here. William Rockefeller was the younger brother of John Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in 1882. He, along with the Rockefellers, was key to creatin

Back in the fall, while on my spooky road trip with my mom and sister, we passed through the city of Albany, New York, for the evening. We decided to have dinner at this lovely quaint pub, The Olde English Pub and Pantry. It was also our first ghost visit on that road trip, and being almost three centuries old, it would have a tale or two. Quackenbush Home To Today This old building was built in 1736 and is unique for its Dutch brick Pattern. The front half of the building t

We’re back in Mystic, Connecticut, not for pizza but for ghosts! On 15 Water St., an old Italianate-style building was home to a shop called The Emporium. It has drawn both the living….. and the dead for over a century. Built-in 1859 as a general store by a businessman named Issac Randall, it has drawn in not only customers but is also said to have drawn in spiritual activity. It has been reported that laughter and children playing could be heard. The names of the little boy

The museum has over 325 wax figures depicting scenes from the Bible. It was founded by Pastor Richard Diamond and his wife, Alwilda. In the early 1970s, they were head of the Faith Revivals church. In the 1980s, Pastor Diamond wanted to start creating life-size recreations of the Bible. He would search for used wax or fiberglass figures, as it was a little pricey to get new ones. In the early 80s, the museum received twenty-two figures from Bill Warren. Contrary to some artic

Castle Noel is dubbed the largest indoor year-round Christmas Museum. The museum is 40,000 square feet and features life-size movie sets from well-known Christmas movies. The museum was founded in 2013 in an abandoned church by Mark Klaus (yes, that’s his last name) and converted into a large Christmas museum. Castle Noel is also home to props and costumes used in well-known Christmas movies. These movies are not limited to ​​ The Grinch , Elf ; Santa Claus The Movie , Fred

This one's for you, Mom. Last year, I talked about the A Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio, but I left out one of the other filming locations. Aside from the movie's notoriety, my mother has a history with one of Higgbee’s store locations, as she worked at one of them in Beachwood, Ohio, growing up. So, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about an old, defunct business that was highlighted in a cult classic movie. How the Higbees Empire was Born In 1860,