The ChillX Zone

The haunted steel span of Denton County, Texas, where a century-old legend warns travelers of a vengeful half-man, half-goat spirit.

September 30, 2025

“He waits in the dark, where hoof and man once crossed.”

A Bridge of Iron and Shadows

Old Alton Bridge, built in 1884, spans Hickory Creek between Denton and Copper Canyon, Texas. Retired from vehicle use after a modern road bypassed it in 2001, the steel truss bridge became a pedestrian crossing — and a magnet for ghost stories. Over decades, its quiet span transformed from a simple rural route into one of Texas’s most talked-about haunted sites.

The Legend of the Goatman

Local lore tells of Oscar Washburn, a Black goat farmer who lived nearby in the early 1900s. Beloved by some for his thriving trade, he drew violent hatred from others. The story says he was lynched on the bridge one night and thrown into the creek below. But when the mob returned to confirm his death, the noose was empty. Since then, people have claimed the Goatman walks the bridge, part man and part beast, vengeful and watchful.

Encounters in the Dark

Travelers say they feel sudden cold gusts while crossing the bridge after midnight. Some report glowing eyes appearing in the woods or strange lights drifting across the creek. A few claim to have heard footsteps behind them when no one was there, or a guttural growl echoing under the iron trusses. Drivers daring to cross without headlights have told of something heavy landing on their vehicle roof, only to vanish seconds later.

The Haunting Lives On

Tonight, as September 30 descends, the bridge will once again fall silent under the Texas moon. Mist rises from Hickory Creek, and the beams cast long, skeletal shadows. Locals say if you dare to step onto the span, you may feel unseen eyes watching or hear the faint clop of hooves on steel. Some believe the Goatman guards the crossing, warning off trespassers with fright rather than harm. Others say he simply lingers, an echo of injustice that refuses to fade.

Whether legend or lingering spirit, the Goatman keeps Old Alton Bridge steeped in fear and fascination. If you venture there tonight, keep your lights on, move with caution, and listen closely — because some roads never truly let go of their ghosts.