1. The Headless Horseman on Sleepy Hollow Bridge
Everyone knows the tale of the Headless Horseman, but fewer people realize that it’s deeply tied to a bridge. Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow describes Ichabod Crane being chased to a wooden bridge where the horseman vanishes, leaving behind only a shattered pumpkin. The bridge itself becomes the terrifying point where the supernatural meets the mortal world.
Local lore says the story was inspired by Dutch legends and old tales of haunted crossings. People feared that bridges were liminal spaces, places where spirits lingered. To this day, visitors to Sleepy Hollow often claim to feel a strange chill while standing near the recreated bridge, as if someone—or something—were still watching.
2. Crybaby Bridge in Ohio
Ohio is home to one of the most famous “Crybaby Bridges,” where it’s said you can hear the faint wailing of an infant if you visit at night. The legend usually involves a mother who threw her baby over the railing, only to be consumed by guilt and end her own life soon after. Some versions say you’ll see handprints on your car if you stop on the bridge.
This story has spread so far that nearly every state has its own Crybaby Bridge variation. In Ohio, it’s become a rite of passage for local teens to dare each other to visit after dark. Whether it’s a shared ghost story or just the power of suggestion, countless people swear they’ve heard the haunting cries.
3. Goatman’s Bridge in Texas
Old Alton Bridge in Denton, Texas, is infamous for the terrifying legend of the Goatman. According to the story, a Black goat farmer was lynched by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1930s and thrown over the bridge. Ever since, people claim a half-man, half-goat creature stalks the area.
Locals say cars stall on the bridge, and strange growls echo from the woods. Paranormal investigators have flocked to the site, reporting glowing red eyes and even scratches on their bodies. It has become one of the most notorious haunted bridges in the United States.
4. Scotland’s Overtoun Bridge
Overtoun Bridge has a chilling nickname: “The Dog Suicide Bridge.” Since the 1950s, over 300 dogs have leapt from its edges, many to their deaths. The strange part is that most of them jumped from the exact same spot. Scientists have tried to explain it with smells and acoustics, but locals believe the bridge is cursed.
Some legends tie the bridge to Overtoun House, which nearby residents long thought was haunted. People say they feel overwhelming dread walking across, as if something unseen urges them to jump. That eerie pull has given rise to countless horror stories.
5. Emily’s Bridge in Vermont
Gold Brook Bridge in Stowe, Vermont, is better known as Emily’s Bridge. The tale goes that a young woman named Emily hanged herself from the rafters after her lover failed to meet her there. Drivers who cross at night often report scratches appearing on their cars, or even hearing her sobbing in the darkness.
The bridge itself is a classic covered wooden structure, which only adds to the spooky atmosphere. Paranormal enthusiasts claim to have seen shadowy figures darting across its beams. Whether or not Emily’s spirit lingers, the legend has made this bridge a destination for thrill-seekers.
6. The Vanishing Hitchhiker of Egypt’s Qasr el-Nil Bridge
In Cairo, the Qasr el-Nil Bridge is said to be haunted by a vanishing hitchhiker. According to stories, a woman in white appears on the bridge, asking for a ride. Drivers who stop say she gets in the car, only to disappear before reaching the other side.
This urban legend reflects the universal fear of encountering the dead where the living pass. Bridges in many cultures symbolize transition, making them the perfect stage for ghostly encounters. Whether it’s a cautionary tale or a shared hallucination, the idea of a disappearing passenger has terrified generations.
7. The Suicide Bridge of Pasadena
Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California, earned the grim nickname “Suicide Bridge” during the Great Depression. Hundreds of people leapt to their deaths from its graceful arches. Even now, the bridge is said to be haunted by restless spirits.
Witnesses have described ghostly figures standing at the edge, then vanishing into thin air. Others claim to hear whispers urging them to jump. The haunting reputation has inspired horror writers to set stories there, cementing the bridge as a dark landmark.
8. Japan’s Haunted Kiyotaki Bridge
Kiyotaki Bridge near Kyoto is surrounded by ghost stories. Built in the 1920s, it was said to be constructed using forced labor, and many workers died. Locals believe their spirits remain trapped beneath the bridge.
Drivers report seeing phantom women along the roadside or hearing strange voices through their radios when they cross at night. Even creepier, some say the bridge’s length mysteriously changes when measured. These bizarre details have made Kiyotaki a chilling part of Japanese ghost lore.
9. Brooklyn’s Suicide Jumpers
The Brooklyn Bridge isn’t just an architectural marvel—it’s also tied to tragedy. Since it opened in 1883, people have leapt from it, their stories feeding the bridge’s eerie reputation. Some legends say the restless spirits of jumpers linger, appearing in the mist rising from the East River.
Pedestrians have reported hearing faint screams or feeling hands brush against them while they walk. These tales, though often unspoken in tourist brochures, add a darker layer to New York’s most famous crossing.
10. The Haunted Bridge of Avon, Indiana
In Avon, Indiana, there’s a railroad bridge with a terrifying story. Locals say a construction worker fell into the wet cement during its building and was buried alive. His ghost supposedly bangs on the metal sides of trains as they pass.
Others tell of a woman who lost her baby on the bridge and now cries out for it in the night. Train conductors claim to hear wails echoing under the structure. The eerie mix of folklore keeps this small-town bridge infamous.
11. The Screaming Bridge of Liberty Township, Ohio
This bridge has a story that reads like something out of a slasher movie. Legend says a bus full of children crashed there, killing everyone on board. Ever since, people who stop on the bridge at night claim to hear the children’s screams.
Adding to the creepiness, some say their car doors lock by themselves or their radios suddenly turn on. While no historical record proves the bus crash happened, the legend has persisted for decades, frightening locals and inspiring ghost hunters.
12. London’s Tower Bridge Apparitions
Tower Bridge is iconic, but many forget its haunted reputation. Workers have reported seeing shadowy figures walking the walkways late at night. Some even claim to see the specter of Jack the Ripper lurking nearby.
The stories date back to its construction in the late 1800s, when accidents claimed workers’ lives. Ghostly moans and footsteps echoing in the towers have led to countless horror tales. For tourists, it’s a must-see landmark—for locals, it’s a reminder of the bridge’s darker side.
13. Scotland’s Brig o’Doon
The Brig o’Doon, made famous by Robert Burns’ poem Tam o’ Shanter, is steeped in ghostly lore. In the tale, Tam flees witches who can’t follow him across the bridge. The story cemented the bridge as a place of supernatural boundaries.
To this day, people claim to see strange lights hovering near it, especially on stormy nights. Locals insist the bridge has an unsettling energy, as if otherworldly forces still gather there. The legend continues to inspire both poets and horror writers.
14. The Van Meter Bridge of Iowa
In Iowa, Van Meter’s bridge is linked to the town’s most famous legend: the Van Meter Visitor. In 1903, townspeople reported a winged, glowing creature terrorizing the area. Witnesses said it was seen flying near the bridge, vanishing into the mines below.
While the creature’s story is more cryptid than ghostly, the bridge is forever tied to the panic of that time. Even now, people exploring the bridge at night say they hear flapping wings or see glowing eyes in the dark. It’s one of those rare legends that blurs the line between horror and folklore.
15. The Haunted Overpass in Manila
In Manila, there’s an overpass where drivers claim to see a woman in white crossing, only to vanish halfway through. Stories say she died in a car accident there decades ago. Since then, motorists report swerving to avoid her ghost.
Some insist their cars stall exactly where she appears. Others tell of cold hands brushing against them as they grip the steering wheel. The overpass has become so infamous that many locals avoid it after sunset, keeping the legend alive.