Gurdon Light

A mysterious ghost light haunts Gurdon, Arkansas. Unlike some of the other hauntings, it's a present phenomena and not something that's only been seen in the past. It's been seen on television, photographed by tourists and generally accepted as existing. Whether it's a ghostly marker from beyond the grave or a natural scientific phenomena is up for debate.

The local people tell a legend to explain the light, which is historically accurate. A railroad worker was working outside of the town one night. He accidentally fell into the path of a train and was killed. His head was severed from his body and never found.

Local people say the light is actually the light from his lantern as he walks the tracks searching for his missing head. The death of the railroadman is a documented fact. It is also true that the light appeared shortly after his death. Are the two related? The townspeople say yes.

This light cannot be seen from the highway; it's a two and half mile hike to the place where you can view the mysterious lantern. You will pass by two trestles before it is seen. The spot is marked by a slight incline in the tracks and then a long hill. The light is an eerie white-blue light which sometimes appears orangish. The light sways back and forth and moves around on the horizon. It is frequently seen on the darkest nights and best seen when it is cloudy and overcast. The light never reflects off the tracks and there are no roads or buildings nearby so it isn't a reflection from passing headlights or anything else that is easily explainable. There is also a theory that suggests stress on the quartz crystals underneath Gurdon causes them to emit electricity and produce the light.

Gurdon, Arkansas is located about 75 miles south of Little Rock on Interstate 30 and is just east of the Interstate on Highway 67. The light is outside of town and along a stretch of railroad tracks. Everyone in this small town knows where it is (they call it "ghost light bluffs"). 

 This a popular spot for kids on Halloween.