The Zombie Road
Vita Strait
It's a place of legend. Some say it's haunted, others say it's dangerous to go there at night, while others claim it's the site of an ancient curse. Let's see how close we can get to uncovering the truth of this 100% absolutely evil, cursed, haunted, zombified, deadly, remote, and incredibly hard-to-find place they call "Zombie Road."
Old U.S. Route 66, depending on the year, used to run along a few different places. From 1926 to 1932, it ran straight through a town in Missouri named Wildwood. Wildwood is a small town with a population of only about 35,000 people, located about half an hour's drive west of St. Louis.
Like most places along old Route 66, it's full of strange stories about ghosts, monsters, and mysterious disappearances. The name itself, Wildwood, probably conjures images of European settlers fighting against the untamed wilderness, maybe even stage coaches, train robbers, and outlaws fighting the local lawmen.
Personally, it reminds me of a place in World of Warcraft named Duskwood: a small village near a fog-covered trail stalked by the undead and a giant reanimated NPC Elite hellbent on pulverizing unsuspecting wayward travelers.
Near the Meramec River, on the edges of Wildwood, Missouri, there's a small path tucked away among hills and oak trees. It was originally built in the 1860s, over a hundred years before Wildwood even existed.
Hikers have reported feeling unsettled, as if they're constantly being watched, and have said there are unexplainable noises along the road, as well as "cold spots." Some have even said a mysterious old woman yells at passersby, only to vanish when they go investigate.
Legend has it that anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves there at night is bound to be chased and probably murdered by spectral American Indians, undead Confederate rebels, packs of child ghosts, and even the tortured souls of railroad and quarry workers killed in accidents. And it's not just the undead; there are also rumors of shadowy figures, non-human entities, and even a giant serial killer zombie.
Okay, so I bet you're wondering about the giant serial killer zombie. Supposedly, back in the 1950s, Zombie Road was a local hotspot for teens to make out. Around that same time, a crazed man from a nearby mental hospital escaped and disappeared somewhere along the road, leaving his bloody clothes on the side of the road. He set up residence in a worn-down shack, sometimes sneaking out at night to go murder teenagers. He lived out the rest of his days, happily holing up in a shack and engaging in his murder hobby, only to die an old man and then continue haunting the area as a giant serial killer zombie.
There's another variation of this same tale that says "Zombie" worked in "an orphanage run by sadists" and that, inexplicably, there was a nearby cemetery specifically for murdered children. Something vague and hand-wavy...and there you have it: Zombie Road.
That's probably because there never was a place officially called Zombie Road. It was actually called Lawler Ford Road, and it was created back in the 1800s as an access road for the Meramec River. In ancient times, way back in 2010, it was freshly paved, renamed Rock Hollow Trail, and is now a bike path. Legend has it that it's hard to find. Lucky for us, you can just punch in "Rock Hollow Trail" on Google Maps, and it'll take you straight there. It's right off a place called Al Foster Memorial Trail, where you can head for free parking, public restrooms, picnic tables, pavilions, and maps of the hiking trails in the area. If the amenities aren't scary enough, check out this fearsome group caught on camera wielding massive blades in what the locals call a "Ribbon Cutting."
The truth is that Zombie Road is a dangerous place at night because it's stalked by police looking for trespassers and vandals. The local law enforcement carries ticket books and will write you a ticket for trespassing, with fines of as much as $1,000 for a single incident.
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Andrews, North Carolina, 2034. No bills, no bosses, no people. Things sure are different after the apocalypse. Daily life is a constant struggle for food, water, and shelter from the searing sun. A lone school teacher makes a discovery that could change the world and bring back "normal" for himself, but at what cost?
The stories associated with the old roadway nicknamed Zombie Road in Missouri are many. Located outside of St. Louis, the original name of the road was Lawler Ford Road, and it was constructed in the late 1860s. It was originally built to gain access to the Meramec River and the railroad tracks located alongside it. It started to be referred to as Zombie Road as early as the 1950s.
Formally known as Lawler Ford Road or the Al Foster Trail, the 2.3 mile trail in Wildwood, Mo. is closed to public access during nights and is the site of one of the largest Native American burial mounds in the country.
Located near Highway 109 and Old State Road, the trail began to be known as Zombie Road as early as the 1950's. The trail was originally built in the 1860's to provide access to the Meramec River and the railroad tracks nearby.
Although some thrill seekers have taken matters into their own hands and have explored the trail during nighttime hours, officials from St. Louis County Parks discourage anyone from going to the trails overnight, as trespassing citations are frequently issued.
A documentary chronicling the haunted trail and anecdotes from locals titled "Children of the Grave" was released in 2007, with director Christopher Booth showcasing still images of shadows captured while on the trail.
"For TCA to come back and try to build this road in pieces, it's illegal, it's a bad idea and it's a waste of time and money," said Nagami. "This agency needs to focus on real transportation solutions and not try to bring back a project that's dead in the water."
"This is a road to nowhere," said Goldstein, speaking on behalf of the Save San Onofre Coalition. "Building this 4-mile segment is an irresponsible and fiscally unsound attempt by the TCA to pressure federal and state officials to ultimately approve a route that would destroy San Onofre State Beach and that has already been forcefully rejected. Even the Bush administration, under pressure from all the lobbyists money can buy, refused to endorse the toll road through San Onofre.
"Most say there's still a problem that needs to be solved," Telles said last week. "There's only one route to get through South Orange County, which is a big bottleneck between Los Angeles and San Diego."
If you're a fan of the supernatural traveling anywhere near St. Louis, MO, you may want to detour to Wildwood to visit the infamous Zombie Road (aka. Al Foster Trail). This aptly named and presumably haunted destination is appropriately set in the thick of eerie forests.
Zombie Road runs along the Meramec River and is essentially just a foot and bike path, covering a paltry two miles. However, over the years, the trail has earned a reputation as an active center for ghost sightings, paranormal activity, and the unexplained.
The road originally provided access to the Meramec and the railroad, which were important transportation routes in the early 1900s. However, the march of time and modern transport methods led to the Zombie Road falling out of commercial use.
The path was paved some years back, but the surface has since warped and cracked, giving it an appropriate look of disrepair. The trail is closed at night, which is just as well, given all the ghostly activity reportedly happening even in borad daylight.
Truth be told, Zombie Road supposedly sits on one of the largest Native American burial mounds in the country. Locals tell tales of a host of spirits that includes not only the native residents, but also Rebel soldiers from the Civil War, ghostly children, and industrial workers still wailing in agony after fatal workplace accidents.
Interestingly enough, the road got its name long before Hollywood invented the zombie movie, with references dating back to the 1950s. With ghost sightings, odd happenings, and rumors of ghastly screams, Zombie Road makes for a perfect Halloween outing.
The National Museum of Transportation is nearby, boasting more than 190 exhibits covering a lengthy history of planes, trains, and automobiles. The collection is a genuine find for anyone intrigued by engines, locomotion, design, rolling stock, and flight. Here, you can see plenty of it, as the museum has one of the largest collections of transportation vehicles in the world.
Wildwood is in the midwest, which means it gets hot and humid in the summer (but with the magical reward of fireflies) and unpredictably wet and cold in winter. Overall, though, the area offers plenty of decent riding days.
The foliage flares up in brilliant colors in fall, and the tourist hordes tend to disappear around October, only returning in spring. This part of the country can be prone to abject weather during storm season, including twisters, so a smart ride will keep track of the weather.
According to dangerousroads.org there is a road in St. Louis county in the city of Wildwood, which is located about a 2 hour drive south of Quincy just outside of St. Louis, and the road is called Zombie Road. On the website they say...
I wouldn't say that I am scared of Zombies because obviously there are no real Zombies, BUT I am also someone who doesn't like to push my luck when it comes to end of the world scenarios, and that is why I'll be avoiding the so called Zombie Road in Missouri. In the description on the website they say it's so old and worn down that most car traffic can't get through, so if you wanted to travel on the Zombie Road biking or walking would be best, which makes it an even bigger NOPE for me!
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