The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster Haunts Kentucky Town

Located in Jefferson County, KY is a little town called Fisherville. Mostly industrial, there is a railway system that travels through the town for transporting goods to its much larger neighbor, Louisville.  There are both tunnels and bridges these trains have to navigate on their journey, and one, in particular, has become the center of a pretty eery legend.

The railroad trestle bridge that stretches over Pope Lick Creek has seen an unusual amount of tragedy over the years since it was built in the late 1800s. People have become trapped on the bridge as trains rush through or fall to their deaths. The locals have an explanation that has lived in whispers about a cryptid half-man half goat creature that can mimic cries for help luring its next victim.

Get our free mobile app

Living under the old trestle like something from Grimm's Fairy Tales. He is said to even use hypnotism to confuse a person into walking out onto the trestle right as a train comes barrelling along. Others say that the horrible sight of this creature alone drives victims to jump to get away.

Another version of the legend is that this goatman is the spirit of a runaway "circus freak" seeking revenge on people who tortured him and treated him poorly.  Some think it may even be a farmer who fell on hard times and after his goats died (some claim he may have even sacrificed them,) he made a deal with the devil for healthy crops. Here is a great short video about the history of this bizarre mystery.

The bridge is still in use today and the community urges folks coming to investigate this legend to use caution and stay off the tracks. Unfortunately, the Pope Lick Monster claimed another victim as recently as 2019 when a young woman was killed searching for him. There is a beautiful park nearby that would be a much safer place to visit if you find yourself in the area. Just beware of the Pope Lick Trestle and don't trust what you may hear echoing in the woods around the bridge.