Gary Gillespie - Chronicles of the Unexplained: True Stories of Haunted Houses, Bigfoot & Other Paranormal Encounters

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Chronicles of the Unexplained: True Stories of Haunted Houses, Bigfoot, and Other Paranormal Encounters 2015 by Gary Gillespie.

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First e-book edition 2015

E-book ISBN: 9780738746302

Cover art: Shutterstock/94230298/isoga

Cover design: Kevin R. Brown

Editing: Jennifer Ackman

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Llewellyn Publications

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Contents

by Annie Wilder

: Haunted Houses

: Vocational Ghosts and Other Disruptions

: Weird Places

: The Supernatural Art of Scaring Outdoor Enthusiasts

: One Haunted Little Town

: Monsters and Things That Really Go Bump in the Night

Foreword

I first learned of Gary Gillespie and his ability to tell a story back in 2011 when I was collecting true accounts of haunted highway encounters for my book Trucker Ghost Stories . I had cast a wide net in my search appearing on trucker and paranormal radio shows and podcasts, posting calls for stories on the online truckers forums and websites, and contacting trucker friends and prominent people in the trucking industry. I even brought fliers about my book to the Worlds Largest Truck Stop, Iowa 80, in Walcott, Iowa.

I was looking for the best and most bizarre stories of encounters with the inhabitants of otherworldly realms from truckers and those affiliated with the trucking industry. What I heardfrom scores of hardworking, down-to-earth people who didnt even believe in such things until they actually encountered themwere sincere accounts of run-ins with a terrifying cast of astral-realm denizens and anomalies, from screaming ghosts and howling demons, to predatory monsters, shadow people, goat-footed hitchhikers, Bigfoot, aliens, phantom vehicles, and sinister roads leading to nowhere.

At the time, Gary was the Colorado trucking industry columnist for the online magazine, Examiner.com . He had written a special Halloween-themed column that included three incredible, true ghost stories involving trucks and truck drivers; all of which made it into my book. (The stories are of a haunted truck with a mission, a mysterious Mack truck that may itself have been a ghost, and an OTR drivers threatening, up-close-and-personal encounter with an elusive creature that, officially at least, doesnt exist.)

When I wrote to Gary to ask permission to include his stories in my book, I told him he was a natural storyteller with a great writing voice. He told me he was thinking about writing a book. I said, You should, and weve kept in touch ever since. Gary graciously appeared with me on Darkness Radio to promote Trucker Ghost Stories, and has been willing to do whatever is needed to help get the word out about my book.

In this fine collection of very odd and spooky stories, youll find ghost stories from the road, from Midwestern rail yards, and from the man camps and oilfields of North Dakota. There are stories of eerie, bone-chilling encounters while hunting, camping, and four-wheeling. These true stories encompass everything from run-ins with skinwalkers to very haunted houses, animal mutilations, Bigfoot, unhappy ghosts, and dark entities. One of my favorite storiesbecause it is so very strange and ominoustells of a silent, haunted piece of land with the terrifying ability to take things and make them disappear forever. This collection also includes very moving stories of spirits coming back to offer protection, assistance, and gratitude to those who helped them in life.

I have the highest regard for Gary and Im a big fan of his writing. Its clear that he is dedicated to his family and his work, has a true appreciation of history, and possesses an engaging sense of humor about lifes challenges and mysteries. I particularly like his passionate descriptions of the land and times past. Credible, generous-spirited, and down-to-earth, Gary brings a strong human element to his writing, making him a perfect guide to the world of the weird and unexplained.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Garys book (and hearing about some of these stories as he was living them). I know paranormal fans will be entertained, happily frightened, and even inspired by the stories in Chronicles of the Unexplained .

Annie Wilder, author of
The House of Spirits and Whispers ,
Spirits Out of Time ,
and Trucker Ghost Stories

Introduction

I have had the pleasure of having jobs in many varying industries, which has taken me to every corner of our beautiful country. Through my travels I was able to meet wonderful people in every location I went. It was very strange how people would come to me with some very interesting stories about paranormal and supernatural experiences. It seemed as though whatever was compelling me to write a book of this nature was not going to let me rest until I did it.

My jobs have included everything from trucking to welding in the oilfield. Considering the type of people I usually worked with and the stereotypes that go along with these industries, most would think it would be impossible to bring up and talk about these subjects. Surprisingly, I have found the opposite to be true. Many of the accounts in this book have happened recently and may even provide some insight into what messages are coming from the other side, and why they are so desperate for us to hear those messages.

Most of these stories are regional with Colorado, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and my childhood home of Iowa all represented here. Although these are the only locations that have been included here, as you read remember that these things can happen anywhere. It may even be happening in your backyard.

The following pages include real accounts of events that happened to real people, in real houses, in real families. Some of the accounts are definitely strange, but still relatively harmless. Others are not so harmless. They include death, a breakdown in personal health, and financial ruin with no reasonable explanations as to how it all happened. Even medical doctors couldnt explain what happened!

The worst of these stories occurred to my family and me. It is most likely one of the biggest reasons I started to research these subjects and the need to find a reason for what happened, and why I wanted to write this book.