According to legend, a creature appearing to be part goat, part man, dwells beneath a trestle bridge constructed over Pope Lick Creek, located in Fisherville, just outside of Louisville, KY.
It is said that the beast is so terrifying that visitors are known to jump from the trestle in fear.
Some of the rumors tell of the goat man possessing an axe as he threatens those daring to trespass on the structure.
There are several legends surrounding the monster, one stating that the creature was discovered by a bearded lady named Madame Bristelles.
Ms. Bristelles was a member of traveling circus in the 1930s, owned by Colonel Schildknecht, who had a terrible reputation and was known to be a charlatan. Sharing in his ill repute were the members of his circus acts, actually thieves, murderers and a wide assortment of criminals.
One day, while in a small town near Beltsville, MD, Madame Bristelles made a gruesome discovery. Near her living quarters she found a small infant nestled inside a crate. This however, was not a normal child. Ms. Bristelle most likely gasped as she saw the nubs of horns attached to the baby’s forehead. Additionally, the child’s twisted legs seemingly ended in hooves.
Needless to say, the Colonel, always eager to cash in on a buck, immediately exploited the infant by incorporating him into his sideshow of freaks.
One dark and gloomy evening, the circus train was traveling to the next stop on its circuit when the train derailed on the trestle over Pope Lick Creek, killing the majority of the circus members instantly.
However, Goatman, as the now grown foundling was called, survived.
To this day, the legend of Goatman thrives, leading the curious to Pope Lick Trestle in search of the beast.
Although the creature quite likely is only a legend, many have lost their lives on the bridge, some falling to their deaths and others falling victim to a passing train while in search of the beast. Could it be that the spirits who lost their lives are now haunting the area rather than the monster itself?
Location: Pope Lick Park, 4002 Pope Lick Rd, Louisville, KY.