The Legend of Maryland's Goatman

Photo byNational Park Service

HAGERSTOWN, MD - In the shadowy woods of Maryland, a creature of legend is said to roam—a half-man, half-goat being known as the Goatman.

This local folklore has captured the imaginations of residents for decades, with tales of the creature dating back to the 1970s.

According to the legend, the Goatman was once a scientist working at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.

According to The Austin American, as the story goes, a tragic experiment went wrong, transforming the scientist into a monstrous figure with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat.

The creature, now consumed by rage, is said to haunt the backroads and forests of Prince George's County, armed with an axe and attacking those who dare to cross its path, according to the National Park Service.

The Goatman legend has evolved over time, with various accounts and sightings adding to its mystique. Some claim to have heard its eerie bleats in the night, while others report seeing the creature dart across rural roads, according to Ghosts Of DC.

Despite the fear it instills, the Goatman remains a beloved figure in Maryland's folklore, a symbol of the unknown that continues to intrigue and terrify in equal measure.

Whether fact or fiction, the legend of the Goatman endures, a chilling reminder of the power of local myths and the mysteries that lurk in the dark corners of the world.