Autumn nights lend themselves to storytelling. The cool night air, rustling leaves, and glowing coals from the campfire create the perfect backdrop for spooky tales that will send a different kind of shiver down your spine. We’ve gathered eight eerie tales and poems for your next Takibi Time.
Creak
Best for kids or those with a low threshold for fright, this simple poem offers ample opportunity for creative retelling. Punctuate the ending with a high-pitched shriek and you’re sure to spook your companions.
Source: Ultimate Camp Source
Hidden by the Rustling Corn
A seasonal poem that warns against shortcuts through the cornfield. Are the rustling leaves merely blowing in the breeze or is something tracking you through the corn stalks?
Source: trespass.com
The Big Toe
Another good one for young campers, this tale tells the story of a boy who found and ate a toe.
Source: Scary For Kids
The Love Test
A Japanese tale about a young woman known for scaring off potential suitors. The ending has a twist you won’t expect!
Source: Scary For Kids
The Pit Toilet Monster
The title says it all – save this one for your next visit to a campground and tell it late in the evening just before any final visits to the bathroom.
Source: KOA Blog
Missing
A creepy story about a young boy who goes missing from a local campground and is never seen again.
Source: KOA Blog
Robert the Doll
This list would be incomplete without a haunting doll and this story tracks a doll named Robert from its creation in the 1800s to the present day. It now resides in a museum in Florida, so who can say if the story is true or not!
Source: Creepy Pasta
Axe Murder Hollow
A classic horror story about a couple who runs into car trouble...and something much more nefarious.
Source: American Folklore