Once Upon a Time in Arkansas: The Gurdon Light

Older Gurdon townsfolk tell the story of the Gurdon Light, while viewers follow a young thrill-seeker in his journey to see the phenomenon for himself. This episode explores the power local lore has on small communities and why it is important to keep telling the stories, even in the face of science and reason.

[@williamlunsford5652]

I was treated to a show I would have paid much money to see! 14 of us, including several 4-A Texas , all-state, high school footballers. Their expressions were priceless.

[@jangilmore1130]

I actually encounterd this with some friends in 1986. I saw the light! It’s amazing! I’ve seen it many times

[@defytyrantsofmississippi2198]

How far off of Arkansas route 53 do you have to walk in to encounter the light?

[@AwesomeCanadianHomes]

Until you see it. @@defytyrantsofmississippi2198

[@virginia7125]

I have a theory what it might be. I've walked railroad tracks a lot when I was a kid. When a storm is close by, prestrike ball lightning will follow the tracks. At night it's easier to see, and if you'll see, Arkansas is a southern state prone to lightning. Near by water, close to most tracks. And the curve, creates heat lightning build up on the tracks. Just a thought 💭

[@mikelunsford2587]

Not holding water. Especially when someone with an open mind investigates

[@davidcarper5411]

Think of it as electricity unchained, out of a circuit. Same as Joplin Spooklight

[@tungpunchfartbox4111]

Except, there is no such thing as "heat lightning"

[@fastlifesky]

Who ever thinks it fake it’s not fake I’ve went there and saw for my self

[@davedecayrules]

I've seen it. I'm from Camden. You have to walk in the mile towards town. That was 26 years ago...

[@angelj.9832]

Crossett Arkansas has a light similar to this and everytime I've went I see the light dance just above the road but we have two stories that follow it. First popular is a man was beheaded by a train and is searching for his head and second across from where the light appears was a old slave house burning was told they mostly hung them there sadly! I have also had a friend different encounters for multiple people. But it mostly shows up after shut the engine off and flicking your headlight 3 times I've witnessed it change from white to light blue and red

[@tcwheelis]

I finally got to see it on Halloween night it was cool but also scary and it also changed colors it went from red to green

[@goombabear]

I wonder if this is the same phenomenon as the Marfa Ghost Lights.

[@LD-vl6mr]

2:30 I don't know why I found this so funny but it just struck me that way. Greetings from Charleston Arkansas by the way!

[@leebass4833]

I went to a light like this in Hamburg Arkansas is this the same one and it’s awesome it danced in the trees and road I was amazed we would drive from Marion Louisiana to go see

[@chrisrhod9921]

Ive seen it each time ive went. Once when i was 14. Again at 19 and last at 42. Each time made the hairs stand on my arm.

[@Korean_cutiepie_luv]

Today this news came in Indian news magazine book

[@stevepaterson7503]

Its been said that if you see the light you will notice a glow around your foot. You have been touched by the Gurdon Light Foot!

[@SomeBuddy777]

Somebody should write a song about that! 🎶 😉

[@yakikawaii]

the rocks spark when you walk because you're rubbing them together

[@colabama]

So never, not once , do they show any video or still photos of this light. Just to let you know...

[@LuxLuminous]

Did they ever finish the trail?

[@davidtoddvlogs3486]

RIP to the Sonic @5:18

[@Goodiesfanful]

One theory is that stressed underground crystals produce the light. I don’t know if anyone has tested this theory. But it’s crystals, why does the light only appear at night, always at the same location, and act like it’s swaying from side to side?

[@jangilmore1130]

It’s very True!!!!!!!! I’ve seen it

[@boxgirl51]

Has anyone thought the light may have been there before the murder?

[@AnaMaria-wn6jn]

Why would Will McClean be looking for his head? Who said he was decapitated?

[@thadanzwiggler]

There's also the widely-traded theory that McClain fell onto the tracks, in front of a train, and a train slides his head off. I'm from Magnolia (about an hour southeast of Gurdon) and that's what we always heard. I've been a couple times; only saw the light once.

[@lochnessmonster5149]

The light can no longer be seen because the tracks have been removed.

[@tinabarker2940]

The tracks are still there. I was passed through gurdon last month and yes the railroad tracks are there running through the middle of town

[@brysonhill9330]

Is it weird that my grandpa owns that land

[@maddysheabitch]

No

[@jangilmore1130]

That’s crazy what does he think about that?

[@iamanevutable981]

I'm gonna need more proof than that.

[@southern04man]

That's cool as hell!

[@carlrayward9022]

I've seen it and they are not telling you about the grave yard that is so old it's nothing but dirt next to the tracks where the railroad barried them I fell through one and that is more scary than the light he doesn't want his head he wants recognition help him move on

[@user-jh5io7uy2h]

It couldn't just be headlights from A-R 182? The way the highway is positioned it may look like the lights are coming straight forward given the angle the highway crosses the train tracks.

[@tylerdavis9957]

I live in hope arkansas I've been there like 10 times but its been years. It is creepy asf I seen a light but it could have been someone fucking with me lol

[@Loganr_moore]

Did they ever put the signs up?

[@xboxquickpattyc142]

Logan Moore probably

[@trudecadence]

I seen it when I was a kid. My mom and aunt have seen other spirits there to near the old cemetary

[@itzamia]

Not now grandma, we're busy

[@treasadixson6372]

I have saw the gurdon light and my name is Treasa Dixson

[@tallone09]

Where suppose have one chapel hill tn. Wonder if they know each other?

[@MichelleObamaIsPackinASack]

I think the ladies at the BBQ shop have fun toying with people...having them run around calling for willy

[@makaylawilliams2181]

I live in Gurdon

[@tylerdavis9957]

Hell yeah i live in hope. Ive went and walked down the track like 10 times

[@picolascage8123]

I used to hunt near the tracks. I personally have not seen the light but my ole man has seen it 2x.

[@allison2242]

Is the light still around since someone has said the train tracks aren’t there anymore?

[@jimk5447]

@@allison2242 I doubt it

[@user-eq7md8nh6m]

@@allison2242 I just went this past week and walked the entire thing, i saw a small greenish light about a mile in, and then I saw a big white light & we all freaked out, turns out it was someone at the end fucking with us 😭😭 but I went as a kid when the railroad was still intact and got so scared I didn’t make it all the way. But my family lives in Gurdon and so many people have seen it!

[@davidjacobs8558]

Why not more video of actual lights? rather than video of people chitchatting.

[@ryansansom6901]

They should have left the tracks in place, and operated a tourist train over this line. Sad to see it get pulled up.

[@cajunasian240]

A demon or lucifier as The Bible states but people never bring that option up. He can be any color, shape, or type of energy.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Just think, spirits might see humans and try to figure why you come wandering, where they go looking fuh ya.

[@jangilmore1130]

No it’s the dead man!!!!!

[@keeandchee]

It's the ghost of that foreman looking for a booty call.

[@jcee2259]

This 'light' is not unique to Arkansas. A nearby state has one ball of glow that emerges from a big hill of karst and has been seen returning to another part of that wooded rise. My source was a Department of Geology publication. I've wondered if it is biological and flies in a cluster after night flying insects. As cave bats do.

[@tinabarker2940]

Maybe the lights are connected in some sort of way.

[@artemiaevestone1403]

What really scared me was the close-up shots of that guy's teeth and nose hair every five minutes you guys went so close nearly went up to his brain damn if you got any closer I could see what he had for dinner between his teeth🤣😒🤢🤮

[@BJ-xh8tg]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYK6m5lqqa2tmNk

[@equitnardo328]

it is an scp

[@southern04man]

The swamp gas theory is horse shit bc I live in the swamp and never saw light unless it was a person or a boat.

[@ltlmissnightowl68]

It was drunk and walking the track on his way home and stumbled and fell into the track his neck was across the track and a train came by and took his head off I've seen it more then I can count and I can't believe that they took the track up that was messed up and where they have people going to see it it is the wrong part of the tracks

[@tinabarker2940]

Maybe the light is there because an innocent black man was murdered by the state of Arkansas for a crime that he didn't commit.