“They Tried to Trap Us in the Woods” – A Real Appalachian Horror Encounter

Watch the dramatized version of this story here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBHXTUWbd-U

I used to think ghost stories and rural legends were just that—stories. That changed in the summer of 2017, when my boyfriend and I took a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains. What we encountered somewhere between the winding roads of West Virginia wasn’t a ghost, but it was something far more terrifying.

This isn’t fiction. This really happened.

A Detour That Should’ve Been Beautiful

We were on our way from Pittsburgh to Charlotte. Jack (my boyfriend) suggested we skip the interstates and take the scenic route. “Let’s drive through the mountains,” he said. “We’ll camp if we find a good spot.” That sounded romantic at the time.

Around 7:30 PM, we pulled off State Route 52 in McDowell County to refuel at a run-down gas station. There was something off about the place. The lights flickered. The guy behind the counter didn’t speak much. Then, a man walked up to Jack as he filled the tank.

He had this strange smirk, like he knew something we didn’t. He asked, “Where you folks headed?” Innocent enough. But his tone was wrong. Off. Watching from the car, I noticed two other men near a rusted pickup truck. They were just… standing there. Staring.

Followed in the Darkness

We drove off quickly. But not fast enough. The same red truck pulled out behind us. At first, we thought it was a coincidence. But after 10 minutes, it became clear—they were tailing us.

We took turns. So did they. We slowed down. They slowed down. Jack called 911 while I tried to stay calm. The dispatcher told us to head toward Welch. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life.

Even when we thought we’d lost them, they’d show up again behind us. It felt like something out of a horror movie. The roads were dark. No streetlights. No cell signal. Just dense forest and two terrified people being hunted for reasons we didn’t understand.

The Trap

Then it happened.

A stretch of the road was blocked—branches, tires, even a wooden pallet. Jack stopped the car. That’s when a man stepped into the headlights, holding what looked like a rifle. Two more figures emerged from the treeline. One had a machete.

We screamed. Jack threw the car in reverse, nearly hitting the red truck now appearing behind us again. Somehow, we turned and tore through a side road. I still don’t know how we didn’t crash.

Eventually, we reached Welch and made it to the police station. Officers took our report but admitted they probably wouldn’t find the men. “You’re lucky,” one said. “A few others weren’t.”

What Was That?

I’ve played that night over in my head a hundred times. Were they locals protecting territory? A group looking for easy prey? A backwoods cult? I don’t know. All I know is that we were watched, followed, and nearly trapped.

The area we were in is known for being isolated. Some people live completely off-grid. That’s not inherently bad—but if someone out there doesn’t want to be found, they won’t be. And if they want you to disappear… they know how to make it happen.

If You’re Traveling Through the Appalachians…

Learn from us. If you’re road-tripping:

Stay on major highways whenever possible.
Don’t stop at sketchy gas stations after dark.
Keep your phone charged—and bring a power bank or satellite device.
Tell someone your route before heading into remote areas.
Trust your gut. If it feels wrong, leave.

Final Words

This isn’t a ghost story. But it still gives me chills.

The Appalachian Mountains are breathtaking, yes. But they’re also full of secrets. Ours could’ve ended in silence, in the middle of nowhere—another unsolved case buried by the trees.

Don’t let your curiosity get you killed.

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