The Gurdon Ghost Light in Arkansas: Mysteries in the Mist
The Gurdon Ghost Light is Arkansas’s own mystery in the woods! Deep in the forested trails near Gurdon, this strange, glowing orb has baffled onlookers for decades, flickering along the railroad tracks with a life of its own.
Locals say it’s the spirit of a railroad worker with unfinished business. Or is it swamp gas? A trick of the light? Whatever the cause, the Ghost Light will leave you intrigued.
Here’s your guide to the Gurdon Ghost Light in Arkansas:
A Brief History of The Gurdon Ghost Light
Even before Interstate 30 was built in the 1970s, residents and visitors alike have reported an eerie light off the highway, now known as the Gurdon Ghost Light.
This mysterious light floating above the railroad tracks near Gurdon in Clark County, Arkansas, was first sighted during the 1930s. The Gurdon Light can be found about 85 miles south of Little Rock on Interstate 30, just east of the Interstate on Highway 67.
What does the Gurdon Light look like?
Many of those who have seen it describe the Light as a creepy white-blue light, although some accounts recall it having an orange tint. The light sways back and forth, moving around on the horizon almost as if it were on a cord.
The Ghost Light is most commonly seen on the darkest nights. Visibility is best when the sky is cloudy and overcast.
Pictures and Videos of the Light
This unexplained, mysterious light has been captured in dozens of photographs and videos. In 2023, KATV Channel 7 sat down with a few Gurdon residents to discuss their theories on the Gurdon Ghost Light and whether they’ve been able to see it with their own eyes.
In a video narrated by older Gurdon townsfolk through Arkansas PBS, a young thrill-seeker looks to see this phenomenon himself. He spent the better part of the night on the train tracks, hiking through waist-deep weeds, but didn’t see any signs of the Gurdon Light. However, this experience did not necessarily stop his belief in it.
How do you get to the Gurdon Ghost Light?
The town of Gurdon is located about 85 miles south of Little Rock on Interstate 30, and the Gurdon Ghost Light is said to appear along a stretch of Railroad outside of town.
Due to this, the light cannot be seen from the highway. In order to get to the Gurdon Ghost Light, you’ll have to hike about 2.5 miles, where you’ll see a slight incline in the tracks, followed by a long hill. If you haven’t passed two trestles, you haven’t gone far enough.
Are there any scientific explanations for the Gurdon Light?
There are no confirmed scientific explanations for the Gurdon Ghost Light, but a possible explanation is piezoelectricity. This phenomenon occurs when certain materials, such as crystals, produce electricity when pressurized.
The site of the Light is known to contain underground quartz crystals, so it may be a result of electrical reactions created by the buried quartz.
Others believe the light is swamp gas rising up from the ground. Swamp gas is mostly methane, produced by the decay of organic matter in wetlands like swamps and marshes.
Has the Gurdon Light been solved today?
The Gurdon Ghost Light has not been solved and remains a mystery for the residents of Gurdon. If the light is due to something paranormal, it’s most likely from a murder that took place in December 1931. William McClain, foreman for the Missouri-Pacific railroad, got into a heated argument with one of his employees, Louis McBride.
It was during the Great Depression that the company could not provide McBride with additional hours on the job. Mcbride became angry, hit McClain on the head with a shovel, then beat him to death with a railroad spike. The Gurdon Light was seen for the first time shortly after, leading to the urban legend that McClain’s lantern glowing.
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