Sightings – Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

Host: McLeod Andrews
Co-Host: Brian Sigley
Podcast: Sightings (REVERB | QCODE)
Date: August 18, 2025

Overview

This episode of Sightings delves into the chilling legends and tragic history surrounding the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in West Virginia, known as one of America's most haunted sites. Through a dramatic narrative based on the real experiences of former park owner Gaylord White, the hosts explore the site’s haunted reputation, its grisly past, and the intersection of local folklore with historical fact. The immersive story is followed by an in-depth discussion unpacking the park's layered tragedies—from indigenous history and settler violence to devastating accidents during its years of operation.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene: A Haunted Vacation

[02:13]

• The hosts introduce the week's destination as a “haunted amusement park,” setting a playful but eerie tone.
• McLeod jokes, “Put on that sunscreen. Maybe a bit of ghost screen, too, if that exists.”

2. The Story of Gaylord White and Lake Shawnee

[02:43 – 24:16]

Early Memories and Nostalgia

• Gaylord White reminisces about first seeing Lake Shawnee in 1964 as a teen, describing its welcoming charm and quaint rides.
  • “That Ferris wheel stood tall against the West Virginia sky, painted bright turquoise and red...” ([03:35])
• He recalls rumors: a girl hurt on the swings, a boy drowned in the pond, and stories of a massacre before West Virginia’s statehood.

Rebuilding the Park

• 20 years after its closure, White purchases and restores the property, sourcing vintage rides and painting everything in lively colors.
  • "Finding a decent Ferris wheel was the easy part...but the swing ride was proven to be more of a challenge." ([05:50])

First Supernatural Encounters

• Working alone, White experiences unexplainable happenings—seeing shadows and hearing music from rides not yet operational.
• The most startling: seeing a spectral little girl in a white dress riding the swing late at night, only for her to vanish. He later discovers that the ride is the very one from the tragic past.
  • “Turns out that swing ride...was the original Lake Shawnee swing ride. Phew. The same one where that little girl had died all those years ago. Well, no wonder then, that she'd appeared to me. She'd come home.” ([12:25])

Ghosts Among the Living

• Despite his fears, White opens the park. Guests and staff report sightings of a solitary, old-fashioned boy who repeatedly vanishes.
• White himself attempts to save a “floating boy” in the pond in front of witnesses—but the apparition disappears as soon as he reaches.

Uncovering Older Tragedies

• Research at the historical society reveals the little girl (“Susan”) was killed in a swing accident; the drowned boy (“Tommy”) was one of several such deaths.
• Mrs. Patterson, the local historian, reveals deeper horror: the park stands on the site of the 18th-century Clay Massacre and an ancient Native American burial ground, discovered during an expansion dig.
  • “She said that the tragedies at the park were only the latest in a long line of deaths on that land ... less than 100 yards from where I'd installed the swing ride.” ([16:30])
  • White realizes his park is "doomed," recognizing it as sacred land, ultimately closing and fearing for what future owners may invite.

3. After the Story: Hosts’ Discussion & Historical Context

[25:58 – 39:52]

The Real Gaylord White and the Park’s Layout

• The hosts confirm Gaylord White was a real owner, succeeded by his children. Brian shares, “He certainly did [work there as a teen] ... wanted to return it to its former glory. I suppose that's hard to do in land that's haunted.” ([31:01])
• Description of the park: simple, open, resembling a rural carnival more than a modern theme park.

Layered Historical Tragedy

• The Clay Massacre: Settlement by Mitchell Clay's family in 1770s led to deadly conflict; children murdered during a raid, the land earning a bloody reputation even before the park.
  • “One day in 1783 ... Native American hunting party attacked the homestead, killed a few of the kids ... called the Clay Massacre.” ([28:30])
• The amusement park, established in the 1920s, saw at least six fatalities—including the notorious swing ride death and numerous drownings.

Unexplained Experiences and Hauntings

• Reports of multiple apparitions: White’s and others’ sightings of the little girl, a mysterious boy, and even an adult man seen leaping from the Ferris wheel.
  • “There's apparently a man who's often seen in one of the Ferris wheel cars ... even seen jumping from it.” ([32:03])
• Some accounts include hearing “Native American drums,” though the hosts are skeptical about this trope.

The Discovery of the Native Burial Ground

• After closure, construction exposed a significant burial ground—estimates range from 13 to up to 3,000 Shawnee graves.
  • “They really have determined that that's probably just a smaller part of what is much more likely a larger burial ground.” ([33:14–33:36])

Cultural Reflection

• The hosts discuss the mishandling of sacred lands, linking the trope of “native burial grounds” to other horror stories (Poltergeist, Amityville).
  • “It's become almost a horror trope in a way, you know. Oh, the house is buried on Indian [land].” ([35:11])
• They seek more historically informed perspectives and invite feedback from listeners knowledgeable in Native American customs.

4. The Park Today & Final Thoughts

[37:12 – 39:13]

• Lake Shawnee remains closed, its rusting rides overgrown—yet open to the occasional ghost tour or paranormal investigator.
• The image descriptions of the abandoned Ferris wheel and swing ride evoke both nostalgia and unease.
  • “This swing is nightmare fuel ... it looks like a torture device ... no harnesses, no safety harnesses...” ([38:07])
• The park serves as a cautionary tale about forgetting (or refusing to respect) the history beneath our amusements.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Some places don't forget the past. And they don't forgive it, either.”
  — McLeod Andrews, [01:21]

• “Turns out that swing ride...was the original Lake Shawnee swing ride. Phew. The same one where that little girl had died all those years ago.”
  — Gaylord White (voiced), [12:25]

• “She said that the tragedies at the park were only the latest in a long line of deaths on that land.”
  — Gaylord White (voiced), [16:30]

• “It's become almost a horror trope in a way, you know. Oh, the house is buried on Indian [land].”
  — Brian Sigley, [35:11]

• “Of a lot of the places that I feel like we've discussed, this one seems like it has the setup more than most to be a haunted place.”
  — Brian Sigley, [36:19]

• Image Description (The Swings):
  — Guest/Co-host, [38:07]:
  “This swing is nightmare fuel ... it looks like a torture device ... no harnesses, no safety harnesses. It's just a swing that you would have to just hold onto as this thing spins you...”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:43] Gaylord White’s narrative begins
• [12:25] Discovery of the original haunted swing ride
• [16:30] Reveal of historical massacre and burial ground
• [25:58] Hosts begin detailed discussion and real-life context
• [28:01] Explaining the Clay Massacre and the land’s violent history
• [31:01] Confirmation of Gaylord White’s personal connection
• [33:14–33:36] Burials unearthed—mass grave confirmed
• [38:07] Modern description of the abandoned park/rides

Conclusion: What Haunts Lake Shawnee?

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is more than a collection of folkloric ghost stories; it's a real location layered with loss, violence, and historical neglect. The episode masterfully balances its eerie, immersive storytelling with respectful historical analysis. The hosts suggest that while the site’s supernatural reputation may be up for debate, the true “haunting” comes both from the factual tragedies that occurred and the lingering aftershocks of cultural amnesia. The hosts encourage listeners with experience or knowledge of Lake Shawnee—or similar haunted sites—to share their stories for future episodes.

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