Illinois’ Scariest Bridge Hides a 200-Year-Old Legend

If you didn't know the stories behind it, you would never guess by looking at it that a bridge in Illinois is considered to be the scariest in the state. It's all because of a more than 200-year-old legend that is still told today.

This is the bridge located at 1148 E Randolph Street in McLeansboro, Illinois

This is the Lakey's Creek Bridge which Discover Downstate Illinois says has a legend that makes it the scariest span in the state. They say it is the location of "a haunting from the late 1820s when Joel Lakey was decapitated by an evil son-in-law". According to an article by Michael Kleen, the murder of Joel Lakey is unclear as he was found headless by the work of his own ax. It goes on to say that it wasn't until later that theories pointed to one of Lakey's family members as the potential murderer. Gothic Horror Stories say that the ghost of Joel Lakey remains near this small span and some have tried to capture images using spectral photography.

While it's a rather simple-looking concrete and asphalt bridge now, in the early 1800's, it was a wooden span. In all of its forms, Dangerous Roads says the Lakey's Creek Bridge remains one of the scariest in the state of Illinois. If you cross it at night, best to not slow down and take in the sights - or else.