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Boy Scout Lane: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°28′06″N 89°36′31″W / 44.468260°N 89.608578°W / 44.468260; -89.608578
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Adding local short description: "Isolated road located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin", overriding Wikidata description "isolated road located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, mentioned in various ghost stories"
 
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{{Short description|Isolated road located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin}}
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'''Boy Scout Lane''', sometimes written '''Boyscout Lane''', is an isolated road located in [[Stevens Point, Wisconsin]]. A number of ghost stories and urban legends have become associated with the road, including the fictional deaths of a troop of [[Boy Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scouts]]. The area has been the subject of several [[ghost hunting|paranormal investigations]], and has been a 'haunt' for youths hoping to experience a paranormal event. The land surrounding Boy Scout Lane is now privately owned and is off limits to the general public.<ref name=conley1>{{cite news |last=Conley |first=Mike |title=Do ghostly Boy Scouts haunt rural lane? |publisher=Marion (McDowell) News |date=February 23, 2007 |url=http://mcdowellnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MMN/MGArticle/MMN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193354782&path=!news!localnews |accessdate=April 4, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065938/http://mcdowellnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MMN%2FMGArticle%2FMMN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193354782&path=%21news%21localnews |archivedate=September 28, 2007 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
'''Boy Scout Lane''' is an isolated road located in [[Stevens Point, Wisconsin]]. A number of ghost stories and urban legends have become associated with the road, including the fictional deaths of a troop of [[Boy Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scouts]]. The area has been the subject of several [[ghost hunting|paranormal investigations]], and has been a 'haunt' for youths hoping to experience a paranormal event. The land surrounding Boy Scout Lane is now privately owned and is off limits to the general public.<ref name=conley1>{{cite news |last=Conley |first=Mike |title=Do ghostly Boy Scouts haunt rural lane? |publisher=Marion (McDowell) News |date=February 23, 2007 |url=http://mcdowellnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MMN/MGArticle/MMN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193354782&path=!news!localnews |accessdate=April 4, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065938/http://mcdowellnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MMN%2FMGArticle%2FMMN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193354782&path=%21news%21localnews |archivedate=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


==Overview==
==Overview==
Boy Scout Lane is in the [[Linwood, Wisconsin|Town of Linwood]], [[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]], [[Wisconsin]]. It is located west of the Wisconsin River Golf Club, on West River Drive (West), and is situated between Cemetery Road and Little Chicago Road. It is unpaved and about {{convert|2500|ft|m}} long.<ref name=locate1>{{cite web |work=Google Maps |title=Boy Scout Lane |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=%22Boy+Scout+Ln%22&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=44.476053,-89.598055&spn=0.025539,0.05579&om=1 |accessdate=October 2006 }}</ref>
Boy Scout Lane is in the [[Linwood, Wisconsin|Town of Linwood]], [[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]], [[Wisconsin]]. It is located west of the Wisconsin River Golf Club, on West River Drive (West), and is situated between Cemetery Road and Little Chicago Road. It is unpaved and about {{convert|2500|ft|m}} long.<ref name=locate1>{{cite web |work=Google Maps |title=Boy Scout Lane |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=%22Boy+Scout+Ln%22&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=44.476053,-89.598055&spn=0.025539,0.05579&om=1 |accessdate=October 16, 2006 }}</ref>


The road was named Boy Scout Lane because the land that it is located near land was once owned by the [[Boy Scouts of America]], who planned to use the land to build a Scout camp.<ref name=shaine1>{{cite news |last=Shaine |first=Alex |title=In search of a real-life ghost story |publisher=Stevens Point Journal |date=April 23, 2005 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/stevenspointjournal/access/1777447741.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+23%2C+2005&author=Alexander+Shaine&pub=Stevens+Point+Journal&desc=In+search+of+a+real-life+ghost+story&pqatl=google |accessdate=April 4, 2011 }}</ref> Although the camp was never constructed and the land remains woodland, the name was still used.
The road was named Boy Scout Lane because the land that it is located near was once owned by the [[Boy Scouts of America]], who planned to use the land to build a Scout camp.<ref name=shaine1>{{cite news |last=Shaine |first=Alex |title=In search of a real-life ghost story |publisher=Stevens Point Journal |date=April 23, 2005 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/stevenspointjournal/access/1777447741.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+23%2C+2005&author=Alexander+Shaine&pub=Stevens+Point+Journal&desc=In+search+of+a+real-life+ghost+story&pqatl=google |accessdate=April 4, 2011 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106091205/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/stevenspointjournal/access/1777447741.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+23,+2005&author=Alexander+Shaine&pub=Stevens+Point+Journal&desc=In+search+of+a+real-life+ghost+story&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although the camp was never constructed and the land remains woodland, the name was still used.


==Urban legend==
==Urban legend==
According to a local [[urban legend]], the road is named for a troop of Boy Scouts who were killed while on a camping trip in the 1950s or 60s. In some variations the murderer is the troop's Scoutmaster. In others it is their bus driver.<ref name=lewfis1>{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Chad |last2=Fisk |first2=Terry |title=The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations |publisher=Unexplained Research Publishing Company |date=2004 |isbn=0-9762099-1-8 }}</ref> In other versions of the legend, a small group of Scouts leave their camp during the night and accidentally drop their lantern, resulting in a forest fire that kills the entire troop.<ref name=lewfis1/>
According to a local [[urban legend]], the road is named for a troop of Boy Scouts who were killed while on a camping trip in the 1950s or 1960s. In some variations the murderer is the troop's Scoutmaster. In others it is their bus driver.<ref name=lewfis1>{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Chad |last2=Fisk |first2=Terry |title=The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations |publisher=Unexplained Research Publishing Company |date=2004 |isbn=0-9762099-1-8 }}</ref> In other versions of the legend, a small group of Scouts leave their camp during the night and accidentally drop their lantern, resulting in a forest fire that kills the entire troop.<ref name=lewfis1/>


Other variations of the story exist including one in which the Scouts are killed after their bus crashes or accidentally catches fire. There is also a version in which the Scouts vanish without explanation and are never found. In some versions of the legend, two Boy Scouts escaped the fate of the rest of the troop and tried to find help, only to become lost in the woods where they die of starvation and/or exposure. In most variations of the legend it is said that the dead Scouts haunt the forest where they died and can be heard hiking through the undergrowth, or their lights can be seen at night as they seek help or their fellow Scouts.<ref name=lewfis1/>
Other variations of the story exist including one in which the Scouts are killed after their bus crashes or accidentally catches fire. There is also a version in which the Scouts vanish without explanation and are never found. In some versions of the legend, two Boy Scouts escaped the fate of the rest of the troop and tried to find help, only to become lost in the woods where they die of starvation and/or exposure. In most variations of the legend it is said that the dead Scouts haunt the forest where they died and can be heard hiking through the undergrowth, or their lights can be seen at night as they seek help or their fellow Scouts.<ref name=lewfis1/>
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.scaryforkids.com/boy-scout/ Boy Scout Lane Urban Legend]
* [http://www.scaryforkids.com/boy-scout/ Boy Scout Lane Urban Legend]

{{Urban legends}}


[[Category:American folklore]]
[[Category:American folklore]]
[[Category:Urban legends]]
[[Category:Central Region (Boy Scouts of America)]]
[[Category:Central Region (Boy Scouts of America)]]
[[Category:Reportedly haunted locations in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Reportedly haunted locations in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Portage County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Portage County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Roads in Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 14:20, 30 November 2023

Boy Scout Lane
Boyscout Lane
Length2,500 ft (760 m)
LocationStevens Point, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates44°28′06″N 89°36′31″W / 44.468260°N 89.608578°W / 44.468260; -89.608578

Boy Scout Lane is an isolated road located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. A number of ghost stories and urban legends have become associated with the road, including the fictional deaths of a troop of Boy Scouts. The area has been the subject of several paranormal investigations, and has been a 'haunt' for youths hoping to experience a paranormal event. The land surrounding Boy Scout Lane is now privately owned and is off limits to the general public.[1]

Overview

[edit]

Boy Scout Lane is in the Town of Linwood, Portage County, Wisconsin. It is located west of the Wisconsin River Golf Club, on West River Drive (West), and is situated between Cemetery Road and Little Chicago Road. It is unpaved and about 2,500 feet (760 m) long.[2]

The road was named Boy Scout Lane because the land that it is located near was once owned by the Boy Scouts of America, who planned to use the land to build a Scout camp.[3] Although the camp was never constructed and the land remains woodland, the name was still used.

Urban legend

[edit]

According to a local urban legend, the road is named for a troop of Boy Scouts who were killed while on a camping trip in the 1950s or 1960s. In some variations the murderer is the troop's Scoutmaster. In others it is their bus driver.[4] In other versions of the legend, a small group of Scouts leave their camp during the night and accidentally drop their lantern, resulting in a forest fire that kills the entire troop.[4]

Other variations of the story exist including one in which the Scouts are killed after their bus crashes or accidentally catches fire. There is also a version in which the Scouts vanish without explanation and are never found. In some versions of the legend, two Boy Scouts escaped the fate of the rest of the troop and tried to find help, only to become lost in the woods where they die of starvation and/or exposure. In most variations of the legend it is said that the dead Scouts haunt the forest where they died and can be heard hiking through the undergrowth, or their lights can be seen at night as they seek help or their fellow Scouts.[4]

Stories circulated in "haunted travel guides"[4] include visitors reporting a strong sense of foreboding or "being watched", the sound of footsteps or breaking branches coming from multiple directions, red or white lights sometimes described as resembling swinging lanterns or flashlight beams, ghostly buses or figures, and "childlike hand prints" on cars stopped in or driven through the area.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Conley, Mike (February 23, 2007). "Do ghostly Boy Scouts haunt rural lane?". Marion (McDowell) News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "Boy Scout Lane". Google Maps. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  3. ^ Shaine, Alex (April 23, 2005). "In search of a real-life ghost story". Stevens Point Journal. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Chad; Fisk, Terry (2004). The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations. Unexplained Research Publishing Company. ISBN 0-9762099-1-8.
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