Just Jakin

I have been writing about some of the legends and true history of the south, especially our area of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Even hitting on unexplained things in our very area (buried treasure, things found, things lost). Well today I'm going to tell you a true and unexplained event that was experienced by my husband and his parents. Jim, my husband, was about 12 years old at the time.

The three of them left Panama City early one Saturday morning to go camping in the North Carolina part of the Smokey Mountains. They were looking forward to their stay at Elkmont Park in the National Park area, not far from Gatlinburg, Tenn.

As their reservations were for Sunday morning they thought that they would pull into a park for Saturday night and get an early start the next day arriving early. (It was a rule at Elkmont that reservations had to be clamed before 10 a.m., any later you would not be guaranteed to have a campsite and in most cases the park would be full before noon.

They chose to stop for the night at Sugar Lands Visitor Center and the manager told Jim's father to just wait until they close at 9pm then pull down into the area past the lights. He also told him not to unhook the trailer and they would be able to stay overnight. This was not normally allowed so they had to be gone by 8 a.m. the next morning before Sugar Lands was due to reopen. Jim and his parents removed their shoes, lay down in their comfortable traveling clothes, and covered up with open sleeping bags (no since in pulling out everything for just one night).

It was a still and quiet night, No wind. No noise in this area off the road. They were just asleep when suddenly they were awakened by something that shook the trailer hard. They all sat straight up asking each other, "What was that?"

Even though they were not in the big-lighted area, you could still see everywhere around the trailer. They finally decided OH, well everything looked OK the trailer was still connected to the car. Nothing around so might as well lie back down and try to sleep. But Mom and Dad couldn't go to sleep.

Then it happened again the trailer shook even more violently than it did the first time. So Dad got up said, "Wake Jim, and when I get to the car you two run and get in. We are leaving here!" He checked outside again, no one, nothing, no animal, no wind, no explaining.

They started the car and left that place. They stopped finally at a pull off and checked the tires, car, and the trailer but could find nothing wrong. They went on down the road until they saw a place downtown and pulled in and finally caught a nap.

Later Dad said he was afraid it might be someone who said they are traveling and camping and possibly have some cash on them, a good place to rob. But 35 years ago that didn't happen too often. Also there was no indication it was someone shaking the camper. Even until today, when Mom and Jim talk about it, they say they get this strange feeling.

Strange happenings - bet there's an incident in your family history too. My daughter enjoys hearing all the family stories as well as sharing stories about trips she has taken with us or with her Grams.

Please if you have a story you would like to share we would enjoy hearing from you. We also have plenty of chilling tales for you to read both true and fiction.

Come and visit the Jakin Community Library & Museum.We are open Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri.