Light of Saratoga
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The "Light of Saratoga" is a legend located in the Big Thicket of Southeast Texas. This legend of a mysterious light is also known as the "Ghost Road" of Saratoga, the "Saratoga Light", and "Bragg Road Ghost Light" by local residents. Located on a dirt road, it is a light that may appear and disappear at random during the dark of night without explanation.
The strange light is often described as changing from yellow to white, and sometimes appearing red as it may approach the observer. Some witnesses have observed that the light will sway back-and-forth, as if someone were carrying a lantern and walking. Another common attribute given to the strange light is its unpredictable nature. Some eyewitnesses have attempted to follow or approach the light with no success. However, there are some that claim that the light has actually followed or entered their vehicle while traveling the dirt road at night.
There are different beliefs as far as what the ghostly light could be, such as swamp gas and similar natural occurrences. The most popular story surrounding this legend is that a railroad worker was decapitated in a railway accident, and the light is that of his lantern as his ghost searches endlessly for his head. [1]
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[edit] Geography
Located in Texas between Beaumont and Houston, it is a short distance west of Kountze, Texas. The dirt road runs north-south starting at the south end at Saratoga and ending at Bragg Station to the north. There are still railroad tracks just outside of Bragg road.
[edit] History
The dirt road was once the path of a railroad which was installed by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway (GCSF) in the early 1900's to supply the new oil industry near Beaumont, Texas. When the industry began to shift its shipping lanes geographically, the company abandoned the railway in 1933 and subsequently, the tracks were removed the following year [2].
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bragg Road - The Ghost Road of Hardin County
- Big Thicket Light - From the Handbook of Texas Online
- The Ghost Road of Hardin County by Jim King Historical article with photo of the light and map of the area
- The Big Thicket Light - From www.texasescapes.com
