Quote from Angela on May 26, 2022, 7:25 pm

This is the fascinating tale of how a small town preserve became a world giant oil corporation.

Big Cypress National Preserve, located on the Atlantic Coastal plane of Southern Florida, boasts the title of being the first national preserve in the US National Park system.

Historically, human habitation dates back over 2000 with the native calusa tribes holding initial regional dominance. The first Europeans arrived here mid 14th century.

Sadly, during the 1920s, colonization of the area resulted in an almost total depletion of wildlife and timber reserves.

In 1901 companies began drilling for oil across Florida land. And, following more than 80 failed drill holes, the states first oil strike was produced under a humble oil company who later became the giant we know today as Exxon.

Throughout the 1960s construction was launched under Miami airport, however, following an uproar and clear resistance from local conservationists and hunters, those plans were disregarded.

In 1974 a national preserve was established in order to safeguard the areas resources. 

Big Cypress remains open today offering options in eco system hiking, camping, kyaking and fishing.

Outdoor enthusiasts who venture here continually report a whole array of unexplained phenomena including ghostly voices which emanate from surrounding forestry, a very real oppression of unseen forces and manifestations of ancient natives who once resided within.

Not all of these entities are friendly and many have experienced some level of confrontational malevolence, whilst others have shared tales of being stalked by who they believe to be the protective spirits of ancient bloodlines.

Informal paranormal investigations have yielded creepy EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and have captured mysterious, half formed, silhouettes in photography.

Are these eerily twisting hiking trails haunted by otherworldly ancestors of yesteryear?

And are you brave enough to find out?