Imagine an oval orb of bluish white light hovering and bobbing in mid-air over the ground in a remote and wooded Arkansas location near the railroad tracks.
Eerie, right?
This is a description of the Gurdon Light.
All About the Gurdon Light in Arkansas
Is it Real?
Well, people really do see something.
Unlike many other ghostly phenomena in Arkansas, the Gurdon Light isn’t just an old folktale.
People have reported seeing the mysterious light since the 1930s, and it has been photographed and caught on video.
The mystery isn’t really whether people see a light.
The mystery is what causes it!
Have I seen the Gurdon light myself? Sadly, I have not. Mostly because I am a fraidy-cat.
I did go out there once when I was a teenager. A small group of us began walking through the woods following the railroad tracks in the pitch black darkness. We quickly decided that this was a little TOO scary and turned back before we had a chance to see anything.
Where is the Gurdon Light Found?
The light is found near the small town of Gurdon in Southwest Arkansas. Gurdon is about 85 miles south of Little Rock on I-30.
The light is typically seen in the woods along a set of railroad tracks.
I am not going to try to tell you exactly how to get there!
Just know that the adventure is not for the faint of heart. This is a remote, wooded area and traditionally seeing the light involved quite a walk in the dark.
Honestly, I am NOT recommending this little adventure.
I have no idea whether this is still an active railroad track. And if it isn’t, I also have no idea what condition the route is in now or whether there are trestles or other dangerous crossings along the way.
So, do as I say and not as I did.
What are the legends and theories surrounding the Gurdon Light?
The mystery of the Gurdon Light isn’t whether or not the lights exist.
The mystery is what causes it!
Here are a few of the legends about the light as well as a few of the more scientific theories.
By the way, if you know much about the folklore and legends of Arkansas you probably know that there are some other ghostly lights in our state. These are the Dover Lights located in the Ozark Mountains.
The Theory of a Ghostly Apparition:
Some folks think the Gurdon Lights are related to a murder that took place along the tracks in the 1930s.
A Missouri-Pacific Railroad foreman named William McClain got into an argument with one of his employees, Louis McBride, in December of 1931.
The dispute was reportedly over how many days McBride was being allowed to work. McBride became angry and brutally beat McClain to death with a railroad spike maul.
According to reports from the time, McClain never let go of his lantern during the struggle.
So the story that is most often told about the Gurdon Light is actually based on this true crime. It is said that the mysterious light is McClain’s lantern and that his ghost still wanders around the scene of his death.
The Theory of the Headless Ghost
There is another ghostly theory that has less actual evidence, but remains a favorite with local college students and ghost seekers. Perhaps because it involves a decapitation. This is actually the first story that I was told about the Gurdon Light.
This legend claims that a man who was working for the railroad accidentally fell into the path of an oncoming train and was killed. They found his body…but not his head.
Some say that the light is the lantern of that man’s ghost. He is walking around the tracks still trying to find his lost head.
Both of the ghost stories seem to indicate that the light looks like an old-fashioned lantern.
Reflection of Lights From the Nearby Interstate
One theory is that the Gurdon Light is simply headlights from vehicles traveling on nearby Interstate 30.
There’s one pretty big problem with that explanation.
People were reporting the Gurdon Light long before I-30 was built.
Dr. Charles Leming, a physics professor at nearby Henderson State University, studied the Gurdon Light for years and investigated several possible natural explanations. He never came to a definite conclusion about what causes it.
So headlights might explain an occasional light someone sees today, but they don’t explain the history of the Gurdon Light.
Piezoelectric Effect
Have you ever heard of the piezoelectric effect? No? Neither had I.
It is a real scientific phenomenon in which certain materials, including quartz, can generate an electrical charge when subjected to mechanical stress.
One theory is that the Gurdon Light could somehow be connected to geological pressure on quartz beneath the area. Quartz is certainly abundant in Arkansas, which makes this theory sound interesting.
But there’s a problem. Nobody has actually proven that this is what causes the Gurdon Light.
So for now, add it to the list of possibilities.
Swamp Gas
Could the light simply be caused by swamp gas? Maybe, but there are problems with this theory too.
The Gurdon Light has reportedly been seen in all kinds of weather and tends to retain its shape, which researchers have said isn’t particularly consistent with the swamp gas explanation.
Aliens
I haven’t ever heard anyone seriously suggest that the lights come from alien activity, but I guess that you never know!
What Does the Gurdon Light Look Like?
The lights have been described in various ways – most people say that they see a small orb of bluish white light. Some say that the light occasionally changes to more of an orange color. Some say that they have seen a larger light.
It is often described as hovering a few feet above the ground and moving or bobbing through the air.
Unsolved Mysteries 1994
The Gurdon Lights were the subject of an episode of the television show Unsolved Mysteries way back in 1994. You can still find this on Youtube.
In the show one of the interviewees says, “Do we really want to know, because that would take all the mystery out of it and the fun.”
I think I might agree! The Gurdon Light is a captivating mystery whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or prefer a scientific explanation.
If you like stories like this be sure and check out our guide to other Arkansas legends and unexplained phenomena.
