On an evening in 2013, Allex Matuszek , a resident of St Louis Missouri, and her aunt went for a late-night walk in the area that’s now the Meramec Greenway, home to a series of trails in the dense forest. As Alex was walking, she was aware of her surroundings, she was passing through an area once known as Zombie Road due to its spooky activity. But Allex didn’t believe in the supernatural and wasn’t too concerned. Then, suddenly, she heard a sound she’ll never forget. As she later recalled, it was like nothing she had ever heard in the woods.
Allex stated the sound was like a high-pitched squeal, almost sounding like it was from a teenage girl, or young woman,” As she heard the sound, Allex felt a sharp pain on her leg.
Allex and her aunt hustled out of the woods and as they got home, she was shocked to learn that she had scratches on her leg.
Even more strange, she was wearing multiple layers and leather riding chaps since she had been horseback riding. None of her layers of clothing were torn or had holes. To this day, she believes whatever scratched her, wasn’t of this world.
Still, what Allex encountered is one of many tales of supernatural activity that have occurred in the area for decades.
Listed as one of the most haunted roads in America, the original Zombie Road is said to sit atop the site of one of the largest Native American burial mounds in the country. It’s said to be haunted by spirits of indigenous people, confederate soldiers, children, and local residents.
In the woods in Wildwood, MO, just outside St. Louis, Zombie Road is a two-mile stretch of an abandoned road. Located at the intersection of Highway 109 and Old State Road, it was once bustling with the activity of trucks hauling gravel from the Meramec River to the nearby railroad. But, in the 1970s, the gravel operation closed, and the road was no longer needed. Today, it’s not drivable in a car, so it has been converted into a popular hiking and bike trail.
Since the 1950s, Zombie Road has been at the center of numerous paranormal stories and unexplained activity. There’s been numerous reports of shadowy figures appearing and individuals hearing voices, and perhaps most frightening, right in their ear. One man reported having his hiking gear taken only to find it reappear at a different place. He reported there was no way it could have been stolen and moved.
During the day, the area is beautiful with wildlife and towering trees. The road, which was paved over for the biking trail, doesn’t convey a sense of fear. But as nighttime falls, the area becomes mysterious. It can be dead quiet and almost pitch black in many places.
If you’re ever traveling through Missouri, visiting Zombie Road should be on your checklist, just remember to check it out during the day.
