Gurdon Ghost Light
Railroad tracks near Gurdon, Arkansas
In 1931 the depression gripped the town of Gurdon. Work was scarce, and men became angry and desperate in their search for a living. One such instance played itself out near the railroad tracks of Gurdon.
On a frigid December night William McClain, a foreman for Missouri-Pacific railroad, was confronted by an employee that needed more work hours. William, typically accommodating, could not provide the man with the extra hours. With the holidays so close, William was determined to spread out the working hours to all the men, giving them each a fair share.
The employee, now enraged, continued to berate William in the freezing night. With murderous rage the man struck William in the head with a shovel. William tried to struggle to his feet but the man found a pick ax and repeatedly stabbed William.
William McClain died at that spot in the cold December night.
Shortly after William's murder people began to see a strange light appear along the tracks. The light seems to move along side the railroad tracks. Many people believe this is the ghost of William checking the tracks, with lantern in hand, as he did in life.
People have described the light as orange or yellow in color, like a flame in an oil fueled lantern.
People typically have witnessed the ghost light from a distance. Approaching the ghost light is near impossible due to the rough terrain that surrounds the tracks. When people have made their way to the tracks the light has usually disappeared.
Gurdon is located approximately eighty-five miles south of Little Rock (Pulaski County) on Interstate 30, just east of the Interstate on Highway 67.
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3 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
My friend and I visited Gurdon, but did not see the light. However, we plan to stake it out and spend some more time there in the future.
Some more specific directions:
There are actually two entrances to the tracks. This one is the easier of the two. Exit I-30 to Highway 53 toward Gurdon. As you are entering the city on 53, you will see a set of railroad tracks. There is a dirt road on the right (to the west) before the tracks. Turn right on the dirt road and follow it until you see a little circle where you can leave your car. The tracks are right in front of you. Follow the tracks to the right (west). You will need to go over four trestles (the wooden bridges that hold up the track). WARNING: The first trestle is starting to get rotted out, so bring a flashlight and watch your step! The first two trestles are pretty close to each other, but there is a large gap between the second and third. I would say it took us about 25 minutes to get past the fourth trestles.
A couple of notes: bring strong flashlights, as it is really dark out there and the trestles could definitely be dangerous. Wear bug spray. And plan to camp out for a while if you really want to see the light.
I grew up in Clark county Arkansas, which Gurdon sets in. As a teen, I started going to see the light. There were few nights that we failed to see it. Most commonly, it comes out from the woodline, crosses up and over the tracks, and then disappears into the other woodline. It usually appears light yellow, but sometimes is almost orange in color. A group of us were spread out along the tracks one night, walking back to the cars, when it crossed about fifty (50) feet in front of myself and the two girls I was walking with. That night, it was very orange in color, and appeared to be about three (3) feet in diameter.
What got me interested in the Gurdon Light was my boyfriend went there 2 weeks ago and he said he wants to take me there. I didnt really think much of it. Until yesterday. We are doing a research paper for english and thats the subject i chose and i plan on going there this weekend for the first time to experience it first hand. im so excited about going. i dont know what to expect except from what ive read and what my boyfriend told me.
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