ATHENS (KYTX) - The Wilson and West College Street intersection is where the Monkey Bridge is located and people who live here say it's haunted.
The bridge's name comes from a tragedy that happened in the 1960s when, supposedly, a circus train derailed and monkeys escaped from their cages. It is said the monkeys then killed the circus owners.
Athens resident Christopher Reyes said it's been 30 years since he visited Monkey Bridge.
"As creepy as it was, it was just something that was fun to do," Reyes said.
He said he and his cousin used to play around the railroad when they were kids until he experienced something that made him not want to go back. Reyes said there was a man wearing a mask that walked up to them, yelling at them to leave the bridge. Reyes said the mystery man chased them off the bridge and they never came back.
"Ever since that night, you hear stories," Reyes said. "Like how you can hear the screams from the men and howling of monkeys."
Even in broad daylight, Reyes said it was still eerie. During the interview he kept looking over his shoulder and clutching his knife.
"I just don't feel safe to be honest," Reyes said. "Whoever or whatever could be around and it's almost as if I'm on someone's territory."
Reyes was always told not to mess around with Monkey Bridge. Now he shares those stories with his kids, warning them not to visit either.
