National Park After Dark - podcast cover

National Park After Dark

Audioboom Studiosnpadpodcast.com
Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the wilderness and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks and explore these treasured places in a whole new way - because behind the iconic arches and towering trees lie layered histories, grisly encounters, extraordinary stories of survival, tragic ends and so much more. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope the show will inspire listeners to lace up their own hiking boots and take a walk into the wild to create meaningful adventures of their own.

Episodes

259: The Murder of Ranger Robert McGhee. Gulf Islands National Seashore.

When two dangerous convicts escaped from a Florida prison they kidnapped a woman and fled to Mississippi. During the ensuing manhunt for the prison escapees, Florida park ranger Robert McGhee was tragically murdered while on duty. In the years that followed, devastated and angered by the events leading to her husband's death, his wife petitioned and lobbied for change within the prison system. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view...

Nov 04, 202445 minEp. 259

258: History and Haunts of Oz. Sydney Harbour National Park.

One of Australia’s most haunted locations sits in the same harbor as one of the country’s most visited landmarks. Across the bay from the Opera House lies the remnants of the oldest and longest running Quarantine station in Oz’s history. Over 500 people lost their lives here, and its long been said several of them have never left. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe...

Oct 28, 20241 hr 24 minEp. 258

257: Trail Tales 57

Today’s stories include disembodied voices (and fingers ?), questionable aliens, conjuring spirits and peaks beyond the veil. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-fr...

Oct 24, 202446 minEp. 257

256: A Haunted Historic Tour of Antietam National Battlefield.

Today we go to the national park that preserves the bloodiest day in American History. During the civil war, 23,000 people were killed or wounded in a single day. Now, the area contains the spirits of those who lost their lives. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscrip...

Oct 21, 202458 minEp. 256

255: Phone a (Dead) Friend. Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

A universal desire to have just five more minutes to convey our love to those who we have lost has been in existence for as long as humans have. For most of time, those wishing to connect with the deceased relied on mediums, until two of history’s most brilliant minds added science to the equation in hopes of inventing a diret line to the other side. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment t...

Oct 14, 202453 minEp. 255

Listen Now: Kill List

In the depths of the dark net, tech journalist Carl Miller makes a disturbing discovery: a secret Kill List targeting hundreds of innocent people on a murder for hire website. When the police decide not to investigate, Carl is thrown into a race against time to warn those in danger and uncover the truth about the people who want them dead. From Wondery and Novel, comes a true story about obsession, control and the price of life and death. Listen to Kill List on the Wondery App or wherever you ge...

Oct 08, 20246 min

254: Rocky Mountain National Park’s Historic Tea Room.

Some histories are lost with time, but remnants of their existence remain. Off an unmarked trail within the park, sits an old abandoned cabin that in its hay day was a popular place for tourists to visit. It was once filled with people from around the world, coming to see Anna Wolfrom’s famous Tea Room for themselves. Anna managed to open a hugely successful business in a time it was not common for women to do so, but she didn’t stop there. Remnants of her entrepreneurial spirit remain scattered...

Sep 30, 20241 hrEp. 254

253: Trail Tales 56

Today’s stories include life changing treks, Kentucky Bigfoots, dog rescues, evidence destruction, flying deer, bad feelings, heart shaped rocks and good girls in pink bandanas. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Pa...

Sep 26, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 253

252: Death, She Wrote ft. Randi Minetor

What started off as a 1990’s National Park roadtrip across the West turned into a successful series of books. Randi Minetor joins us to speak about her journey with death in the US National Parks and highlights the importance on mindful recreation. Author of over 90 books, Randi is renowned for her “Death in” works that focus on the stories of visitors who perished in the parks. You can find Randi Minetor’s books in National Park visitor’s centers, your local bookshops or on Amazon . We love our...

Sep 23, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 252

251: Murder of Six. Wells Gray Provincial Park. Part 2.

In August of 1982, three generations of one family went on a two week vacation into the mountains of British Columbia. Over a year later, David Shearing was arrested and went to trial for all six of their murders. But as time went on, the details of what happened that night and in the days that followed emerged, and were more horrific than anyone could have anticipated. Watch us on YouTube We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but...

Sep 16, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 251

250: Trail Tales 55

Today’s stories include survival(ish) stories, good guy redemptions, unpredictable rescuers, invisible protectors and someone being naked - and someone being afraid. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or App...

Sep 12, 20241 hrEp. 250

249: Murder of Six. Wells Gray Provincial Park. Part 1.

In August of 1982, three generations of one family went on a two week vacation into the mountains of British Columbia. When they failed to return, the community rallied to find them. What began as a missing persons case turned into the grisly discovery of human remains. Exactly what happened to the Bentley and Johnson families was a mystery for months, until the only person left alive involved in the tragedy began to reveal the truth. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when yo...

Sep 09, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 249

248: The Mann Gulch Fire Tragedy. Helena National Forest.

When a fire broke out in Helena National Forest, the newly established Smokejumpers crew was sent to manage it. The fire proved to be larger and more dangerous than anyone could have predicted and when the winds changed, these men found themselves fighting for their lives. Many lives were lost and to this day it remains as one of the worst tragedies in wildland history. Watch us on YouTube We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but...

Sep 02, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 248

247: Trail Tales 54

Today’s stories include park spirits, strange encounters, Alaskan adventures, embarrassing moments and cocaine heroes. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free epis...

Aug 29, 202441 minEp. 247

246: Lights on the Mountain. Pisgah National Forest.

For generations the stories of ghost lights in the Appalachian forests of North Carolina have captured the attention of locals and piqued the curiosity of travelers. These orbs of light have been witnessed by hundreds over the years, and no one is questioning their existence, they are questioning their origins. Are they spirits? UFOs? Bioluminescent bugs? Automobile headlights? ETs? Today we discuss the Brown Mountain lights. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out ...

Aug 26, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 246

245: Grizzly Confidential ft. Kevin Grange

Today’s episode is all about bears as Kevin Grange returns for his second appearance on the show to discuss his newest book Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey Into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator . We discuss why people love them and fear them, the harm humans have done to them and how we can save them, how people can co-exist with them, and most importantly - why bears belong. Purchase Grizzly Confidential HERE and learn more about Kevin Grange HERE We love ou...

Aug 19, 202452 minEp. 245

244: Trail Tales 53

Today’s stories include woodsy weirdness, prophetic dreams, police run ins, paranormal protection, mountain mishaps and an avalanche survival. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gai...

Aug 15, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 244

243: Undercover in an Asylum. Blackwell Island.

When rumors spread through New York City of horrendous conditions of a nearby asylum, Nellie Bly investigates. She goes undercover as a patient to report back on the conditions of the facility. What she endures horrifies the public and forces reform of mental health institutions. Today she is remember in history for her book, Ten Days in a Madhouse. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to...

Aug 12, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 243

242: The Valley Killings. Alpine National Park.

In March of 2020, days before the world began to lock down, Russell Hill and Carol Clay ventured to Alpine National Park for a camping trip. When over a week passed without a word from them, the families of the elderly pair grew worried. What investigators discovered was a burnt down campsite, but not the campers. What ensued over the next 18 months unfolded as one of Australia’s most intriguing missing persons cases - which resulted in uncovering an illicit affair, a brutal murder and raised qu...

Aug 05, 20241 hr 27 minEp. 242

241: Trail Tales 52

Today’s stories include trail ghosts, hellish roadtrips, Everest summits, bigfoot kidnappings, foaming pants and being comfortably uncomfortable. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to ...

Aug 01, 202448 minEp. 241

240: Ranger Gone Missing. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

This week, Cassie's voice is out of commission with a cold so instead of a new episode, we're offering a sneak peak into one of our Outsider Bonus Episodes. Previously this episode has only been available on Patreon and Apple Subscriptions. In this episode we follow the life of backcountry Park Ranger, Randy Morgenson. He was a man destine to become a ranger - growing up in Yosemite and summiting extreme peaks as a child, his love for the outdoors was innate. When he accepted the job of a backco...

Jul 29, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 240

239: Titanic of the West. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

In October of 1918, just days before the end of the first World War, a the Princess Sophia ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef and sank into icy Alaskan waters. Every single one of the over 350 people aboard perished despite rescue boats circling the ship for nearly two days, nearly within arms reach. What has gone down in history as the worst maritime disaster in the history of the pacific northwest has largely been lost to history, but baffles everyone who hears her tale. We love our National Parks...

Jul 22, 20241 hr 24 minEp. 239

238: Trail Tales 51

Today’s stories include lost and found hikers, eventful honeymoons, stranger danger and beyond the veil experiences. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episod...

Jul 18, 202444 minEp. 238

237: The Heroine of Niagara Falls.

This week we venture to one of the most iconic waterfalls in the world to talk about the daredevils who have gone over it. Most notably, Annie Edson Taylor, was the first to ever go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptio...

Jul 15, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 237

236: On Our Signal. Virgin Islands National Park.

Take to Google, type in “US Virgin Islands” and you’ll be met with photos of turquoise waters and smiling faces sipping on drinks atop sparkling white sand. This destination is among the most popular in the Caribbean for vacationers, but it was once at the core of the transatlantic slave trade. Today we discuss what has gone down in history as the 1733 Akwamu Insurrection, an event in which thousands of enslaved Africans took fate into their own hands as they rose up against their oppressors - a...

Jul 08, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 236

235: Trail Tales 50

Today’s stories include unlikely reunions, wild horse chases, dog-sent wolves, lifesavers and Alaskan surfing. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bo...

Jul 04, 202456 minEp. 235

234: The Solved Shenandoah Murders with Kathryn Miles

In June of 1996 two women, Julie Williams and Lollie Winans, were found brutally murdered in Shenandoah National Park. Their murderer (or murderers) were never found and the case has remained unsolved, until now. On June 20, 2024 the FBI announced that the assailant has been identified as Walter Leo Jackson Sr. Today we sit down for the second time, with Kathryn Miles, author and investigative journalist who has dedicated years of her life researching this case and uncovering faults in the inves...

Jul 01, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 234

233: Parkitecture and the Haunted Tales of National Park Historic Hotels.

Today we dive into the history of National Parks and how America's best idea almost died. Instead of talking about their landscapes, we take a deep dive into the history of their beautiful historic hotels and the ghostly encounters people have experienced there. From Tennessee to Washington, and everywhere in-between, there are plenty tales to tell. Our Merch Shop is open today! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your...

Jun 24, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 233

232: Trail Tales 49

Today’s stories include stargazing gods, being naked and afraid, Holocaust surviving mountain climbers, Grand canyon voyeurs, knotty women, finding beauty in the mountains and ghost tricksters. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! Merch is coming! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become ...

Jun 20, 202451 minEp. 232

231: Blood in the Water, Blood on Our Hands. Cape Cod National Seashore.

Sharks have swum the world’s waters for millennia – there is a reason they are referred to as living dinosaurs. Their presence globally is not new, but their comeback in certain parts of the world is not celebrated by everyone. In September of 2018, Arthur Medici was killed while recreating in the waters off Cape Cod after sustaining a white shark bite. His death, the first shark related death in state history since 1936, has sparked an intense debate about the sharks, seals and people who live,...

Jun 17, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 231