
Colin Dickey
Writer and author who reports on haunted and abandoned places; in this episode he describes his visit to Centralia, Pennsylvania and the town's rewilding.
Top 5 podcasts with Colin Dickey
Ranked by the Snipd community

9 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 19min
Local Legends Corner with Colin Dickey: LaLaurie Mansion
Colin Dickey, a cultural historian and author known for exploring ghosts and the paranormal, delves into the dark history of the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans. He recounts the horror discovered during a fire in 1834, revealing the tragic fate of enslaved people. Colin discusses why New Orleans holds a haunted reputation, its local ghost stories, and the cruel legacy of Delphine LaLaurie. He also explores the mansion's later uses, current ghost-tour status, and hints at the souls that still linger there, forever entwined with its haunting past.

5 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 22min
Local Legends Corner with Colin Dickey: Tommyknockers
Colin Dickey, a writer and cultural historian specializing in the paranormal, delves into the eerie legend of the Tommyknockers, mysterious beings linked to mining folklore. He reveals their origins in Cornish lore and discusses their evolution from helpful spirits to sinister figures over time. Colin also explores how these quaint trickster figures reflect cultural anxieties and the peculiar geological sounds that haunt the mines. Plus, learn how these tales transformed with the arrival of miners in the U.S. and continue to captivate visitors today.

Oct 16, 2025 • 22min
Local Legends Corner with Colin Dickey: Mustang Ranch
Colin Dickey, a writer and cultural historian known for his explorations of ghost stories and the paranormal, dives into the intriguing world of the Mustang Ranch. He reveals the ranch's unusual layout and its dual operation of a public bar and private brothel. Colin recounts chilling tales of hauntings, including hair-pulling incidents and cold spots. He shares why a shaman was necessary to cleanse the space and discusses the emotional labor of sex work, linking it to ghostly experiences. The rich, secretive history of the Old West enhances the ranch's eerie lore.

May 16, 2024 • 24min
Gabbing Goblins with Colin Dickey
Author and columnist at Atlas Obscura, Colin Dickey, discusses the bizarre events in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1955 where a family faced off against small, glowing-eyed creatures believed to be aliens. He explores the legacy of the Hopkinsville goblins incident, Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the story into 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' and the cultural evolution of extraterrestrial beings intertwined with American culture.

Feb 11, 2026 • 17min
This "Burning Town” Is Thriving
Colin Dickey, a writer who explores haunted and abandoned places, revisits Centralia, Pennsylvania and finds it unexpectedly lush. He describes the mine fire origins, failed extinguishing attempts, and how nature has reclaimed the landscape. He compares Centralia’s rewilding to other abandoned sites and notes signs the underground blaze still persists.


