The Screaming Bridge

Posted: 02.10.2025 | Updated: 02.10.2025

Inside one of Arlington’s most pristine and peaceful parks is an abandoned bridge with a sinister history. On any given night, the screams of victims who met their fate in tragic accidents or at the hands of others on the bridge can be heard. But is it the bridge itself that’s haunted? Or are these tortured spirits linked to the secrets of the vast forest and narrow trails that lead deep into the unknown?

The Screaming Bridge is one haunted location you don’t want to miss while staying in Arlington. To find out more about this popular urban legend or discover other haunted spaces in the city, book your tour with Dallas Terrors today!

Is the Screaming Bridge Haunted?

The City of Arlington is not at a loss when it comes to chilling ghost stories. From tales of a disturbed Native American burial ground to a haunted forest with evil secrets dating back to the days of the Civil War, there’s no shortage of ghostly tales.

If you are interested in all things spooky, there are plenty of locations to choose from in the Northern Texas area.

The History of Arlington’s Screaming Bridge

Perhaps the most haunting site of them all is the old Screaming Bridge. According to urban legends passed down over the years, several ghosts haunt the area, appearing to those who seek them out as they search for a peace they’ll never find.

While many believe the bridge itself to be haunted, some think the extreme dark energy felt in the area may be due to the malevolent spirits who roam deep within the park’s hiking trails beyond a marked passageway known as Hell’s Gate.

Hauntings and Urban Legends of River Legacy Park

Some of the most popular ghost stories associated with the Screaming Bridge include a tragic accident that took the lives of the innocent and an attempt to save a life that ended in a rageful murder.  

Screams from the Ravine

On the night of February 4^th, 1961, a group of young boys set fire to the bridge, destroying one end of it and causing it to collapse. The following day, before a crew could block off the damage, six teenage girls were driving home after enjoying a movie at the cinema. They were oblivious to the hazards that lie ahead.

As the girls got closer to the bridge, a man tried to warn them of the damage.  As he yelled and ran up to the car, the girls were alarmed by his strange behavior. Thinking he was a danger to them; they refused to acknowledge him and sealed their fate. Once they reached the bridge, their car plummeted into the murky and cold ravine below.

The older residents of Arlington recall the story ending with three of the girls dying that night while the girls seated in the back were saved. However, more recent accounts of the accident now say there were no survivors. Other retellings claim that instead of plunging into the ravine, the girls hit another vehicle head-on, killing everyone on impact.

The Ghost of the Good Samaritan Hobo

Another popular tale of a ghost who haunts the Screaming Bridge is about a brave hobo who tries to help a damsel in distress.

One night, while quickly hopping from one train car to the next, a hobo heard the sound of a woman screaming for help in the distance. He immediately dropped his belongings and ran off in the direction of the screams, hoping he wouldn’t be too late.

The hobo reaches the bridge and locates the victim inside a parked car with her abusive boyfriend attacking her. The hobo charges forward as the woman is beaten, attempting to intervene. However, her boyfriend was armed, and he shot the kindhearted man, killing him instantly.

There are several reports of encounters with the Hobo’s ghost on the Screaming Bridge. Surprisingly, locals have found that he’s a friendly spirit who doesn’t try to scare anyone away.

He approaches parked vehicles on the bridge, knocking on the windows and checking to make sure everyone is safe. While he may not exhibit the same dark energy as other spirits, it can still be an unsettling and alarming experience to see him approaching you at night.

Ghostly Encounters on Screaming Bridge

Some of the locals dismiss claims of hauntings on the abandoned bridge. They brush off the ever-changing tales of the accident or consider it just another unfortunate occurrence.

Still, many keep the urban legends alive as accounts of ghost encounters continue to circulate in town. One legend says if you stand on the bridge long enough, you can hear the faint sound of the girls screaming or crying out for help as if they are trapped somewhere below.

Alternatively, it has been said if you walk closer to the perilous edge of the collapsed end, any calmness you once felt will abruptly leave you. Visitors who took the risk share tales of standing on the edge, then witnessing the sharp beam of headlights from behind, even though the bridge is closed and no traffic is allowed through.

Suddenly, a blinding light zooms past so quickly that they can’t make out the vehicle or the sound of its motor. All they hear is the sound of girls screaming, somewhat joyfully, as if they were enjoying a carefree summer drive.

A recent account involved a group of teenagers who visited the bridge late at night in hopes of hearing the ghastly screams. The group was approached by an apparition of a tall, terrifying figure who emerged from the darkness before chasing them away.

Locals and visitors alike have witnessed strange lights on the bridge, and some claim to have seen the dates and names of the victims illuminated in the river at night. An unusual fog often settles over the area, leaving visitors with a sense of dread and unease the longer they stick around.

Hell’s Gate and The Ghost Forest

Deep within the narrow trails of River Legacy Park’s natural wooded area is a space known as The Ghost Forest. The woods are adjacent to the Screaming Bridge and those who have explored the area believe the two spaces are connected by the same dark energy. It is rumored the deeper you travel into the forest, the more malevolent the energy around you becomes.

Courageous hikers who dare to venture into these hidden places report feeling like someone is chasing them. Some mention they felt a heavy pressure on their chest and experienced a feeling of hopelessness and despair the farther they moved along the trails.

It is believed The Ghost Forest was once a place where Union spies were executed by a Confederate general. The last thing the captured men would see before they met their fate was the entrance to the forest known as Hell’s Gate. The entryway was marked by two old fence posts that remain there today.

While visiting Hell’s Gate, visitors have heard disembodied voices, unnerving groans, and distressed sobbing as well as someone quietly reciting a prayer.

Haunted Dallas

These days the Screaming Bridge is an old and damaged wooden structure covered in graffiti. It is still barricaded to prevent any vehicles from driving on it. The only way to access the bridge now is by walking through the park, which many people choose to do at night. However, they don’t stay long once they hear the chilling screams echoing through the air.

Want to learn more about the most haunted locations in Dallas and throughout the U.S.? Check out our blog, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram accounts to get the latest updates. Be sure to book your next ghost tour with Dallas Terrors for an experience you’ll never forget.

Sources:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/arlington/comments/vsxist/to_those_who_have_been_to_the_screaming_bridge/

• https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/arlington-texas-haunted-screaming-bridge-location/287-48183f83-2017-4b68-a257-f33c89c5ea56

• https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/the-ghastly-ghost-tales-of-arlington/article_d1e09692-72b7-11ee-a1de-1bca3639b5b2.html#:~:text=The%20Screaming%20Bridge%2C%20Berachah%27s%20cemetery,resides%20in%20River%20Legacy%20Park.

• https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/parks_recreation/parks_trails/park_finder/river_legacy_park

• https://www.arlington.org/plan/blog/post/5-haunted-places-in-arlington/

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gWSEcVqXY