S13 E15 - Hatchet Man Road

Michigan's Hatchet Man Road is a lonely stretch of 28th Avenue near Gobles where an unverified legend tells of a Cold War-era bunker, a murdered family and a killer with a hatchet. But the real mystery may be what visitors have reported since: disappearing headlights, shadow figures, stalled cars, strange lights, whistling from the woods—and the pale face of a child among the trees. On this episode of F-Bomb Friday, Tracy separates documented history from folklore and asks why this southwest Michigan back road continues to terrify the people who dare to drive it after dark.

#HatchetManRoad #MichiganFolklore #MichiganHauntings #UrbanLegends #FBombFriday

Hosted, edited and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston

Story researched and written by Todd Preston

Original music created by Tracy Preston

Original artwork created by Todd Preston

Sources:

Bishop, Thomas. “Digging Up the History of the Nuclear Fallout Shelter.” Smithsonian Magazine, 2022.

Brenzing, Bob, and Alyssa Hearin. “‘Hatchet Man Road’ Continues to Creep Out Drivers in Van Buren County.” FOX 17, 31 Oct. 2016.

GhostQuest.net. “28th Avenue — ‘Hatchet Man Road.’” Haunted Locations: Michigan. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Mysterious Michigan. “The Strange Happenings on Hatchet Man Road.” Mysterious Michigan, story originally submitted ca. 2008.

Robinson, John. “HAUNTED MICHIGAN: Hatchet Man Road.” 99.1 WFMK, 26 Aug. 2016.

Robinson, John. “HAUNTED MICHIGAN: Hatchet Man Road Re-visited.” 99.1 WFMK, 28 Aug. 2017.

Robinson, John. “HAUNTED MICHIGAN: Pics of My Midnight Trip Down Hatchet Man Road.” 99.1 WFMK, 18 Sept. 2018.