DENTON — Built in 1884, the Old Alton Bridge in Denton County might look like an ordinary iron crossing, but to Denton residents, it’s home to one of the tallest tales in Texas: the tale of the Goatman.

Once an African American farmer named Oscar Washburn, the Goatman was a Dentonite living near the bridge who was taken away by the nearby Ku Klux Klan. Due to the unfair times and the unpopularity of the Black community in the area, Washburn was lynched by the Klan, never to be seen again—literally. When members of the Klan went back for his body, it was gone and nowhere to be found, and the rest of the story became cloaked in theories and horror parables. The legend states that Washburn is half goat and half man, and to summon him, you must knock three times on the bridge’s frame. But ghost chasers must be warned—the Goatman is after his revenge.

From then on, the popularity of Washburn’s story grew. The Cult of Goatman made its way to the public in 2023, created by Ollie Asser, a horror enthusiast who took interest in the story. A native of Denton, Asser makes it a point to dress up like the Goatman, donning fur legs and hooves with a goat mask, and stomps around Old Alton Bridge as part of his tribute and dedication to spreading the tale of Washburn.

“It’s why stories like this are important. It brings up the conversation of the racial atrocities that happened back then. So to me, and to a lot of people in the Denton area, it’s very important to keep that story alive, whether true or not,” said Asser.

Over the years, the Goatman’s tale has sparked the interest of horror fans and real believers. Especially for Denton’s community, it has brought many into the town just to see the bridge.

“People come here from all over the U.S. to visit the bridge, trying to conjure up Goatman,” Asser said. “It’s become way more popular than it used to be when I was growing up.”

All that’s left of the legend are the ones who continue to keep up Washburn’s legacy and tragic story.