Seneca Lake Mysteries

The time has come for the podcast to end, but I'm not done bringing you stories of the unusual, strange and unexplained on New York's largest Finger Lake.In this episode, I'll talk about why I've decided to end the podcast and what the future holds for Seneca Lake Mysteries.Plus, I have a very special musical recommendation.THANK YOU! And stay tuned!Reap 'em in the Valley – Willie Watsonpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

In this episode, I'll share the story of a UFO encounter from 1980 that was submitted by a listener. The sighting lines up with the incredible, multi-witness sighting that occurred in Ovid that same year (a story covered in Episode 13).Then, we'll hear a tale from the late 19th century about the search for buried treasure in Lodi, NY, and whether that treasure was ever found.Finally, Rick from Alpine is back for part two of our investigation into ancient stone piles on Connecticut Hill, aka the Alpine Portal, a site known for decades as a hotspot of paranormal and anomalous phenomena. Rick and I discuss our latest visit to Connecticut Hill, and just like last time, we ended up finding much more than we could have imagined.Photos and videos of three stone piles on Connecticut Hill - 9/7/25New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

In this episode, we'll look at the story of some enterprising young men who back in 1939 built an underwater helmet breathing contraption and brought it to Rock Stream to explore below the waves of Seneca Lake.Next, we'll go back to 1947 for the tale of an albino trout that was pulled from Seneca Lake by some local fishermen, two years before the iconic Seneca White Deer were first reported on the grounds of the Seneca Army Depot, and how this anomalous fish was put on display for hundreds of curiosity seekers.Finally, it's the legend of Locomotive 13, also known as “Sam Patch,” a 50-ton behemoth with a wild and strange history that began in 1873 with an astounding aerial display in Watkins Glen and ended years later in a Dresden cemetery, Some people believed the train either had a mind of its own or was trying to find religion...or maybe both.Dan Lewis of Peek-a-boo Diving CorporationLocomotive 13, aka Sam PatchNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

In this episode, we revisit the mysterious round craters that were recently discovered at the bottom of Seneca Lake believed to be caused by methane gas seeping through the lakebed. Then, we'll examine other cases of craters found at the bottom of the ocean, including one that has some striking and distinct similarities with those found at Seneca Lake...although scientists have concluded that site has nothing to do with methane leaks.Next, we'll dive into the possibility that an ancient civilization once roamed the Finger Lakes area. We'll start with one of the most enigmatic prehistoric stoneworks in North America, the Bluff Point Stoneworks on Keuka Lake, and how that site just may be connected to another mysterious spot near Seneca Lake.Finally, I'll take you through a bizarre UFO sighting from Ovid, NY back in 1980, which was seen by numerous people and even some strange physical effects on at least one witness.And yes, believe it or not, I'll also share an old vampire legend from the west side of Seneca Lake!How Robots Solved a 280,000-Year Seafloor Mystery Hidden Beneath Big SurThe Lost Civilization Of Bluff Point, New YorkLegends of the Lost, Season One: The Bluff Point Ruins - Welcome to the BluffNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

In this episode, we'll into two UFO reports from the last week of July around the southern tip of Seneca Lake. Video footage was shot of an orb over Burdett on the 25th, and on the 29th, the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department dispatched deputy to investigate anomalous light(s) moving from Watkins Glen and towards Reading.Next up are a couple of stories of people who faked their own deaths on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake back in the mid-20th century. I'll get into how they did it, why they did it, and how their scams were eventually discovered. We'll examine the aftermath, and the unanswered questions, of these staged deaths.Finally, we'll look at a pair of classic tales from the Seneca Lake Monster legend. One story is fairly well-known in lake serpent lore, when two young men fired .38 caliber shots at a large, serpentine creature in the lake. The other story shines a light on the connection between the Seneca Lake Monster and one of the most influential and accomplished figures in the American medical field from the mid-nineteenth century.Colorful rotating orb changing shape (Enigma Labs Report)https://enigmalabs.io/New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Dresden, NY native Bolton Coit Brown. An accomplished artist, painter, lithographer and mountaineer of the late 1800s and early 1900s, Bolton spent his childhood exploring the woods and streams near Seneca Lake. Did his strange youthful rituals in the waters of Seneca Lake inspire or influence him to live a life of consequence and leave a legacy that includes a mountain named after him?Next, we'll go back to a summer evening in 2011 when Eileen was traveling near Burnt Hill and the Finger Lakes National Forest and encountered a brightly glowing orb floating motionless about 100 feet up in the night sky. When the orb began to move, she followed it...and then things got weird. Soon, four other witnesses would watch the arrival of multiple aerial lights in the sky. Utilizing several internet sources, along with an interview I conducted with the primary witness several years ago with me, I've compiled a narrative of the entire high strangeness event in the witnesses' own words.Finally, we look at a rare Bigfoot report from the Seneca Lake area in 1962. A fisherman realizes he's being observed by large, hulking creature covered in black fur and standing around 8 feet tall on the banks of Catherine Creek not far from Montour Falls. The witness recalls some intriguing details of the sighting, which was first reported on Episode 155 of the Bigfoot: Terror in the Woods podcast.The Unbendable Bolton Brown (Stanford Magazine)UFO Chronicles 161Bigfoot TIW 155New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

In early July 2025, I visited Connecticut Hill, also called the Alpine Portal, with my guide, Rick. Rick has spent the last 15-20 years hunting on Connecticut Hill, which is widely known for mysterious phenomena like UFOs, hauntings, cryptid sightings, anomalous weather and more. Our goal was to find a possible native stone pile Rick had previously photographed.Though we didn't find that stone pile, we stumbled upon something far more intriguing.Join me and Rick as we discuss our visit to Connecticut Hill and our surprising discovery (or, more accurately, rediscovery) we made there. And after the conversation, stick around as I go even further in-depth with the details on what we found in a remote, steep ravine off-trail at the Alpine Portal.ImagesVideo TourNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

On July 9th, 2025, a resident of Rochester, New York captured footage of a large cat, believed by state DEC officials to be a cougar, on their doorbell camera, with the video going viral and putting the city in the media spotlight. The Seneca Lake area also has reports of large cats in the past decade or so, with multiple witnesses spying what appeared to be a black leopard in two locations including the Town of Benton. Was it an escaped pet? Or was it linked to the Alien Big Cats (ABC) phenomenon, which are often seen near military bases and areas with high rates of UFO and paranormal reports?Next, we revisit one of the most widely-reported Seneca Lake UFO sightings ever: the 1952 Watkins Glen silver sphere splashdown. The incident occurred during one of the biggest UFO waves in American history, when the arrival of “flying saucers” over the U.S. Capitol in Washington forced the Pentagon to publicly admit for the first time their interest in UFOs. The Watkins Glen story is well-documented in books and publications, but some additional details reported in a local newspaper have been almost completely overlooked for the last seventy-plus years. These forgotten details provide another layer of credibility to the '52 flying silver sphere sightings near, over and in Seneca Lake.We wrap up with a listener's story of an unsettling experience several years ago on Connecticut Hill, also known as the Alpine Portal, a hotspot of UFOs, ghosts, Bigfoot, and other reports of the paranormal and unexplained. The story begins with a troubling visit to Connecticut Hill Cemetery, location of the reputed “witch's grave,” before things get weirder, culminating in missing time . Was it just a case of someone getting spooked in a creepy graveyard and letting their imagination take over? Or did something far more strange happen that day at the Alpine Portal, where warps in reality aren't unexpected?New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo @senecalake

In this episode, we explore the mystical and mind-bending world of earth magic and geomancy with The Vortex Detective Dan Shaw. Dan shares details of his nearly 40-year study of earth magic before breaking down some of the basics: earth energies, ley lines, sacred geometry, visionary maps, vortexes, electromagnetism, ancient civilizations, energetic monuments, and the human connection to it all.Then, we discuss Seneca Lake's connection to the global energy grid, including the Seneca Army Depot and the Seneca White Deer. Dan tells us about the relationship between military installations and the earth grid, as well as the unique flora and fauna at energetic points, before we reflect on Seneca Lake's recently discovered round mystery craters on the lake's bottom. We talk about the energetic landscape of the Finger Lakes region, as well as microclimates and paranormal activity.Finally, we talk about the “why” behind earth magic, and Dan provides key insights into how we explore these energy patterns through maps, and mindfully visit these nearby vortexes or sacred sites to build a deeper connection with, and even harness, these energies for healing and spiritual growth.Dan Shaw has been a student of Alchemy since 1986, and began working with the Science behind Earth Magic, geomancy, in 1991. He researches, appears on national media, authors books, leads tours, and does work for private clients. Dan Shaw's TV and film appearances include Brad Meltzer's Decoded: Devil's Triangle, Alaska (History channel), and Mysteries at the National Parks: Yosemite National Park (Travel channel), & the documentary Ancient Tomorrow. Dan also consults for TV shows, including NBC's The Blacklist.https://www.vortexmaps.com/ Ask Dan Shaw: 707-513-9005Email Dan: [email protected] (receive a free e-book) New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo

In this episode, we'll look into two separate orb sightings that took place around the spring of 2022, both in the same neighborhood on North Street in Geneva at the northern tip of Seneca Lake. Not only were the two orbs seen moving through the air at a low altitude, one of the orbs was caught on video, which was seen by several witnesses, and even interacted physically with a resident's car. I'll talk about what the witness told me about the orb, what happened to the car, and whether or not the video is still out there somewhere (hint: it likely is).Next, we'll head back to the early 19th century through the early 20th century, when steamboats traveled the waves of Seneca, day after day, year after year, moving countless passengers and cargo to locations around the lake's shores. Things get weird, though, when we dive into the wild and offbeat stories of those steamboats, and how the people of the day believed that there was curse, or hex, upon those steamboats.Finally, we'll talk about the Portadora, a gasoline-powered luxury passenger vessel well known around the northern end of the lake in its heyday that eventually turned to a life of crime which led to its sudden demise.New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.comSupport the show via Venmo

For this episode, we are back on location at Willard Cemetery with Seriah Azkath, host of the “Where Did the Road Go?” podcast, for the second of our two-part conversation from a June evening at one of Seneca Lake's most mysterious spots.First, we talk about an ancient earthwork that once existed near the cemetery before going into different types of earthworks, their ceremonial purpose, commonalities and differences between these earthen structures, and the practice of modern cemeteries being placed on ancient earthworks, plus out-of-body experiences and weird giant horseflies.Then, we're on to a discussion of ley lines, including one global alignment that lies near the the former Willard Earthwork and many sacred sites around the world both natural (Monte Musinè in Italy, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, Lake Champlain (home of Champ), and New York State's tallest mountain, Mt. Marcy) and constructed (Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Barran Temple in Yemen, La Quemada in Mexico, Serpent Mound, Newark Earthworks, and Fort Hill Earthworks in Ohio, and the former Bluff Point Stoneworks on Keuka Lake).Finally, we talk UFOs and fault lines, the strange and unusual history of upstate New York, the Fox Sisters and spiritualism, and the early Mormon Church ties to Seneca Lake. We ponder the prevalence of strange experiences throughout human history and the deeper meaning behind sacred sites and earthworks and our relationship to them. Then, Seriah reads a letter about watching for whales in Seneca Lake.Maps.Leylines.netMap of Giza 45 degrees ley linewww.WhereDidTheRoadGo.comNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

For this episode, we go on location at Willard Cemetery with Seriah Azkath, host of the “Where Did the Road Go?” podcast, for the first of two parts of our conversation from a June evening at one of Seneca Lake's most mysterious spots.First, we dive into the history of the Willard State Psychiatric Hospital, from its inception in 1869 as the Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane through its current status as a mostly abandoned property soon be repurposed.Next up, we discuss Willard Cemetery, where 5,776 former patients are buried in mostly unmarked graves. We remember Lawrence Mocha, "The Grave Digger." Seriah, who spent much of his teenage years hanging around the cemetery with friends, goes in-depth with memories of the site and how it's changed since the 1980s. Seriah then shares his own strange stories from Willard Cemetery, including whistles echoing in the wind, a mysterious moving tombstone, shaking trees, the “Oz effect,” something in the treetops, and much more.Plus, three surprise guests (one guy on a lawnmower and two white-tailed deer)!www.WhereDidTheRoadGo.comNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

In this episode, we'll go deeper into the history of the Seneca Drums, the theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon, and the time in 2009 when the US government said "right now we don't understand what makes (the Seneca Drums)."Next is a new kind of segment spotlighting some some locally-produced beers, wines and spirits that are named after some of the unusual, strange and unexplained stories around the Seneca Lake. This list isn't an advertisement, I'm just recognizing local products and places that celebrate and appreciate the strange history of the area.Finally, we'll go over the story of the Seneca White Deer at the former Seneca Army Depot, looking at how they got there, how they survived, and how white deer have been sacred, spiritual symbols in numerous cultures, around the world, for millennia. I also talk about my own odd experience when I was part of the first tour offered to the general public at the former nuclear weapons storage facility called the Q area, including a completely unexpected meeting with a wee white deer.United States Geological Survey (USGS) (2009): Earthquake Booms, Seneca Guns, and Other SoundsWhite Deer in Q Area photoNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

In this episode, we'll look at the recently announced research project to solve the mystery of the Seneca Lake Drums, the newly-released data showing dozens of “holes” on the bottom of Seneca Lake.Next, we'll get into the iconic Seneca Army Depot, the land where it's located, the people who lived there, the depot's founding, its influence on global history, its ties to the Manhattan Project and the massive nuclear arsenal once stored in the secretive Q area.Then we'll leave the depot and cross route 96a to run through some of the Sampson Naval Training Center, including an appearance from Adolf Hitler's nephew.And finally, inspired by the newly announced study of the Seneca Lake Drums, we'll go through some of the old stories of underwater tunnels at the bottom of Seneca Lake, which were rumored to be connected to the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and even a small lake in Elmira, NY.NYS DEC Seneca Lake Bathymetry DataEdited Seneca Lake Bathymetric MapDeer Haven Park (Seneca Army Depot)Sampson Memorial Naval and Air Force MuseumNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

First, we've got the all-time champion of Seneca Lake Monster stories, the 1900 encounter with the steamboat Otetiani that I call The Steamer-Serpent Showdown. Then, we've got what I consider the top contender for the second-best Seneca Lake Monster story ever: The Blacksmith and the Giant Eel.Next, we're off to the year 1968, when a surge of UFO sightings took place across the Finger Lakes and around Seneca. We'll take a closer look at how some of the witnesses dealt with the aftermath of their extraordinary experiences in Autumn of 68: The Mud Lake Road Incident.And finally, we'll sift through some incredible forgotten history from the northern end of Seneca Lake, covering discoveries of giant skeletons, mysterious burials, and tales of visiting giants in Giants of Geneva.New episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com

In this episode, I introduce the new podcast and cover some intriguing and wild stories including a search for hidden gold, giant whirlpools, bizarre creatures by the railroad tracks, April Fool's Day terror on the water, a missing piece from a forgotten manuscript and much more.Mystery manuscriptNew episodes on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each monthpodcast@senecalakemysteries.com607-307-1167SenecaLakeMysteries.com