Buckley Island

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

---

Buckley Island, situated on the Ohio River between Marietta and Williamstown, West Virginia, doesn't have a happy history. It started in 1782 when a flatboat carrying settlers became disoriented in a thick fog and wrecked on its eastern shore.

As the travelers prepared to spend the night, a group of Native Americans raided the encampment, killing two men and carrying the rest of the passengers off to fates unknown. After the settlement of Marietta was established, a Pestilence House was built on the island, and it became the final destination for many a victim of infectious disease, along with an unlucky few who just happened to get a fever at the wrong time.

To add to its grim reputation, between the years 1875 and 1896, the island became a haven for debauchery and all things illegal under the ownership of a gentleman named Colombia Bland. Mostly this involved gambling, cockfighting, drunkenness, etc. To improve the island's reputation, it was transformed into an amusement park in 1897.

Less than a year after opening, tragedy would strike when a pleasure boat by the name of WM Duffy capsized while transporting thrill seekers to the park. Miraculously, only 3 people were killed. Nine years later, a flood destroyed the park, and the island was purchased by the Buckley family, who lived there for nearly 100 years before recently selling the land to the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Many visitors have reported being overcome with strange feelings while hiking there, and they say that if you walk down to the banks of the river at night, you can hear the eerie sounds of days past coming from the now uninhabited island.

Added by: sdonley on 05/24/2025 DB#: 1704
Source(s): https://www.instagram.com/p/B_oDw_SnSLA/?img_index...

---

Today, Buckley Island is a wildlife refuge only accessible by boat. Some visitors have reported feelings of sickness and fatigue... clearly the island's troubled spirits are preying on their immune systems.

Added by: sdonley on 08/08/2022 DB#: 1570
Source(s): https://theworldincorporated.com/ghosts-in-mariett...

---

Paranormal Claims

Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.

---

Claim #	Added	Added By	Claim
5026	04/12/2026	sdonley	Disembodied coughing and crying heard near the island at night
5027	04/12/2026	sdonley	Shadow figures seen along the shoreline and within the trees
5028	04/12/2026	sdonley	Apparitions linked to early settlers and violent deaths
5029	04/12/2026	sdonley	Phantom music reported from the former amusement park area
5030	04/12/2026	sdonley	Unexplained lights moving across the island after dark
5031	04/12/2026	sdonley	Voices heard over the water when no one is present
5032	04/12/2026	sdonley	Feelings of being watched reported by boaters and visitors
5033	04/12/2026	sdonley	Cold spots and sudden drops in temperature near the island
5034	04/12/2026	sdonley	Sightings of figures that vanish when approached
5035	04/12/2026	sdonley	Unexplained sounds coming from beneath the water or shoreline
5036	04/12/2026	sdonley	Lingering energy associated with the pest house and disease victims
5037	04/12/2026	sdonley	Uneasy sensations and dread reported when nearing the island

Additional Resources

This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.

---

Wikipedia Entry Added: 10/19/2019 By: sdonley	Wikipedia entry for this location.
Haunted History of Marietta, Ohio: 7 Spooky, Kooky, Crazy Tales - Sand and Snow Added: 07/28/2022 By: sdonley	if you want to check out the haunted history of Marietta, Ohio, including its tragic past, here's my 7 favorite places to get your thrill on.
Dark Secrets Hidden on Buckley Island Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley	In September of 2019, we traveled to Marietta, Ohio, and tried to get close to Buckley Island. We were not too successful until we returned in 2024 and took a sternwheeler trip down the river and rode around the island.