Scary Campfire Ghost Stories

Campfire ghost stories are a favorite, especially when you use the environment to your advantage. Most people feel a little vulnerable in the woods after dark, creating the ideal setting for scares.

Tips for Telling Campfire Ghost Stories

• Learn a few ghost stories. You can find lots of free ghost stories on the Internet. Read some ghost stories online and memorize the basic plot. The stories themselves are often very simple; you'll make them much scarier by adding your own details.
• Wait until dark. Ghost stories are scarier when you're surrounded by darkness. Let the sun set completely before you begin.
• Have a spotlight. Use a flashlight to illuminate your face while you tell the story. This makes it easier for people to focus on you. Holding it beneath your face will make you look scarier.
• Speak softly. Imagine the ghost or murderer is just a few feet away. You want to be loud enough so that your fellow campers can hear, but not loud enough for anyone nearby to know that you're telling this grisly secret.
• Use the environment. If you're camping near a lake, tell a story about the ghost who drowns unwary campers. If you've passed old train tracks or a mine on the way to your site, use those elements in your tale. Mention that the weather on the night of the story was exactly like the current weather.
• Make it real. Campfire ghost stories are always "true." Introduce the story by saying you heard it from a parent, a relative or a friend in the area.
• Bring a prop. Think about a scary prop that you can whip out at the end for an added touch of dramatic flair. Fake body parts from Halloween often work well, or it can be an item that's a central part of your story.

Hook Hand
This story is a classic campfire tale. Be sure to have a hook ready for the end.

A girl who lived in a house near the campsite heard a report on the radio. A dangerous man with a hook for a hand had escaped from a nearby mental asylum. The man was in prison for murder and was considered very dangerous. The radio warned everyone to pay attention and report anything suspicious.

The girl didn't really care too much about the escaped maniac; she was getting ready for a date. She spent a lot of time primping for her date, but was ready and waiting when her boyfriend came to pick her up. They took his car to a local drive in movie. After the movie, they went to Lover's Lane.

The boy put soft music on the car radio and the couple engaged in some kissing and cuddling. An announcer interrupted the quiet music, repeating the same warnings as earlier that day. An insane killer with a hook hand lurked somewhere nearby.

The girl shivered. The dark, moonless night didn't seem so romantic to her. They were parked in a very secluded spot. She began to worry that the crazy murderer might be somewhere nearby. She pushed her boyfriend away and asked him to take her home.

The boy wasn-t that easily deterred, he tried to kiss her again. They began to argue, the girl insisting they leave, the boy insisting they were perfectly safe. Suddenly the car shook a bit. It was like something or someone had bumped into it. The girl screamed at the boy to take her home.

The ride home was uncomfortably quiet. After pulling into her driveway, he refused to get out of the car and open her door. She opened her own door and stepped out of the car. Whirling around, she slammed the door as hard as she could. Then she screamed.

Her boyfriend leapt out of the car and caught her in his arms. Then he saw it. A bloody hook hung from the handle of the passenger-side door.

At this point, tell the campers that you have a very strong connection to this story. Tell them you know the story is true. Reveal the hook-hand prop and yell, "Because I am the hook-hand killer!"