Category Archives: Legends

Narratives about belief.

The Haunted New Sheridan Hotel (Telluride, Colorado)

Text:

“What is the New Sheridan?”

Interviewee: “It’s a hotel and bar.”

“Why is The New Sheridan Hotel considered haunted?”

Interviewee: “Why? Because Telluride used to be an old mining town, and the miners would work in a small town called Tomboy up above Telluride. They would come down to the new Sheridan and get drinks and, like, get with prostitutes, and there would be fights. Like, people would die and stuff.

“Why would they die?’

Interviewee: “I mean, it was just, like, an old Western town. Like, there were no laws, people would just shoot each other. Like, if you lost a poker game and couldn’t pay your money, you would just be killed.”

“So, the ghosts who died are apparently the ghosts of people who would kill for, like getting with the prostitutes or losing poker?”

Interviewee: “Yeah, and also just, like, minors who died. Like, I think their ghosts supposedly hang out at the New Sheridan, because that’s where all the minors hung out.

Context:

The interviewee lives and grew up in Telluride, CO.

The New Sheridan Hotel is a historic hotel in Telluride, an old mining town. The interviewee explains that the hotel is considered haunted because of its history during the mining era, when miners traveled from nearby towns like Tomboy to socialize, gamble, and visit prostitutes. Violence, accidental deaths, and shootings were common in this lawless period, which contributed to the hotel’s reputation as a haunted site.

Analysis:

This is an example of a legend tied to historical events. The tales of miners dying from gambling disputes, fights, or other misadventures function as a way to connect visitors to the town’s dangerous and lawless past.

The ghosts’ presence is tied specifically to the New Sheridan Hotel, where the miners congregated. The narrative blends real historical practices (gambling, prostitution, and violence) with supernatural belief, showing how folklore can preserve memory and transform past events into entertaining ghost stories.

Sedona, Arizona “Vortex’s”

Text:

Informant : “So in Arizona theres this place called Sedona, and its wehre like, the Red Rock Mountains are. Its like near Flagstaff.

And growing up, my parents got married there, so we went there, like, a lot. And there was, like, there’s, like, this ledge and this story that there are vortexes in Sedona.

And I never understood what there are, but you can literally buy a map where it’s, like, the vortexes and Sedona, and I never understood what it was. I thought it was, like, people were teleporting from different places, but apparently, it was, like, people believe it’s, like, these energy of the Earth, like, are concentrated there, and you could have, like, spiritual awakenings or just, like, healing. So a lot of people go there to meditate or stuff.

And there’s, like, a lot of indigenous population stuff that went on there.

And I do know when I was there, like, you can see water lines of when it was underwater, like, millions of years ago. So it is, like, very magical feeling when you’re there, but that’s just, like, because it looks so upworldly.

But, like, one of the main sites is called, like, Bell Rock, and it’s one of these you can hike. I’ve hiked it before, and it was really fun. And maybe I felt, like, inspired and invigorated, but I don’t know. But apparently, that’s what it is, like, before Texas and Sedona.”

Context: The informant is an Italian American USC student whose parents were married in Sedona, so she’s visited many times. She’s familiar with local ideas about “vortexes” and has seen things like maps marking these sites, and has hiked places like Bell Rock. Her understanding comes more from tourism and repeated visits than from cultural knowledge.

Analysis: This is a folk belief about certain places having spiritual energy. In Sedona, people believe vortexes can bring healing or inspiration, which is why visitors go there to meditate. Even though she’s not fully sure what they are, the landscape itself feels “magical,” which helps reinforce the belief. It shows how environment, tourism, and word-of-mouth all work together to keep these ideas going and evolving.

Navajo folklore

Text:

Interviewee: “The family I was with (on a service trip to Arizona) owned around 8,000 acres of land. They told me that about 200 years ago, their ancestor, who was Navajo, helped the U.S. government locate other tribes. In return, the government gave their family that land, and they’ve been living on it ever since.

When I was on the mountain with them, they told me about this snake god that protects the land. The mountain we were on in Arizona had many small gemstones on it. They said that if you try to take anything from the mountain, you’ll be cursed for generations.

They also talked about Wendigos in the wooded areas of their property. From what I understood, they described them as people who were cursed or did something terrible, and after death, they transform into these beings that hunt or harm others.

They also explained that the land had been occupied by different tribes over time, including the Anasazi and the Hopi, before their Navajo lineage. There were stories about caves in the mountains that had been used by earlier groups.

On the reservation, there was also a lot of talk about aliens. We visited a national park with ancient drawings on the walls, which were said to represent a creation myth from the Anasazi, but many people today interpret those images as aliens.”

Context:

The interviewee is a white male aged 18. He was on a school service trip to Arizona, where he spent time with families residing in the area.

This narrative comes from an experience of visiting a reservation. The interviewee is recounting stories, beliefs, and historical explanations shared directly by the people living on the land. These include spiritual beliefs (snake god, Wendigos), historical memory (land ownership and tribal succession), and interpretations of ancient sites (cave dwellings and rock art).

Analysis:

The snake god and curse function as a protective legend tied to the land, discouraging people from taking from it. The Wendigo represents a moral warning figure, reflecting fears of greed, violence, and transformation, which reinforces social norms.

The references to different tribes, such as the Hopi, as well as stories about caves and past inhabitants, show how folklore is tied to the historical landscape. The interpretation of ancient rock art as aliens reflects a modern reinterpretation of traditional symbols.

Familial Witch Legend

Age: 19
Hometown: Rifle, Colorado
Location: Mexico

Context: My friends family lives in Mexico. His family has passed down this story for years, with his mom eventually telling him the story.

Legend:

Interviewer: “Can you tell me about the with legend that has been passed down in your family.”

Interviewee: “They lived in Mexico my great aunt my grandma’s sister and I think she’s always had diabetes or something and they used to go to a witch and then she would like do prayers or whatever, over her so she could get better.

But she wasn’t getting any better so then they were like we need to go see someone else like this girl is false. So they went to go see someone else and the second witch told her the reason you’re not getting better is because the first which she had was doing harm to her. She was actually like making spells against you. And then they were like the only way you can get rid of this is if you kill her (the witch).

So my grandma and my great aunt and my great uncle were like OK well she needs to get better so we’re gonna kill her. They asked her to come over to do a prayer worship and my great uncle murdered her with a machete. And then I think he fled to the US and she stayed and she went to jail for like conspiracy and then like authorities found him in the US and sent him back to Mexico and he like went to jail and stuff. And like I know they got out like on good behavior or something.”

Analysis:

This legend reflects how traditional healing beliefs and the fear of harm from the supernatural can influence real-life decisions. Feelings of trust and desperation are also present, as there is a need to explain illness with no clear solution.

The Legend of Elmer (Pinecrest Lake)

Age: 38
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Location: Pinecrest, CA

Context:
Since the 1930s there has been a tradition to call out the name “Elmer” in the Pinecrest Lake/Camping ground. The real identity is debated with some thinking Elmer is a lost child, hiker, or even a bear. Although there is no confirmed missing persons case of someone named Elmer, the tradition continues through generations just like it has with my mom and our family.

Content:
Interviewer: “Can you tell me about the legend of Elmer you taught me when we went camping?”

Interviewee: “When we were kids my Dad used to take me and our family to Pinecrest, CA and there was legend of a lost boy from about 100 years ago. Every evening we would all shout out “Elmer!” And other campers from farther away would chime in, which made it such a fun tradition.

I always looked forward to doing it as a kid, which is why I continued the tradition with you.”

Analysis:
This example is a place-based legend that is sustained through participation in the tradition. The story of Elmer reflects characteristics of a legend because it is potentially true but doesn’t have any confirmed evidence. Its tie to a specific location also allows the story to gain meaning and the act of calling out the name transforms the story into a performance. This performance has created a sense of community among campers and residents of the area helping to pass down the tradition and legend through generations.