By Toby Moore
For Capital Region Independent Media
I’m wrapping up my spooky series with a tale that fits perfectly into the Strange, Dark, and Mysterious.
We’ve explored unsettling phenomena in previous weeks, but for the finale, I’m diving into one of the most bizarre and mysterious places in the United States—Skinwalker Ranch. This 500-acre ranch in Uintah County, northeastern Utah, known for tales of supernatural occurrences, has intrigued investigators, scientists and paranormal enthusiasts for decades.
In 1994, the Sherman family purchased the ranch, hoping to lead a quiet life as cattle ranchers. When the Shermans arrived, they found the home oddly fortified with metal bars on the windows, heavy-duty door locks, and chains, presumably for guard dogs, on each side of the house. It was as if the previous owners were preparing for an intrusion.
Soon after settling in, the Shermans began experiencing a series of unsettling incidents.
One day, Terry Sherman spotted a huge wolf in the distance. The animal, which appeared to be nearly as tall as a human’s chest, calmly approached the family and their cattle. With a muscular build and piercing blue eyes, the wolf seemed tame initially, but suddenly, it lunged at a calf and locked its jaws around the animal’s neck. Terry grabbed a rifle and shot the wolf several times, yet the bullets seemed to have no effect. Eventually, the wolf casually turned and walked away; as if it wasn’t riddled with bullets, it trotted back into the woods.
This bizarre encounter was only the beginning. The Shermans began noticing heavy equipment disappearing or moving to strange places. On one occasion, a 70-pound post digger vanished and was later found high up in a tree.
One of the strangest incidents involved the sudden disappearance of four bulls, which were later found crammed into a locked trailer in a seemingly trance-like state. The trailer’s latches were still locked, and there was no reasonable explanation for how the bulls could have ended up inside alone. It was as though something had teleported them there.
At times, they felt an invisible presence following them. On one occasion, they heard heavy breathing and saw brush moving like an unseen creature prowling nearby. It was as if a cloaked entity was stalking them.
Cattle mutilations became another terrifying issue. The family started losing cattle at an alarming rate. These cattle were found dead with surgically precise incisions, with organs missing but no signs of blood anywhere near the scene.
The Shermans frequently heard strange, disembodied voices above their ranch, speaking in an unknown language.
Even more chilling were the glowing orbs that frequently appeared. The most unsettling encounter involved a bright blue orb that seemed to pulse with energy, giving off an almost electric crackle. These orbs filled the air with an inexplicable dread as if deliberately manipulating the family’s emotions.
As they dug deeper, the Shermans learned that their property had long been considered cursed by local Indigenous tribes. The Ute people, in particular, believed the land was associated with Skinwalkers, creatures known for their shape-shifting abilities. Because of this lore, the ranch eventually became known as Skinwalker Ranch.
Unable to cope with the ongoing disturbances, the Shermans moved out. Before they left, they shared their experiences with the media, drawing the attention of billionaire real estate tycoon Robert Bigelow, who had a longstanding interest in the paranormal. In 1996, Bigelow purchased the ranch to conduct his investigations, enlisting a team of scientists and researchers to study the strange phenomena.
Terry remained the ranch manager, eager to help Bigelow’s team uncover the truth. The paranormal activity continued, with cattle mutilations, glowing orbs, portals, UFOs, and encounters with mysterious creatures.
In another chilling event, one of Bigelow’s researchers claimed that a giant creature had “taken over his mind,” leaving him with a message that they were being constantly observed.
Today’s Skinwaler Ranch remains shrouded in mystery, heavily guarded, and off-limits to the public.
While I can’t confirm the truth behind every tale I’ve shared in this series, the lingering mysteries at Skinwalker Ranch continue to warrant serious attention. Some of the strangest stories aren’t found in horror movies—they’re hidden in remote places like Skinwalker Ranch.
Toby Moore is a columnist, the star of Emmy-nominated “A Separate Peace,” and the CEO of Cubestream Inc.
