Every October, spooky stories resurface — and here in Louisville, few loom larger than the Goatman, also known as the Pope Lick Monster, who's said to haunt a railroad trestle in eastern Jefferson County.

Michael Book is the author of “The Legend of Pope Lick.” I spoke with him about the Goatman’s origins, the dangers around the legend and how it lives on through the upcoming Goatman Festival.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, there are a few competing back stories for how this legend came to be. What do you believe to be the most compelling or plausible of the Goatman?

Michael Book: The most common story that we've heard and we tell ourselves, is about a circus train that crossed the trestle going towards Fisherville over off of Pope Lick r

See Full Page