transcript
Speaker 1:
[00:00] So you're saying with Hilton Honors, I can use points for a free night stay anywhere?
Speaker 2:
[00:04] Anywhere.
Speaker 1:
[00:05] What about fancy places like the Canopy in Paris? Yeah, Hilton Honors, baby. Or relaxing sanctuaries like the Conrad and Tulum?
Speaker 3:
[00:13] Hilton Honors, baby.
Speaker 1:
[00:15] What about the five-star Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives? Are you gonna do this for all 9,000 properties?
Speaker 4:
[00:22] When you want points that can take you anywhere, anytime, it matters where you stay. Hilton, for the stay. Book your spring break now.
Speaker 3:
[00:45] Guess what, y'all. We're back down at the campfire for yet another countdown. But no, it's not gonna be 13 nights of spooky stories like we normally do to celebrate the Halloween season. Rather, this time, we're gonna stick to a week's worth of campfire tales to celebrate the fact that, you know what? We are now halfway to Halloween. I know, I know it's crazy how excited we all get for that holiday, but at its core, y'all, this is a ghost story show, isn't it? And I love telling tall tales. Besides, while the end of this month might be the mark of six months to Halloween Day, in reality, that means we're even less than that till spooky season actually starts. So yeah, let's go ahead and mark the occasion. I hope you don't mind, right? Anyway, if you're new here, these special episodes of Southern Gothic are just fun little spooky shorts to help us get in the spirit of the season. And unlike our normal full-length episodes, rather than focusing on the history and context of the tales, we just stick to the story itself, true or not? After all, many of these pieces of local lore don't really necessarily go as deep as the ones we normally feature on the podcast. So campfire tales are always a great way to make sure that folks like you, who aren't from a particular neck of the woods, get a chance to hear unique little tales you wouldn't have otherwise. And maybe, just maybe, even get interested enough in that area to go explore it for yourselves. Send us pictures if you do, guys. Anyway, today's tale is a great example of that, as it's located in a place that you can absolutely visit and explore anytime you'd like. Petit Jean Mountain, an 1100 20-foot-high formation that rises up above the surrounding Arkansas River Valley and forms a flat-top plateau that gives folks the chance to enjoy the wild, natural beauty that central Arkansas has to offer. Historically speaking, the mountain is part of the broader Petit Jean State Park, established in 1923 and now covers over 3000 acres of land. Today, the park offers over 20 miles of hiking trails, sweeping overlooks of that lush landscape and natural landmarks like waterfalls, caves and canyons that still all carry a sense of quiet isolation. But, of all the spots to visit in the Petit Jean State Park, there's one that is certainly the most notorious. You see, high up on Petit Jean Mountain, Stout's Point, a signature overlook of the park, there's a truly unique landmark. A lone grave site perched on the edge of the bluff and protected by nothing more than a small wrought iron fence. It's said to be the final resting place of a young, broken-hearted woman whose life tragically ended right there on the mountain, named in her honor. But y'all, look, before we dive any deeper into this fascinating and awfully romantic piece of local lore, we are gonna take a quick break for our sponsors who helped make this special Halfway to Halloween series possible. Do y'all remember that little old piece of Gullah folklore, that saying, don't let the hag ride ya? Right? You know, it's that phrase referencing boo hags creeping into your room at night while you're sleeping and sitting on your chest, stealing your breath, leaving you waking up in the morning feeling drained, like you ain't never really slept at all. Well, y'all, don't worry. I've got an answer for it, and no, you don't have to go paint your windows blue or pour salt on the boo hag's skin. It's new bedding from Quince. That's right. I know it's not what you expected, but if you're anything like me, constantly tossing and turning, trying to get a good night's sleep, having a bed that feels like a luxury hotel suite is an absolute game changer. And that is exactly what our friends over at Quince offer. And even for 50 to 60% off the cost of similar brands. They make everything you need for your bed. Luxury sheets, down comforters, duvet covers, and it's all made with materials that are safe and ethically manufactured. Their European linen is made from high-quality flax, and it gets softer every time you wash it. Their organic cotton sheets are breathable and don't trap heat. They even make mulberry silk pillowcases that help keep your hair smooth and your skin hydrated overnight. Come on, right? With bedding like that, there ain't no better way to stop that boo-hag. So y'all, upgrade your bedding with Quince. Go to quince.com/sogo for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Go to quince.com/s-o-g-o for free shipping and 365-day returns. quince.com/sogo.
Speaker 2:
[07:22] We all have that dream trip we've been wishing we could go on, but too often life, or usually price, gets in the way. That's why Priceline is here to help you turn your dream trip into reality. With up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights, you can book everything you need for your next adventure. Don't just dream about that next trip. Book it with Priceline. Download the Priceline app or visit priceline.com and book your next trip today.
Speaker 1:
[07:49] Go to your happy price, Priceline.
Speaker 3:
[08:05] It is said that the spirit of a beautiful young woman has been quietly appearing on the bluff at Stout's Point for centuries. A ghostly apparition looking out at the lush river valley below. Those who've seen her say she isn't foreboding or intimidating. She doesn't inspire terror or fear. Rather, she invokes a sense of warmth and love. In fact, urban legend even claims that young lovers often hike up to leave flowers at the nearby gravesite in hopes that she will bless them. And her spirit making its presence known is said to be that affirmation of their love. Of course, how she got up there on Petit Jean Mountain, laid to rest at such a unique location is quite the legend in and of itself. Back in the 18th century when France still laid claim to the land that is now the state of Arkansas, a French nobleman named Chevette organized an expedition to the region under the direction of the king. The goal was simple. Expand the country's colonial presence in the new world. In return, Chevette would be given a land grant of his own, a place to make his mark. This was a big opportunity for the young nobleman, but it wasn't without its drawbacks as Chevette was engaged to marry the love of his life, an exquisite beauty named Adrienne Dumont. Well, you can imagine how she felt when he came home and told her about his trip across the ocean. Her excitement at starting out her life with the man she had dreamed of gave way to the disappointment that their plans must be put off until he returned, that is, if he returned at all. This was a difficult and treacherous trip. They both knew that. Adrien begged her beloved to take her with him, but he refused, worried that something awful could happen to her out in a world that they quite literally knew absolutely nothing about and then he could never live with himself if something did. In spite of that, though, Chavette did not hesitate for a second in his love for her and he vowed to marry her upon his return to France. Besides, if he did in fact carve out a place in the wilderness of North America, they'd have a piece of land for themselves to build whatever they desired and live out the rest of their lives there together. Unfortunately, Adrien did not like this one bit, and although she told her beau that she would patiently wait for him, she actually had no intention of doing that. No, not at all. So she came up with a plan. She disguised herself as a young cabin boy and went to her fiancee's ship in search of employment on the vessel. Sure enough, she was hired and for two long grueling months, she traveled with the crew across the ocean, careful to maintain her ruse, keeping to herself as much as possible. But look, she was a young woman, so even with the best disguise she could put together, she still lacked the size and masculinity that the more veteran sailors possessed. As a result, they gave her, at least the cabin boy they thought she was, the nickname Petit Jean or Little John. Eventually, the ship arrived in the Gulf of Mexico and began its northern trip up the Mississippi River and into the Arkansas, settling into place in what is now the Arkansas River Valley. Exploration commenced and the French explorers quickly made contact with the local native tribes. Friendships were made and the men spent months meandering through the lush wilderness that the river valley had to offer. And it was during this time that young Adrienne fell in love with the landscape of their destination. Frequently, she'd hike up the mountainside to an overlook where she could partake in the brilliance of the natural world. Those lush forests, the winding river, the deep valleys and overbearing mountains. There she sat for hours on end, daydreaming about how she and Chavette would spend their life here, fantasizing about the family they would build and the love that they would share. But it was also there that she made the difficult decision to continue on in secret. She knew her fiance loved her. Of that she was absolutely certain, but she was worried about how he might react to what she had done. After all, she had deceived not just him as a lover, but also as a ship's captain. So no matter how eager she was to be reunited with Chevette, she decided she'd continue to conceal her secret, quietly waiting for them to return to France, where she could once again be herself. Tragically, though, that dream never came to fruition. As the men began preparation for their return home, Adrienne fell gravely ill. A dangerous fever began to blanket her, and the young woman began to get delirious, her condition growing worse and worse over night after night, forcing the men of the crew to intervene and halt their plans to leave. It was then, while under their medical care, that Petit Jean's identity was discovered. Immediately, she confessed to her actions, begging for forgiveness from Chavette, and honestly, as shocked as he was, and possibly even enraged by the deception, at this point, he only had one concern, save Adrienne's life. So, Chavette called upon the local native tribe for assistance, and quickly, they came to aid their new friend, but nothing they did made the situation any better. Adrienne just slipped closer and closer to death. Now, fully aware that she would not make it home with her fiancé, she made him promise to her that he would take her up to her favorite spot up on the mountain. There, they'd be able to enjoy each other's company one final time, one last goodbye in a spot that she had fallen in love with, a spot that had symbolized all her hope for the future. Chevette agreed, and it was there on what is now Stout's Point that Adrienne drew her final breath. Heartbroken, Chevette set sail the following day. His mission successfully completed, but the young man could never bring himself to return. Even with that hefty land grant the king had awarded him, still the story of Petit Jean never died. And generations later, when settlers arrived back in that region, the native tribe told them of the romantic tale that happened there on this very mountain. Of course, today, we've sort of butchered that French pronunciation, hence folks calling it Petit Jean and not Petit Jean. But the legend has never wavered, and although there have been some variations of the tale, one thing is true. Folks still pay their respects to the young lover, sometimes even bringing flowers to the purported grave site, hoping that Adrienne Dumont will bless their romance, and their lives will be filled with that joy that she never had. My name is Brandon Schexnayder, and you are listening to Southern Gothic. Anyone else like me noticed that the older we seem to get, the more the doctors and all say we need to make sure we're getting enough protein. Well, luckily, if you're someone looking for a quick, convenient way to get more in right from the start of your morning, we've got something for you. It's the Strong Coffee Company. That's right, you can start your day out with a little extra, a ready-to-drink coffee packed with protein, collagen, and healthy fats, designed to keep you fueled without slowing you down. It's simple, it's efficient, and it fits easily into a busy day. And if y'all are anything like me, you're probably already pouring a cup of coffee first thing in the morning anyway, right? So why not try Strong Coffee Company? I've even got a code for you for 20% off. That's right, you can use our code Gothic at strongcoffeecompany.com and get 20% off your order. That's strongcoffeecompany.com, code Gothic.