Just on the outskirts of Pittsburgh lies Campbells Run Road, which more commonly goes by the name 13 Bends. It’s an unpaved, dead end road that contains, you guessed it, 13 bends along it. There are three main legends associated with the long stretch of road.

The Orphanage

The 13 bends have existed as long as we could go back, till around 1780. The actual name of the road comes from the creek that runs along side the road “Campbell Run.” Rumors state that back in the late 1800’s an orphanage existed deep in the woods halfway down the road where the creek crosses under the road. On one frightful evening, one of the teenagers in the home was playing with matches on the front porch when he accidentally lit the house ablaze. Many of the young children were stuck inside the home as the fire grew and took their life. Others caught on fire and ran into the creek to put them out, only later to fall victim to the effects of the burns.

Those who travel the road at night claim to hear the voices of children screaming, bells clanging, and splashing into the creek. As urban legends state, you must go down the road until you hit the first bridge. Before crossing, put baby powder on your car. Continue driving for some time and then check the baby powder. Many claim to find small hand prints believed to be those of the young children who passed on. Some say to try something different for it to work; you must park the car on the bridge with your headlights off and call out to kids in the woods.

The School

Further, near the dead end of the road, there was an old school, once used as a Catholic school for young girls. Rumor stated that one day in the early 1900’s, a young man arrived at the school and stabbed 13 girls to death. He then went and buried each of the girls, one at each bend in the road. Rumor states that if you flash your high-beams at each corner while traveling down the road, upon return, a ghostly girl will be waiting at each bend.

The Mine Shaft

Somewhere along the road, deeper in the woods was said to exist a mine shaft used to obtain minerals as Pittsburgh was and is a large industrial city. In the early 1900’s a cave-in at the mine led to the death of three of the miners. The mine was closed and never reopened. There is a trail along the road, leading to the abandoned mine. Those that travel the trail during the day will run into the three miners who upon site will disappear.

Other tall tales of the road talk about ghost cars that chase people, believed to be the spirits of teenagers who had an accident on the road. Others see orbs in the woods, moving in and out of the trees. We may never truly know how many spirits lie “under” the road.

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Anonymous

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My dad used to drive it as a shortcut when we were kids. It was a beautiful scenic route. Then as I got older and since it was a very isolated area my friends and I used to go back into the woods and have bonfire parties. I really think this story was created to stop teenage kids from hanging out back there and also the increase of police presence stopped that as well. When I first heard this story I laughed. It was told to me about 10 years ago by one of my sons friends. It is definitely not a haunted area…I spent many many nights in those woods with friends and yeah not at all haunted. The scariest thing was the police coming and telling us all to leave.
1 year ago
Sharon

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Don’t go . It’s gated . Long drive for us and couldn’t see anything!!!!!!!
2 years ago
Alexi

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Be careful. Went there with a friend a few years back and there’s a gate you drive past. Well we got locked in someone locked us in with a pad lock we tried breaking off the lock and after about 5 minutes the gate all the sudden swung open. Might have been someone messing with us but whatever it was we were locked in there anything could have happened. So just be careful.
2 years ago
Anonymous

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Not in burgetts town
2 years ago
Brian kapolka

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Going there tonight
4 years ago
Melindagentry

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this isn’t in Pittsburgh.it’s more and less burgettstown.I’ve travel this road many times never felt strangeor have thing happened to me.never heard anything strange either. I don’t know how or who started the rumors.but I know that these findings are not true. not because I am not a believer.because I am.I just never seen or felt anything.now walking the woods there like Campbell’s woods ,very Erie cold and somewhat spooky . but not the road.
5 years ago
1. Adam R
  
  Your thinking campbells run road, this is Campbell run road, click the location button address it will show you, hell I live in burgettstown itd degoently not out here…
  5 years ago
Sven

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Not scary at all did not hear bells or whistles or screaming think it’s a myth when we went up to the 13 bends we ended up in butter County Maybe someone may have died long ago and 13 people were involved and all the 13 people died that could be true as well I put a little bit of baking soda on top of the car and there were no fingerprints on it we tried to give it candy but nobody wanted it that how it proves that it might be a myth but anything is possible I do not believe in ghosts goblins or witches I just don’t believe in them that’s just my opinion
5 years ago
Koltyn

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I went down Campbells Run Road. Well, I followed down it using Google Maps Street View. But as I was going down it, I just stopped. I couldn’t go any further. The blue line ended! Right on some little bridge! It was crazy! It’s like the ghosts were saying “You Shall NOT Pass!” So I stay in that spot and waited. I waited for hours and hours. The craziest part is that even though it was dark outside, it was still daytime at that spot on Campbell’s Run Rd!! It’s also Winter and there’s not a single sign of snow there and the trees are all green with leaves! I think the ghosts have stopped time and weather and seasons! Spooooky! If you don’t believe me, I can prove it! Just open up your Google Maps App, start at 500 Campbell’s Run Road 15238 (NOT 15205; that’s the other Campbell’s run Rd near Robinson). Go to street view by clicking on the little thumnail photo and start following the little blue line!
5 years ago
Jennifer

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I saw this midget putting the handprints on cars and screaming and he looked homeless. Very fake.
5 years ago
Anonymous

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Not haunted my grandma lives there and her family lived there their whole lives it’s not haunted
6 years ago
VINCENZO

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I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I PASSED THE 12TH BEND I CRASHED. DRINKING AND DRIVING IS NO JOKE. I WAS CITED AND GIVEN A DUI. I WAS PROBABLY 8 BEERS DEEP AND I BLEW A .789. THATS 7 TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT.
YEEEE.
6 years ago
Dan

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Do not go there unless your prepared. Back in mid 70’s we witnessed screams from little girls. Crazy stuff
6 years ago
Jason

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We went down this road a few years back to get some cheap thrills. We got to the first bridge and put the baby powder all over the car except for the front. As we drove down we heard the screams but weren’t sure if it was just the car on the road. As we got out, we found small baby sized hand-prints all over the car. It was really freaky!
7 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

13 Bends : Pittsburgh, PA

13 Bends : Pittsburgh, PA

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