The BoojumWestern North Carolina Mountain Legend and Appalachian Folklore
I ain't never seen 'The Boojum myself, and I've spent plenty of times up in 'em woods. I ain't never seen 'The Boojum myself, and I've spent plenty of times up in 'em woods. Origin
The Boojum legend began in the early 1900s around Waynesville and the Plott Balsams of Western North Carolina. Local storytellers described him as a shy, fur-covered giant who loved gemstones, creeping streams, and the company of women bathing in secluded pools.
Some versions tell of Boojum hoarding precious stones in jugs hidden deep in caves. Others tie him to a mountain girl named Annie - their moonlit calls back and forth became part of the old expression "hootin’ and hollerin’" in these hills.
Though details shift between counties, the core of the tale stays the same: a lonely mountain creature, half-man and half-wild, bound to the ridges like a spirit of the high country.
Notes
- Distant hollers at dusk that don’t sound fully human.
- Glimpses of movement behind rhododendron thickets.
- Gemstone hunters waking with headaches after digging where they shouldn’t have.
Legacy
Today, the Boojum remains one of Western North Carolina’s most beloved mountain legends. His name appears in local breweries, art, and ghost walks.
More than a monster story, Boojum reflects the wildness of the Blue Ridge - the feeling that something old and watchful still moves through the rhododendron when the moon climbs high.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 21). The Boojum
Western North Carolina Mountain Legend and Appalachian Folklore . HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/boojum-western-north-carolina-legend - MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Boojum
Western North Carolina Mountain Legend and Appalachian Folklore ." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/boojum-western-north-carolina-legend. - Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "The Boojum
Western North Carolina Mountain Legend and Appalachian Folklore ." HillbillySlang.com. November 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/boojum-western-north-carolina-legend.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.