Glocester Ghoul: Legend of Fiendish Cryptid Still Breathing Fire in Rhode Island

The fearsome creature was first spotted in 1833 and residents believe it still haunts the woods

Neko Mahony- Arts & Culture Intern
Share
Neko Mahony- Arts & Culture Intern
Glocester Ghoul: Legend of Fiendish Cryptid Still Breathing Fire in Rhode Island
Copy

Rhode Island folklore is filled with stories about cryptids, a mysterious creature that residents have claimed to see but whose existence has never been proven.

Reports of the legendary, fire-breathing Glocester Ghoul were first documented in 1833 by Albert Hicks, a notorious pirate who was searching for Capt. Kidd’s lost treasure.

Some believe the beast was a hellhound sent to guard Kidd’s treasure. Others said it was only a bear wandering through the woods.

Get the full story in the reel below.

From lunar missions and eclipses to supermoons, auroras and a fading interstellar comet, 2026 promises a busy year in the skies
Bryant, URI and Johnson & Wales reached new heights, the Patriots stunned the NFL, and high school dynasties rolled on in a year full of highs — and hard lessons
Dr. Rasha Alawieh was deported to her native Lebanon in March
As we head into a new year, the Possibly team decided to think about all of our episodes, and how they might inspire our resolutions for 2026. Here’s what some of us had to say
Thousands of Rhode Islanders insured by HealthSourceRI face steep premium increases expected to take effect in 2026
A few weeks ago, Rhode Island lost beloved musician and teacher Rory MacLeod. As we close out 2025, we’re sharing some excerpts from a studio session earlier this year with Rory and his wife, fiddle player Sandol Astrausky