The Florida Werewolf Panic

In the spring of 1972, the city of Lakeland, Florida, was gripped by mass hysteria when residents reported a shaggy beast stalking roadways and leaping into headlights. What began as scattered driver sightings quickly ignited front-page headlines, late-night police searches, armed citizens, and copycat prowlers—spurred on by a prankster who started it all with a souvenir mask from the newly opened Walt Disney World. In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories, Allen Sircy unpacks Florida’s bizarre "Lakeland Werewolf" panic, exploring how a cheap mask and runaway media coverage birthed a full-blown modern urban legend. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at https://monstercitymadhouse.com