Much like how I began to research the Pukwudgie, my work into the Stikini began from need and not folklore. When I announced on Facebook that I was looking into the weirdness of the Ocala, people flooded my inbox with stories. More than a dozen followed the same pattern.
A group of people are out for a regular night in a place they frequent. The power mysteriously goes out in their truck or their car or their boat. They spend the next few hours scared to get out. Something is screaming at them from outside the vehicle, scrapping the outside and slamming into it. After some time, the engine start again like nothing has happened, but the side of the car or the hull of the boat has unexplained claw marks running down it.
They were looking for something to explain what had happened to them. As I searched, I came across the old Seminole story of the Stikini. As soon as I put the information and the pictures out there, people genuinely responded with emotional connections.
In theory, the Stikini clicks all of the buttons that creep us out: Seminole…witch…owl...vampire…seeking vengeance against bad men…each category is enough for a nightmare. But those who responded did not see them as symbols. They saw them as monsters stalking them in the trees.
And then it became connected to the Dade Massacre.
Click to read about the Stikini’s connection to The Battle of Dade
Feel free to call our new phone number during our live shows to get involved, share a legend you’ve heard, or to just ask a question at (813) 418-6822.
Feel free to call our new phone number during our live shows to get involved, share a legend you’ve heard, or to just ask a question at (813) 418-6822.
Tripping on Legends... 
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