This Creepy Legend Haunting a Wisconsin Highway Isn’t Going Away

Have you ever been driving on Highway 12 in Wisconsin late at night and noticed a man wearing jeans and a green army jacket? You might have spotted Wisconsin's infamous "Phantom Hitchhiker".

Wisconsin Driving

My family has a cabin in Wisconsin, and I've driven on Highway 12 near Baraboo more times than I can count.

I've seen broken-down cars, running deer, and flying eagles while driving on this highway, but I've never seen a phantom man standing on the side of the road. Apparently, many other people have.

Wisconsin's Phantom Hitchhiker Legend

The legend centers around a lonely stretch of Highway 12 near Baraboo or Sauk Valley in Wisconsin, where people have reported seeing a man walking along the road late at night wearing jeans and a green army-style jacket.

The man appears to be in need of a ride, but when people attempt to pull over to help, he disappears...or shows up miles ahead like he teleported.

Witnesses told boogeymanboutique.com:

I encountered him many times... Most times I saw him between New Freedom and Sauk City on Hwy 12. However, I did see him a handful of times near Ski High Road and the S curve. Many times I passed him, only to have him ahead of me a mile or two, and I couldn't figure out how he'd gotten there.

 

I saw him at 3 a.m. in late June 2015. The description matches. We were coming back from the Baraboo casino and heading toward Madison. He was walking towards the car, in the middle of the street.

Wisconsin's Phantom Hitchhiker legend has been around for decades, but people are still reporting seeing this man along Highway 12 in recent years too.

Some people believe the man was a soldier returning home from duty who died in a tragic accident on Highway 12. Other people believe he was a hitchhiker killed by a reckless driver who now appears to warn other drivers about dangerous conditions ahead.

The truth? No one knows for sure, but one thing is clear: the next time you're driving on Highway 12 at night in Wisconsin and see someone standing on the side of the road, just keep driving.