Ghouls of Grays Harbor

About this episode

The episode explores the haunted history and true crime tales of Grays Harbor, Washington, focusing on figures like Billy Gohl and the legacy of Kurt Cobain.

Pack your raincoat and your flannel, we’re heading to Grays Harbor in Washington, the salty gateway to the Pacific and the misty doorstep of the Olympic Peninsula. The most notable town on Grays Harbor is Aberdeen , hometown of Kurt Cobain . The town leans into its legacy with a welcome sign that reads “Come As You Are,” a nod to the iconic Nirvana anthem. Nearby, a humble highway sign became rock folklore and was eventually relocated due to its popularity with fans. But Grays Harbor is more than grunge nostalgia. The stately Polson Museum , a 1924 riverfront mansion built by the Polson Logging Company family, houses antiques and logging relics that some visitors swear carry more than just dust. The museum gift shop shelves true crime tales like Deep in the Woods about the 1935 kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser, and The Port of Missing Men , which recounts the chilling legend of sailor turned union man Billy Gohl . Dubbed the “ Ghoul of Grays Harbor, ” Billy Gohl was accused of murdering dozens of sailors in the early 1900s, allegedly stealing their valuables and dumping their bodies into the harbor. Convicted of only two murders, he died in prison, but debate still churns like…

Topics covered

• true crime
• ghost stories
• Pacific Northwest history
• Kurt Cobain
• Billy Gohl
• Grays Harbor

Keywords

• Grays Harbor
• Billy Gohl
• Kurt Cobain
• true crime
• ghost stories
• Polson Museum
• Aberdeen

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Polson Museum

Books & works: Deep in the Woods, The Port of Missing Men

Places: Grays Harbor, Aberdeen, Billy’s Bar & Grill, Olympic Peninsula, Lady Washington

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