Route 666: The Devil's Highway

Hello and welcome to my channel. I like making AI images of strange occurrences, usually something that was told to you when you were a child or local legends that keep you up at night. For this video, we’ll talk about the Devil’s Highway, or formerly officially called Route 666, where travelers claimed to have seen the Devil himself, ghosts, black-eyed children, shadow people and strange lights. Let’s get to the lore.

In the United States, there’s a stretch of highway where the devil is said to visit. This highway is formerly called Route 666. Yes, that’s the infamous devil’s number. It was changed to US 491 in 2003  to avoid the negativity and superstitions associated with the number 666. And it stretches through Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

This is important to know because, in case you’re driving through US 491, the superstition still remains today. The name has been changed, but travelers still claim seeing weird and spooky things as they drive by. We’ll talk about 5 of these strange things in this video.

To stay on topic, I will refer to this highway as Route 666, despite its official name. It’s also been called the Devil’s Highway, Highway to Hell, or Satan’s Highway.

Let’s get to the lore. Here is a list of 5 strange things said to be seen in Route 666:

The Devil

Some people have claimed to see the Devil himself while driving through Route 666. There are many ways this encounter was described. The first is Satan standing on the side of the highway with his hellhounds. He is often described as being tall and gaunt, with red skin and glowing red eyes. Maybe he’s thumbing it for a ride.

His hellhounds, though, are described as vicious large dogs that chase and attack cars along the highway. It’s what dogs do. They are described as having glowing red eyes, sharp teeth, and a foul smell. They can run as fast as any vehicle and leave claw marks on the doors and windows.

The other way this encounter has been described is as Satan’s Sedan. It is a black car that appears out of nowhere and tries to run drivers off the road.

Now, legends of the devil showing up in this highway, at least to me, may mean that there’s a portal or gate to Hell itself. Kinda like the gates of Hell legend in Stull Cemetery.

Black-eyed Children

As the name describes, black-eyed children are seen typically as kids around 10 years of age with completely black eyes and no irises. They are very pale and travel in pairs or more. 

Some people have claimed seeing them standing on the side of Route 666 or 

in gas stations, asking for a ride.

I’m a little unclear on the harm that black-eyed children can bring to you during an encounter. If you have any information, just leave them in the comment section.

Ghostly Hitchhikers

Besides the Devil thumbing it and Black-eyed children begging for a ride, there are “conventional” ghosts who’ll try to hitch a ride with you on this haunted highway.

As it turns out, there are a number of stories of ghostly hitchhikers along Route 666. Let’s talk about 2 of them according to Bing chat:

The Faceless Hitchhiker: This ghostly figure of a man appears on the side of the road or at gas stations along the highway. He is asking for a ride. He is usually dressed in an old-fashioned suit with a hat carrying a suitcase. He also never shows his face, which is hidden by his hat or turned away from the driver. He speaks in a polite and friendly manner, but never reveals his name or destination. If somehow welcomed by the driver for a ride, this hitchhiker will then vanish from the car, leaving behind a cold spot or a foul smell.

The Girl in the White Dress: This is a ghostly figure of a young girl who appears on the highway. She is said to be wearing a white dress stained with blood and holding a teddy bear. She sometimes waves at drivers or asks for help, but disappears when they approach her or try to talk to her.

Strange Lights

These are mysterious lights that appear in the hills of Menaul, New Mexico. It’s near Route 666. They are described as bright, colorful, and moving in erratic patterns. Some say they are UFOs.

But there are legends, kinda like Will-o'-the-wisps from Irish mythos. In these legends, the lights are faeries or spirits, perhaps those who died in the area. Furthermore, some claim feeling uneasy as if they’re being watched when encountering these lights.

Shadow People

Shadow people are described as tall, dark figures that move quickly and disappear into the shadows.

Legends say that you typically see them from your peripheral vision. So you can’t get a good look at them, but your gut tells you that they’re there.

Now, if you’re driving in Rte 666, just be aware that there are also stories of shadow people hitching a ride in your car, with or without your consent…