The Legend of the Bandage Man

Posted: 07.07.2025 | Updated: 10.10.2025

Ghoul, zombie, ghost: they’re all what has been used to describe the monster that lurks in the woods off Highway 101 near Cannon Beach, Oregon. There’s another name it goes by, however. One that sends a chill up the spine of any motorist familiar with the story of who locals refer to as the bandage man. 

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Whether you’re in search of a more spine-tingling experience or want to make some unforgettable memories with friends and family, this is one ghost tour that will leave you talking about for years to come. Stop by our blog as well for more chilling stories of America’s hidden location gems that are home to more than just the living. 

Is Highway 101 haunted?

Highway 101 near Cannon Beach holds a haunting reputation along the Oregon Coast. Not just for its accidents, but something far more sinister; a logger who met a bloody end in the 1940s, or so some would think. Nobody was ever found, and now, some say, he still lurks in the woods nearby, searching for unsuspecting victims. 

History of the Bandage Man

The economy boomed at the onset of World War II, pulling America out of the Great Depression and roaring back better than ever. Remnants of the past several years were still present, however, particularly with labor shortages in Oregon’s sawmills as the demand for lumber continued to grow exponentially. 

Workers rushed to meet production needs, but as everyone knows, rushing and high-powered machinery never go well together; accidents are bound to happen or — in one case — create a monster.

It was during a torrential rainstorm one evening. A logger slipped and fell onto one of the sawblades, leaving him lacerated with deep gashes. Medics quickly arrived, but with limited resources at their disposal, the only option they had at present was to wrap the bloodied logger’s body in bandages until they arrived at the hospital. They loaded him into the ambulance and set off on Highway 101. 

Highway 101 already had a reputation for being particularly dangerous and causing several crashes; a newspaper clipping from the 1950s later dubbed it its notorious nickname “Death Row.” Though some would wonder in the coming decades if it wasn’t just the winding, narrow passage that made it unsafe, but also what would happen next. 

A Terrifying Crash

The ambulance came upon a bend on Highway 101 near Cannon Beach, when the slippery road caused it to crash. Police arrived at the scene and found the medics unconscious, but no sign of the injured logger. A three-day search was conducted, but was to no avail. 

There wasn’t a single sighting, not even of any hospital receiving a patient matching his injuries. Authorities thought that with their severity, surely they would eventually find the man’s body. However, the only thing they found of him was a piece of bloodied bandage. The bandaged man was gone.

Mysterious Hauntings 

A series of crashes and deaths have since occurred on Highway 101 in the coming decades. Some are quick to blame it on the dangerous nature of the road, but others believe it is the work of none other than the bandage man. It seems he may have survived for so long by feeding on animals, many of whose half-eaten carcasses were found along the highway. 

Witnesses who have seen him — mostly at night — probably wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the idea that he would consider humans as his next entree. The bandage man has been described as dirty, bloody, and covered with oozing bandages. The foul, putrid stench of rotting flesh that consumes the air accompanies him. He also walks with a strange gait as though his limbs are detached from his body. 

Despite his strange movements, the bandage man has been known to jump on the top of cars or into the beds of pickup trucks, banging to get in. It’s only when terrified drivers look back that they’ll notice nothing there. Later on — in some cases — they’ll find a calling card on their vehicle: a smelly piece of bloodied bandage with pieces of flesh stuck to it. 

A romantic night out

Highway 101’s remoteness along Cannon Beach is known to attract many teens to the area, who often engage in typical teenage activities. It was no different for one couple sometime in the 1950s, when they parked their Chevy pickup truck in the same location. It was moments later when they heard rustling sounds coming from the woods, but they chalked it up to the wind. 

The makeout session continued, but then the teenagers were overcome with a repulsive stench. The truck also shook and leaned to one side as if someone had climbed onto the bed. The couple turned and looked through the small rear-sliding window and were met by a bloodied man covered in oozing bandages, staring back at them. 

The horrifying figure started banging on the truck and yelling out, prompting the driver to start the car and put the pedal to the metal. The panicked teen swerved down the road, narrowly avoiding crashing, but when they stopped and turned around, the bandaged man was gone. 

They kept driving, not stopping again until they were in a more well-lit area. Once there, the shaken teens hesitantly exited the truck and searched the back —- nothing, except for a piece of bloodied bandage.  

Haunted Portland 

There are places all across America filled with stories of the strange and the unknown. On Highway 101 near Cannon Beach, is one such tale. A seemingly normal man who came face to face with death one dreary day, only to never be seen again. Now, he appears to have taken on its full embodiment, turned into a living corpse that forever lurks in the nearby woods, waiting, but for what; his next ride, or his next victim? 

Leave behind the crashing waves of Cannon Beach, and head for the bustling streets of Portland, Oregon; home to some of America’s most heinous serial killers, where the screams of tormented spirits ripple through the night air. Listen to the stories up close and personal, and take a walk through Portland’s darkest history on a ghost tour with Portland Ghosts! 

Book your spot with us today! Be sure to also check out more chilling tales of the unknown on our blog, and keep in touch with us via Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sources:

• https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/bandage-man-cannon-beach-oregon
• https://www.clarabush.com/the-bandage-man-urban-legend/
• https://medium.com/tales-of-terror-paranormal-and-the-strange/the-sinister-legend-of-the-bandage-man-c964a1dd15c1