This episode of Cryptid Hauntings explores the dark legend of U.S. Route 491, formerly known as U.S. Route 666, the infamous “Devil’s Highway.” Stretching through Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the road gained a reputation for deadly accidents, ghostly apparitions, and stories of a phantom flaming semi-truck. The hosts examine whether the highway’s terrifying reputation stemmed from real danger, rural road statistics, or the psychological weight of the number 666 — the “number of the beast” from the Bible, Revelation 13. After the road was renumbered in 2003, accident rates reportedly declined, raising questions about superstition versus infrastructure and fear. In the end, the episode leaves listeners wondering whether the Devil, human psychology, or something even stranger might be responsible for the legend of Route 666.

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Credits

Host: Michael, Chris, Mark, and Pam Gardner

Writer: Michael Gardner

Editor: Pam Gardner

Special Thanks: Thank you Tonya for letting us take over the basement of your home.

Sources

DangerousRoads.org – Route 666

NPR (2009) – “The Deadliest Roads Are Rural”

KSL.com – “3 Local Urban Legends May Offer Grain of Truth”

Paranorms.com – Route 666

Apex Capital Corp – Haunted Highways and Trucker Legends

The Holy Bible, King James Version, Revelation 13:16–18