Photo by smason on flickr

Our initial venture is into a world of campfire critters, obscure monsters and bogeymen—the first being the trolls of Joppa Bridge in Burnet County. Although legend is vague, and possibly a mixture of local spook story and hoax, what we do know is that those who have patiently waited and listened upon the bridge are said to have heard the scurrying of the creatures beneath, although actual sightings seem scarce to support the tale.

There is a bridge in San Antonio allegedly called the Donkey Lady Bridge. Legend has it that many years ago an Asian lady who stood over seven-feet in height was burned to death after locals treated her as a freakish outcast. However, the arson attack backfired, as now it is said that the badly mutated spectre of the woman haunts the location. Her deformed face hanging low and long like that of a donkey, the apparition stalks on all fours, its charred flesh and exposed bones clicking and clattering on the ground. Although the yarn differs through generations, it makes for a strange urban legend. Incidentally, whilst on the subject of such a creature, another Donkey Lady is said to haunt the woods of Helotes, Bexar County. The half-woman, half-beast has burning eyes and spooks youngsters who congregate in the local woods.

Old Foamy is another variant of a bridge-prowling creature. This beast roams Central Texas and up into Johnson County. The monster, resembling a satyr (half-man, half-goat), is said to lurk in streams and appears should any passing motorist beep their horn three times.

Source: Monster! The A-Z Of Zooform Phenomena