The chlorine-soaked myths that birthed the PoolGhoul.
The earliest known mention of the PoolGhoul appeared in a handwritten newsletter circulated in 1974 by the Whispering Pines Swim Club in Ohio. A lifeguard wrote about a shadowy figure that would appear during lightning storms, sitting at the edge of the diving board with glowing blue eyes. The board, rusted shut for years, would creak under the weight of... nothing.
Over the decades, the myth evolved, adapting with each generation. Some say the PoolGhoul was once a champion swimmer who met a tragic end during a chlorine leak at a championship meet. His body was never found, and since then, unusual drownings and unexplained ripples have been reported across public pools near the anniversary of the event.
Other versions of the tale present a more benevolent ghoul — a protector of children, appearing only when unsupervised youngsters sneak into pools at night. These stories say he doesn’t harm, but instead frightens just enough to drive them home safely. In some towns, parents fuel this version as a cautionary tale.
No matter the variation, the PoolGhoul always shares three traits: 1) water disturbance without cause, 2) chlorine scent that intensifies even away from water, and 3) a sense of being watched — always from just under the surface.
Modern folklore groups have tied the PoolGhoul to aquatic spirits of different cultures: the Slavic \"Vodyanoy,\" the Japanese \"Funayūrei,\" and even the American southwest's own La Llorona when near irrigation canals. Is the PoolGhoul a new spirit—or an echo of ancient legends recast in modern form?
Whether myth or manifestation, one thing is certain: every story ends the same. A splash. Then silence. And when you run to check—no one’s there.