Fuller Park originally featured an old petting zoo owned and run by Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, Mr. Fuller being at that time, a Southern Baptist Minister and Philanthropist.

He also practiced as a family physician and veterinarian, from what I know of what has been told of him by older people, in the area.

Thus, there existed the old monkey cages, old-timey wrought-iron-girdered fences, etc., which, of course, attracts young people to it.

One of the reasons that people (in the distant past) have made this place an Icon of Athens legend over the past hundred or so years is because it was rumored that Mrs. Fuller had a miscarriage and committed suicide.

She has even been called a witch for it, no doubt by God-Fearing members of the Church.

As to whether that is actually historical fact, I have never known, or spoken to any older person that claimed that this was true & some of my mother's older relatives actually knew some of their descendants.

However, as far back as when I first moved here as a kid, I can remember of it being spoken of, especially around this time of year, obviously.

Throughout the years, it has become one of the most visited places (esp. just before and after midnight) over the past 50 years or so.

During the outlandish and overblown eighties, there was a cult (whether satanic or not is unknown, but rumored as such) that was apparently into things like witchcraft and the like who practiced sacrificial rites with animals of all kinds (chickens, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, etc.) and were sometimes left at the site (and others around Athens - under Monkey bridge, for one) for people to discover.

Also, their graves were desecrated & the actual bodies of the Fullers themselves were exhumed and relocated to an old cemetery of which I can't remember the name of, however.

Another hot spot of misdeed just east of Athens off of Hwy 175 is Beck's Chapel.

By: Some Guy Named Tim

I know of an old church off 175 between Athens and Eustace... but, I don't think it's called Becks. I been in there several times for photo shoots, research, and other things. nothing crazy there. NOW THE OLD HOSPITAL IN ATHENS!! that is another story all together, Me and my friends use to break in the old hospital years ago. Scary shit! the place has been weathered and corroded over the years..... why, it's still around... I have NO idea. I've actually got footage of us walking through the hospital from 7 years ago! I've always wanted to put that footage on my computer and analyze it for orbs and such..

Justin

Just learned Monkey Road is West College Street. Thunder Bridge must be where it crosses The Railraod Tracks or Walnut Creek that I see on my map.

I worked at the old Henderson County Memorial Hospital in the early 1970's. For some reason, the bottom floor of the hospital always gave me the creeps. I would never go downstairs at night alone. Can't put my finger on what was wrong, but something was definately wrong!
I still live in Athens, just to the west of the Country Club. I have been down Monkey Road, over Thunder Bridge and out to Fuller Park. Only thing that ever happened to me was lots and lots of parkin and sparkin..lol

it sounds like monkeys when you drive over it because it is made of old, (now) moving wood that was LOUD like thunder and the trees around move and sound "skreetchy"...or so they say. There's a railroad underneath it as well which could account for some of the "thunder" noise. I think that it has now been rebuilt (or modified/closed off) 2 times since I went (it was about to fall down, i am amazed they still let people drive on that thing)... I only know this because I pass it on my way to work in the mornings and noticed cones, etc.

elder dodge doesn't follow you around with jeeps. i was there on a scavenger hunt late at night, walking all over that lot, and not even a cop came to question us. even when people started opening the hoods of cars. such a trusting little town...haha. i can't think of another town where you can walk around and open the hoods of cars for sale on a lot and not be arrested/questioned.

oh and the spanish trace inn is now "america's best value" or something like that. very cheesy.

i hope you find some interesting info, though...those stone things are strange, but i hardly believe the tunnel thing. companies would have to know about tunnels like that before building/digging/erecting/whatever their business is on different sites in town, and, if they do exist the companies that i have experience with do not know about those things, or if they do, they don't worry about it.

The old hospital is still there because it contains a lot of asbestos. The powers that be have decided that it would be too costly to remove it so they let it sit and rot.

My husband and I are from Athens. Of course we grew up with the stories of Fullers Park and the tunnels under the city. I thinks it awesome that other people are talking about the old stories, it takes me back to the good old days. Have any of you ever been in the tunnels? I would love to go down there! I'm not afraid of "satan worshipors", just the rumored booby traps I've heard were down there. If some does make it down there take some pics so the rest of us can see what's going. Hopefully some one will make a documentory of this old urban legend and make lots of money. But that's just my opion...

I have heard of Fuller Park both in tales in my family and when we moved to Athens a couple of years ago. My family was from the Athens area. In fact some of them still live in the area. LOL I moved there a couple of years ago. I started hearing about the tunnels and the hauntings and such. It was just recently I learned the name of the place. I would love to go out and see it.. Can you give me directions on how to find it? I would really appreciate it. I would like to talk to people that have gone out there and what they have seen.
Thanks,
Linda