Owasso’s urban legends: lurking lifeforms

By Olivia Voth

Owasso is always a lovely place to be… or is it? The history of the town of Owasso is interesting to say the least, but so are the stories and tall tales passed down for generations from students, parents and teachers. 

The Ghost of Rambo

Photo of the allegedly haunted Owasso Ram Statue by Olivia Voth, effects done by Makayla Sordo and Olivia Voth

Everyone knows and loves Owasso High School’s proud mascot, Rambo! However, not everyone knows that Owasso was once represented by a live sheep. Once the beloved real-life-Rambo met his unfortunate end, his head was kept and now greets students in the front entrance lobby above the doors. Some find this unbelievable, but it has been confirmed by the agriculture department staff. However, rumors say it only shows its team spirit for Owasso until the dark of night, during which the sheep’s ghost takes over control of the deceased head and, if it so chooses, the front statue as well. But most of the students say it’s a harmless, friendly ghost, so there’s no need to worry—unless you’re a freshman, of course. 

Legend has it that once, many years ago, there were some freshmen who decided to pull a funny prank by staying in the bathrooms until long after dark and frolicking all night at the school. As they laughed, supposedly one of them decided to deface the ram statue with a dirty drawing, and this made the undead ram angry. The statue opened its jaw to a comically large size and swallowed the student whole, trapping it within the flaming core of the ram statue, Brazen-Bull Torture style. Some of the students say this never happened, but either way, the child was never seen again, but if he was, we can all be sure he’d be extra crispy. 

Mohawk Park

Just down the hill near Tulsa is the lovely Mohawk Park, home to the Oxley Nature Center and the famous Tulsa Zoo. However, there are rumors of something more mysterious living there. Locals say that there has been an eight-foot tall deer woman who is sometimes spotted roaming the park on her hind legs. Some say she was the wife of a hunter who was cursed by a witch, and others say she was a mother who made a sacrifice for her children. People have also reported hearing her cries or seeing her shadow outside of windows at night. No one really knows if she’s alive or dead or whether she is friendly or evil—especially since reported sightings are so rare. Either no one has seen her, or they haven’t lived to tell the tale. 

In addition, there are also reports of “little invisible voices,” who speak often, laughing and scurrying around throughout the park, but no one can see them because they are invisible to the naked eye. No one knows if they are the ghosts of children who lost their way in the forest long before the park was there, or maybe fairies or elves. Perhaps they are followers of the deer woman in a way? No one can say for sure. Some reports also state that they’re apparently easily crushed by shoes, so watch your step, or rather, listen. 

Owasso 7th Grade Center

The 7th grade campus, which used to be the high school long ago, is perhaps one of the most haunted places in all of Owasso. There are many stories that have been passed down for generations of students and parents. 

Apparently the most well-known story is that of Locker 666 on the second floor of the old building. The younger generations say they think the locker is under some kind of spell or possession by a demon since no one can seem to open it, but those stories are mostly from rookies. The real ones know the legend of the little girl who was possessed by an evil spirit, and she ended up going missing, and was later found in the locker. Other students simply state that they have discovered inappropriate drawings in the locker. No one can say for sure if it is true, and to this day it remains a mystery.

Students of all generations can agree that the old classical painting hung in the hall is haunted. It depicts a woman, and whether the halls are crowded or if a student passes all alone, many reports have said that the eyes of the woman in the picture follow whoever walks by. No one has ever stared at the portrait for more than five seconds and survived, and no one ever should. 

The last story in the 7th Grade Center is that of the boys’ locker room, which can be found at the top of the bleachers above the gym. No one can tell what the cause of the eerie feeling within the room is, or if some sort of evil being haunts the room. The majority of reports have said that there was a story going around decades ago that a cheerleader had snuck in and violently attacked an athlete in that room, resulting in his death. Some say that she was possessed by a demon, others say she did it out of a broken heart, or defending a friend or a sister whose heart he broke. Regardless, many have said that when they walk in the room, they get a chill up their spine and feel uneasy.

The Owasso Large Band Room

Photo of the Mysterious Door by Olivia Voth

The Pride of Owasso directors will tell you that the door half-covered by the ceiling is there because there used to be a second floor, and this door led to an office. However, the students say that this door had to be made unreachable because everyone who entered the abandoned office disappeared. Some say it was a portal to another dimension, or a gateway to the ‘land of the undead.’

“That band door was open once, and a tuba player climbed through,” Owasso graduate Jack Hicks, wearing a dashing tinfoil hat, recalls, “I never saw him again, and the band directors denied his existence; [only] I know the truth.”

People have also said that the lights are ‘wonky’ at times and that the bluetooth connection can be weird at times, speeding up or slowing down the music being played, or sometimes not playing it at all. It has definitely been said to be allegedly haunted by students and some adults as well.  Regardless of where the door truly leads, it is now far out of reach, so the students may never know. 

Stories passed down through the years are part of the traditions that make going to school at Owasso High School so interesting and fun. These legends are small and local, but still mysterious and worth sharing. Who knows…. What if they are true?