Bunny Man: Virginia’s Urban Legend
The Bunny Man legend exists in many forms. One version stands out as the most disturbing. It is also the most commonly repeated.
The Asylum’s Closure
The story begins in 1904. An insane asylum reportedly operated in the town of Clifton. Many residents disliked its proximity to their homes. They pressured officials to shut it down.
The closure forced all patients to relocate.
The Bus Crash
Late one night, officials transported the patients by bus to Lorton Prison. The route took them across the narrow bridge on Colchester Road in Fairfax County.
The bus crashed.
In the confusion, the patients fled into the surrounding woods.
Police soon tracked them down. Officers captured nearly everyone and continued the transfer to Lorton.
One patient escaped.
The Man Who Vanished
The legend identifies the missing patient as Douglas Griffon. After fleeing the crash, he disappeared into the woods.
Weeks passed.
Residents then began finding dead rabbits scattered throughout the area. The killings continued for months. Locals believed Griffon hunted the animals to survive.
The story reached its climax on Halloween night.
The Children at the Bridge
On Halloween, a group of children gathered near the Colchester Road bridge. They noticed a strange, glowing light in the distance. The sight drew them closer.
They followed it into the woods.
By morning, the town discovered their bodies. Someone had mutilated them and hung them from the bridge. Residents blamed Griffon for the murders.
Authorities never found him.
Legend warns that anyone who visits the bridge at midnight on Halloween will meet the same fate.
Problems With the Story
Key details never align. Different versions change the year. Others shift the asylum’s location. Still, urban legends rarely emerge from nothing.
Truth often hides beneath exaggeration.
The Archivist’s Search for Answers
Brian Conley, a Fairfax County archivist, grew up hearing the Bunny Man legend. As a historian for the county library, he frequently answered questions about it. Visitors wanted to know if the story was real.
Conley eventually grew tired of saying he didn’t know.
He decided to investigate.
The Real Incident
Conley traced the legend back to 1970. That year, a couple parked near the Colchester Road bridge late at night. A man suddenly confronted them, yelling that they were trespassing.
Before they could leave, he threw a hatchet at their car.
The couple described him as wearing white or light-colored clothing. They also mentioned something on his head, though they couldn’t be sure what it was.
From Fact to Folklore
As the story spread, it changed. Conley believes the local newspaper played a role. The vague description of the man’s headwear likely evolved over time.
Eventually, “something on his head” became bunny ears.
That small shift transformed a real event into a lasting urban legend.
