The Lantern of Lost Cove

There’s a place off Nashville’s shores where the waters turn still and strange—known to locals as Lost Cove. Sailors speak of it in hushed tones, for those who’ve drifted too close have all seen the same thing: a single lantern, flickering on the water, with no boat nor soul to hold it.

The story goes that long ago, a fisherman named Elias set out late one night, hoping for a good haul under the full moon’s light. But as he neared the cove, a thick fog rolled in, dense and sudden, cutting him off from every landmark he knew. He tried to row his way out, but the cove held him like a trap. Desperate, he lit his lantern to signal for help, but none came. Some say the fog took him; others say he rowed deeper into the mist, searching for a way out until he disappeared entirely.

Now, on nights when the fog rises, boaters tell of a faint glow bobbing on the water, like a lonely lantern drifting through the mist. They say if you get close, you might even hear the faint creak of oars. But beware, for those who follow that light often find themselves lost too, the fog swallowing them whole.

So if you ever find yourself near Lost Cove on a foggy night, heed the old warning: turn back at the first sign of that lantern’s glow. For once you’ve seen the Lantern of Lost Cove, it might be too late to find your way home.