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LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA

Located in Lawrenceburg-Indiana, just outside of Cincinnati, Camp Angst was scheduled to open it's gates in the summer of 1962. Unfortunately, in the fall of 1961 the camp suffered the first of several events that would lead to its failure. On the afternoon of October 13th, camp counselors from as far away as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania converged on the camp. The counselors were set to discuss the latest in summer camp facilities, activities and programs. Because Camp Angst would be the summer destination for the many youth of the tri-state, there was no expense spared in it's planning and construction. Shortly after 7:00pm, as the counselors were gathering for the evenings fireside meeting, a large explosion rocked the camp. It was later ruled that a nearby natural gas tank, supplying the mess hall, had a faulty valve that had been leaking since it was filled just hours before.  The only survivors of the horrific incident were the Groundskeeper, William "Bill" Smythe, the Mayor of Lawrenceburg, Travis Earls (who had just arrived for his welcoming comments) and 4 counselors who had been delayed at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport. Most of the camp's main buildings were damaged beyond repair. Following a lengthy investigation, the Indiana Bureau of Land Management turned the camp over to Smythe in March of 1963.
Smythe managed to rebuild and the camp opened in the summer of 1964. At it's opening, Smythe commeted that rebuilding the camp was his only means of memorializing the dead, including his own children who had been playing near the mess hall when the explosion occurred. For years, the camp remained a popular summer destination for youth and families alike. However, in 1969, the camp again made headlines when a series of disappearances sent many campers elsewhere, with only the most loyal visitors returning. For nearly a decade, police searched for clues that would lead to an arrest. However, it was not until 1978 that police identified a peculiar link in the disappearances that occured each fall. Campers had gone missing the second Monday of October each year. This link lead police back to Smythe, who had long been grieving the loss of his children. Although Smythe had assisted with the numerous investigations surrounding the property, he was not believed capable of commiting these offenses. It was a more extensive search of the entire property that finally led to a small metal shack on the outskirts of trail #13. The camp was immediately closed and a manhunt ensued. Authorities were seen removing Smythe's tools and equipment from the camp, but Smythe himself has never been apprehended.  While several shallow graves were found on the grounds, only about a third of the missing have been located. Camp Angst would never return to it's former glory, but residents of the area occasionally report what they believe to be Smythe's old blue pick-up truck on the property.

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