ATLANTA — If you live in Atlanta, you inevitably hear stories about the frightening waters of Lake Lanier. Now, a new docuseries aims to explore its murky past and tell the stories of those who nearly drowned at the lake.
Last year, the duo behind the documentary series, William Eric Bush-Anderson and Cindy Kunz-Anderson, released a fictional horror movie inspired by the spooky tall tales surrounding the lake.
The duo's newest project, titled "Surviving Lake Lanier," takes a more non-fiction approach, interviewing those who had near-death experiences while on the lake.
The series also touches on the area's tragic namely the destruction of the town of Oscarville at the turn of the 20th century.
The town was formed in the late 1800s during the Reconstruction era. Oscarville was a thriving Black community full of carpenters, blacksmiths, and bricklayers, with farming as the top trade.
Then in 1912, Mae Crow, a 19-year-old white woman, was found dead in the woods near Oscarville, presumably after being raped.
When night arrived, terror fell over Oscarville as mobs came together and drove the Black community out.
Following the town's destruction, the Buford Dam was built in the late 1950s, and Lake Lanier was formed, covering up Oscarville and swallowing most of its history.
Now, many people believe the lake is haunted because of the high number of drownings that occur there. Officials have even said an entire town, including structures and even forest areas with trees that are 60 feet tall, is lurking under the water.
It makes it more challenging to navigate through the lake. They said someone can quickly become trapped in debris, causing them to drown.
Surviving Lake Lanier is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
You can watch a trailer for the series below: