Provo Library’s ‘Satanic Panic’ Unveiled: Folklore or Fact?

UPDATE: New insights reveal the chilling folklore surrounding the Provo Library, once a high school, has roots in the infamous “satanic panic” of the late 1970s to early 1990s. Chris Blythe, an Assistant Professor at Brigham Young University, shared the library’s haunted history, drawing attention to a time when fears of satanic rituals gripped the community.

The now-modern library was originally established as Brigham Young Academy over a century ago, operating until it remained vacant for nearly two decades. During this period, local legends began to swirl, with reports of vandalism linked to satanic messages and alarming claims of youth engaging in “Satan worship.”

Blythe emphasizes that the panic escalated due to sensational media coverage, including articles such as “Satan Worship in Zion,” fueling fears of alleged satanic cults infiltrating the empty academy. “During Halloween in particular, stories circulated about satanists breaking in,” Blythe stated, revealing how the community’s anxiety reached a peak.

Eric Eliason, a former ROTC student at BYU, recounted his experience guarding the library during this tumultuous period. “The expectation was that the satanists might try to get into the building to do their rituals,” Eliason recalled, though he noted that no such events ever occurred during his watch.

Blythe firmly dismisses the validity of these claims, stating, “Oh no, we had some kids who claimed to be satanists because they wanted to be metalheads in the 80s.” He explains how myths around the library snowballed, prompting community members to organize security measures to ward off the supposed satanists.

The panic eventually subsided, allowing for a return to rationality. Blythe reflects on the phenomenon of “legend tripping,” where individuals visit sites associated with urban legends, which can perpetuate fear and misinformation.

While Blythe remains open to the idea of “invisible spirits,” he urges caution against taking folklore at face value. “I’m completely willing to believe there are invisible spirits all around me, but I don’t place stock in any given story,” he remarked.

For those interested in Utah’s eerie history, the full exploration of this captivating folklore is available on the News4Utah+ app, featuring exclusive interviews and in-depth analysis. Stay tuned for more on this developing story as the Provo Library’s haunted past continues to captivate the public’s imagination.

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