The Wyoming Incident: The Fake Broadcast That Haunted the Internet

An infamous creepypasta, a chaotic ARG, and one of the web’s longest-running mysteries—explained.

Imagine flipping on your local news and seeing it hijacked by a nightmarish video that supposedly drives viewers insane. That’s the premise behind The Wyoming Incident, a viral internet horror legend that’s been creeping people out since the mid-2000s.

So, what is the Wyoming Incident?

The Wyoming Incident is a 2006 creepypasta and alternate reality game (ARG) centered on a fictional TV broadcast hijacking. The story claims a Wyoming news station was hacked and replaced with disturbing footage filled with eerie images, droning sounds, and cryptic messages like:

• YOU WILL SEE SUCH PRETTY THINGS

• WHAT HIDES IN YOUR MIND?

• WE STAND AT THE DOOR

According to the legend, the video used infrasonic frequencies to cause hallucinations, paranoia, and madness. The hacker was never caught—and that mystery fueled the internet’s obsession.

How the legend spiraled

After the video surfaced online in 2006, users on forums like unfiction began expanding the story. What followed was an explosion of lore:

• Multiple “versions” of the video appeared

• Blogs emerged from supposedly cursed video owners

• A shadowy message board called The Happy Cube entered the story

• Rumors of serial killers, cult rituals, and “black-eyed children” took over the narrative

The ARG became intentionally confusing, constantly blurring the line between fiction, performance art, and social experiment. New plot twists appeared for years—then suddenly stopped, leaving fans with more questions than answers.

Is the Wyoming Incident real?

Short answer: No.
The Wyoming Incident is completely fictional.

The videos, the hijacking, the madness—they’re all part of a collaborative horror project fueled by internet creativity. However, it was inspired by a real event: the 1987 Max Headroom broadcast hijacking, when two Chicago TV stations were actually interrupted by a masked intruder.

Why people still talk about it

What makes the Wyoming Incident iconic isn’t the video itself—it’s how thousands of users collectively built a living horror story. It’s considered one of the longest-running ARGs in internet history, and a blueprint for modern online horror.

Even knowing it’s fake, the atmosphere, mystery, and sheer effort behind it still get under people’s skin.

Bottom line:
The Wyoming Incident isn’t real—but the paranoia, creativity, and cultural impact absolutely are.