Inside the Life of the Man Known as the 'Spark Ranger' - Longreads

By AutomatticAugust 19, 20131 min read

The life and death of Roy Sullivan, a park ranger for Shenandoah National Park who was struck by lightning seven times: “A gentle rain fell on April 16, 1972. The Spark Ranger was in a small guardhouse atop Loft Mountain, registering carloads of visitors who were arriving at the campground. Not so much as a […]

Read article

Comments

No comments yet.

Anguished Parents, Crying Doctors: Life Amid Utah’s Measles Outbreak

"The state’s outbreak means adapting to America’s new reality, in which vaccine-preventable diseases become common again."

Seyward DarbyJun 9, 2026

Longreads

The End of Books

"What happened when a dumpster arrived behind my university's library."

Krista StevensJun 9, 2026

Longreads

Friction: A Reading List on Why Inconvenience Can Be Meaningful

Five stories that explore the risks and rewards of life's little hurdles.

Courtney E. MartinJun 9, 2026

Longreads

The True Story Behind the “El Cap Kindergartener” Ascent

"On May 22, a 7-year-old reached the summit of El Capitan. Why are so many climbers upset about it?"

Carolyn WellsJun 9, 2026

Longreads

For People with Misophonia, Everyday Noises Can Be Agony

"The neurophysiological disorder is characterized by a severe aversion to sound—and the struggle to convince others of the severity of that aversion."

Cheri Lucas RowlandsJun 9, 2026

Longreads

Losing Paradise

"As rising seas swallow Louisiana’s marshes, oil companies are pretending nothing has changed — and that now floatable, fishable waters remain their private property."

Brendan FitzgeraldJun 8, 2026

Inside the Life of the Man Known as the 'Spark Ranger' - Longreads

Related

Anguished Parents, Crying Doctors: Life Amid Utah’s Measles Outbreak

The End of Books

Friction: A Reading List on Why Inconvenience Can Be Meaningful

The True Story Behind the “El Cap Kindergartener” Ascent

For People with Misophonia, Everyday Noises Can Be Agony

Losing Paradise