Lerner's story was based on a story by Friedrich Gerstacker that had nothing whatever to do with Scotland. The original tale concerned the mythical, German village of Germelshausen that fell under an evil, magic curse. In Lerner's play, the Scottish village of Brigadoon became enchanted centuries ago. The community remained unchanging and invisible to the outside world except for one, special day every hundred years, when it could be seen and visited by outsiders. Visitors might be allowed to stay, but if anyone ever left Brigadoon, the miracle would be broken -- and that would be the end of them all.

By fortunate coincidence -- "fortunate," because otherwise there would be no story to tell ! a couple of New Yorkers visiting Scotland on a hunting trip stumble upon a remote, misty glen on the very day when Brigadoon makes its brief, centennial appearance.
Brigadoon is great fun. The show is a good-natured, if fanciful, interpretation of all the nice things that North Americans imagine about Scotland, replete with swinging kilts, bonnie lassies, droning bagpipes, Highland flings and "Heather on the Hill" (another of the songs from this light but enduring musical.)