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Skull Cave on Mackinac Island and the Spirits Haunting it

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Used as a burial place for centuries, Skull Cave on Mackinac Island is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who were laid to rest there and disturbed when they removed their bones.

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Skull Cave: Mackinac Island has a long history of being a sacred place for the natives and a burial ground for their chiefs. One of those places were the Skull Cave on the island. It is said that the bones buried there were removed and their spirits are now haunting the place.

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. This serene island served as a significant cultural and spiritual hub, where various tribes gathered for trading, ceremonies, and the sharing of traditions. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, serving as a crucial hub for commerce and cultural exchange between native tribes and European settlers. Over time, the island gained prominence and later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, playing a vital role in the defense strategies of the time. This rich history laid the groundwork for its transformation; by the late 19th century, it evolved into more than just a trading site and military stronghold. It became a charming summer colony and a sought-after tourist destination, attracting visitors with its picturesque landscapes, recreational activities, and rich maritime culture—a character it retains to this day, drawing in new generations eager to explore its storied past.

The Skull Cave and How it got its Name

A place with a horrifying history behind it is the Skull Cave. In 1763 an English fur trader named Alexander Henry was out a bad night and had to take shelter somewhere. It was in the midst of the Pontiac’s War where Native Americans tried to overthrow British rule around the Great Lakes area. Twenty were killed and one scalped alive. Alexander Henry managed to escape to Mackinac Island as he was friends with the Ojibwe warrior Wawatam who brought him.

He found a cave hidden away in the Mackinac Island State Park and slept there, seeking shelter from the chilly night air. When he woke the next morning to the bright light of day, he was greeted by a horrifying sight that made his heart race in terror. The cave floor was filled with human remains, strewn about in a terrifying display that gave it its infamous name. The ghastly scene was accentuated by the eerie silence of the cave, broken only by the distant sound of water dripping from the cave roof. In his diary he wrote:

On awaking, I felt myself incommoded by some object upon which I lay, and, removing it, found it to be a bone. This I supposed to be that of a deer, or some other animal, and what might very naturally be looked for in the place in which I was; but when daylight visited my chamber I discovered, with some feelings of horror, that I was lying on nothing less than a heap of human bones and skulls, which covered the floor!

Skull Cave: To honor the place as a sacred burial ground, the cave is now closed for visitors, and you can’t go inside. Although the bones are said to have been removed, the spirits of those buried there are said to haunt the cave.

The Legends of the Haunted Skull Cave

The cave is one of the island’s oldest geological features. The limestone cave had been used as a burial site as well as other spiritual rites by the natives well into the 1700s when Alexander Henry happened upon it. It has never really been officially confirmed, but is still believed and the local natives in the area had a tradition of burying their dead close to water. .

The cave’s background gave rise to its eerie reputation and stories. The skulls ended up being removed, someone thinking this would have angered the spirits and they are haunting the cave. 

Tourists visiting the site claim to have seen shadowy figures and apparitions sneaking along the cave walls, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to the location that draws many adventurous souls. These eerie encounters have fueled local legends and stories, making the cave a hotspot for those intrigued by the supernatural.

There is also said to be sudden drops in temperature and an unexplainable odd feeling when getting closer to the caves, as if the very atmosphere shifts and thickens, leaving an unsettling yet compelling sensation that keeps visitors at a distance, contemplating the hidden secrets that lie within the shadows of the cave.

To preserve the cave and respect it as a sacred burial ground, they have closed it off so you can’t go into the cave, ensuring that its historical and cultural significance is honored and protected from the wear and tear of modern exploration.

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References:

Haunted Locations: Mackinac Island, Michigan – GhostQuest.net

Skull Cave – Mackinac Island 

Skull Cave (Mackinac Island) – Wikipedia

Skull Cave Mackinac Island: Exploring a Hidden Landmark 

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The Luxurious Haunting at the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island

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At the old and stately Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, there are rumors about more than one ghost haunting the place. When building the hotel, they uncovered so many human bones they lost count. Some say that they are still under the luxurious hotel.

In the pristine waters of Lake Huron, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island serves as a tranquil retreat celebrated for its picturesque beauty, historic allure, and a notable reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

Mackinac Island: Cars were banned at the end of the nineteenth century due to health and safety concerns for the island’s residents and horses, as local carriage drivers said it scared their horses. This, together with the old historic houses and lush nature makes you feel like stepping back in time and welcoming old ghosts to linger.

The Grand Hotel: A Luxurious Haunt

The Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island has become an iconic symbol of the island, is as famous for its opulence as it is for its ghostly residents. Built in 1887, this sprawling hotel has hosted numerous notable guests—and a few uninvited spectral ones.

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The Grand Hotel is located on Grand Avenue is one of the most recognizable buildings with its 660-foot porch said to be the longest in the world. It was built in 1887 for the rich rail and steamship passengers. 

Movies have been filmed here and presidents and celebrities have stayed here. And according to some, so does the dead. 

Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island

The Mass Graves Found on Mackinac Island

In 2011 developers of a new hotel discovered a mass grave downtown on Mackinac Island. They had a plan of  building a three storey hotel at the site. Before the hotel construction started, there was a building known as the MacNally Cottage at the location. Some think that the cottage was built on a Catholic cemetery of the St. Anne’s Catholic Church who closed the cemetery in December in 1851. where there were many native american members as well. The police said that there were some bones belonging to animals, but there were also human bones. The human bones found were likely from the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of the Chippewa natives. Many hundred bones were unearthed.

The tribal members came to reclaim and rebury the remains to give them a traditional ceremony, but the building of the hotel went on ahead as well. The next year a few bones were discovered on the site of a remodel for a Main Street store. So it’s safe to say that most of the construction work on Mackinac Island will dig up some bones. Which begs the question, what did they find when they first built the Grand Hotel in 1887? 

According to the lore, they found so many bones and bodies during construction that they were unable to keep track of them. Who were the people buried here? Were they Anishinaabe Chiefs, warring tribes, or the fallen European soldiers from the wars fought on the land? We don’t really know, because they decided to build on top of them without removing the skeletons in the ground or doing further investigations. Some say that this has angered the spirits, and awakened them to haunt the Grand Hotel. 

The Ghosts of the Grand Hotel

So what are the ghost stories inside of the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island? According to the staff, they keep hearing and seeing things they can’t explain, when they clock in for the morning shift, they find furniture has mysteriously moved. There are many different entities that are said to be the ones haunting the Grand Hotel. Here are some of the legends:

The Lady in Black

One of the most well-known spirits is the “Lady in Black,” believed to be a former guest who never checked out. Guests and staff have reported seeing the spirit of a young woman wearing Victorian era clothing, wandering the halls, particularly near the hotel’s grand staircase or walking a large dog on the porch after dark. She has even been said to get into bed with the other living guests.

The Haunting Black Mass

Another peculiar thing that is said to be haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is a sort of evil entity, appearing for staff and guests as a black mass with glowing red eyes. 

A maintenance man was once working at the theater stage at the hotel. According to him, there was suddenly a black mass rushing after him, knocking him off his feet and out. Two days later he woke up from the fall and decided to never go back to the hotel.

Haunted Hotel: There is said to be more than one ghost haunting the hotel. //Source: Photo of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island during the late 1920’s.

Other Ghost Haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Another frequent sighting is that of an elderly man in a top hat lingering around the hotel’s bar and piano room, smoking a cigar. Those who see him claim that he disappears when approached.

Another is the ghost of Little Rebecca, who passed away on the grounds and haunts the fourth floor, being spotted floating or walking through the halls and disappearing to nowhere.

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References:

Historic Burial Site Found During Hotel Excavation | Interlochen Public Radio

Meet America’s Most Haunted Town: 5 Ghost Stories From MI’s Mackinac Island

Hauntings of the Grand Hotel: Mackinac Island, Michigan

Another Construction Site Unearths Bones On Mackinac Island | Interlochen Public Radio

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The Haunted Dark Entry Forest and the Cursed Dudleytown

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You are not allowed to enter the Dark Entry Forest any longer. Inside there is the ghost town of Dudleytown, a town said to be so cursed it didn’t end well for any of the settlers. They turned mad, dead or even taken by the ‘creature of the forest’. 

Once this area was sacred ground for the Mohawk Nation, but this all changed after colonization and today it is known as a cursed place. The Dark Entry Forest in northwestern Connecticut, with its ominous sounding name, has an even worse reputation of being cursed and haunted, a forest of complete silence and darkness. 

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The Dark Entry Forest got its name because of how little sun that gets through the trees when the settlers first came here. Records claim that some parts were dark already around noon. The nearby mountains also cast long shadows, making the land look a little darker and scarier than it perhaps was. 

The Ghost of Dudleytown in Dark Entry Forest

Not only is the Dark Entry Forest itself creepy, but the remains of a now abandoned ghost town is also the source of many of the rumors. Dudleytown stands as a ghostly testament to a bygone era. 

Tucked away a few miles south of Cornwall Bridge, Dudleytown found its home in the Dark Entry Forest. The very name evokes images of shadowy paths and hidden secrets. Back then it was known as Owlsbury. It was never really a town, and at most, the settlement reached around 26 people living there. 

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Dudleytown, though never officially a town, etched its place in history in the early 1740s when settlers like Thomas Griffis and the Dudley family took root in this desolate corner of Cornwall. Barzillai Dudley and Abiel Dudley, among others, built a community that would soon become synonymous with tales of misfortune and spectral encounters. However, the town’s decline wasn’t a result of curses but rather practical challenges — distant water sources and unsuitable soil for cultivation. Or was it really?

As the town succumbed to abandonment sometime after the Civil War, its remnants, like cellar holes, became the silent witnesses to a past that refuses to be forgotten. Since 1924, Dark Entry Forest, Incorporated, has guarded the land, preserving it from the encroachment of curious onlookers and seekers of the supernatural.

Rumors and Curses of the Dudley Line

Legend has it that Dudleytown carries a curse, stemming from the supposed lineage of its founders, who were said to be descendants of the beheaded English nobleman, Edmund Dudley under the reign of Henry VII from 1485 to 1509. So what is the background for his curse?

Edmund Dudley: Edmund Dudley (c. 1462 – August 17, 1510) was an English figure during King Henry VII and thought to be the originator of the curse. Dudley’s involvement in a plot against the crown led to his arrest. In 1510, he was charged with treason and beheaded.

Edmund Dudley served in the council for King Henry VII, but when Henry VIII took over, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed in 1510 charged with treason. His son John Dudley was the one trying to put his daughter in law, Lady Jane Grey on the throne but was also convicted of high treason and executed. 

According to this rumor on the internet, his family curse followed his descendant when they crossed the Atlantic and settled in Dudleytown. This was Edmund Dudley’s grandchild, Robert, Earl of Leicester, a favorite of Elizabeth I.

This is not the only ghost story this man is involved in though, most notably that he was haunted by his wife, Amy Robsart, who died under suspicious circumstances. Read more about it in The Hauntings of Amy Robsart in Wychwood Forest. 

There are also those that claim that a Dudley ancestor who was a judge, sentenced people to death for witchcraft. Apparently one of them was in fact a witch and cursed him and his entire family line to misfortune. This is actually a theory put forward by ghosthunter and demonologist, Ed Warren. 

This curse, whispered through generations, is blamed for everything from crop failures to tragic deaths within the village. This could also be because it was located on top of a hill, unsuitable for farming. 

However, historical scrutiny reveals no genealogical link to the English nobleman, and factual inconsistencies abound. Especially the legend about it being Robert, Earl of Leicester, that settled in America, as he never did. The true story lies hidden in the annals of time, obscured by the mists of myth and rumor. Although, there truly are many Dudley’s and historical records does not necessarily mean blood.

Vandalism and the Blair Witch Effect on Dark Entry Forest

Tales of the Dark Entry Forest being haunted can be traced back to the 80s, at least, perhaps even further back as some say people talked about it, even in the 1940s. 

What we know is that in 1926, Edward C. Starr published two pages about Dudleytown residents in his History of Cornwall. Fictitious most of it it seems. It didn’t garner much attention at the time, but in the early 1970s, the story got picked up by Ed and Lorraine Warren, a couple from Connecticut and self declared demonologists, most famous for investigating the Amityville house. 

They used the story in a videotaped Halloween special where they said the town was demonically possessed and controlled by something terrifying. 

As the 1999 film, The Blair Witch Project, brought haunted forests into the spotlight, Dudleytown found itself thrust into the public eye once more together with Dark Entry Forest. A surge of interest, fueled by rumors of curses and ghostly apparitions, led to a rise in vandalism. Despite the best efforts of local authorities and the closure of the village site, Dudleytown became a magnet for those seeking a brush with the supernatural.

Blair Witch Project: A horror film released in 1999. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the movie employs the found-footage style to tell the story of three student filmmakers who venture into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, to document the legend of the Blair Witch. The film gained immense popularity for its innovative approach, creating a sense of realism and fear through shaky camera work and minimalist effects. Despite its modest budget, “The Blair Witch Project” became a massive success and left a lasting impact on the horror genre. It in turn was said to have been inspired by: The Legend of the Witch Moll Dyer

Haunting and Cursed Going on

The legend is that, in addition to the family curse, was plagued by ghosts as well as demonic forces. Even before The Blair Witch Project was released, the New York Times dubbed the town Connecticut favorite ghost town and the village of the damned. 

Strange Creatures of the Dark Entry Forest

One of the legends coming from the Dark Forest, is about the mysterious and strange creatures coming to the settlers from time to time. What is it, and if the villagers really feared this has never really been clear.

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One of those that talked about this was William Tanner who was said to have gone insane and talked about that there were these strange creatures that came out from the woods at night. This especially happened when a Gershon Hollister was murdered in his barn in 1792. Or was it that he fell from the rafters? It is also worth mentioning that he was said to have been slightly demented in his old age, said to have died at 104. 

It is said though the ghost of Gershon Hollister is haunting the settlement, appearing as a shadow, calling out for help. 

Insanity Plaguing the Villagers

There are many cases where insanity was sort of a confirmation that Dudleytown was cursed. Like with the Revolutionary War General, Herman Swift that lived close to Dudleytown. His wife, Sarah Faye was killed when she was struck by lightning standing on her porch. It is said he went insane and died soon after. 

Even after the original Dudleytown had died out, cases of insanity continued to haunt the Dark Entry Forest. In 1900 a Dr. William Clarke came to the Dark Entry Forest and purchased land that included Dudleytown. There he built a summer home where he and his wife Harriet Bank Clark visited on weekends and summers. 

In 1918 however, Dr. Clark had to go to New York for a medical emergency and left his wife in the house. He didn’t stay long, and after 36 hours, he was back, but it was already too late. According to the stories he came home and found his wife being insane, talking about strange creatures coming out of the Dark Entry Forest. 

Not long after she committed suicide. Although it is known that she suffered from a chronic illness, most likely a mental illness that is, or perhaps such a painful one that she couldn’t take it anymore.. 

The Plague and Curse

Although we know today that different plagues and illnesses were common in these times, it was also speculated that they were under some sort of curse. In Dudleytown there was a house built by Abiel Dudley who had died after he went insane, or perhaps old and demented. Some claim to have seen his ghost, sitting on the porch of the ruins of his former house. 

In 1759, Nathaniel Carter moved into the house in Dark Entry Forest. A plague took most of his family and they moved from Dark Entry Forest to the Delaware wilderness in the natives territory and they were attacked where they killed Nathaniel, his wife and their infant child. Their three other children were kidnapped and brought to Canada. Some say that they took the Dudley curse with them just as it had followed from England. Some say you can see and hear their ghosts in their former house today. 

The three other children did fine though as the two daughters were ransomed. The son, David Carted stayed with the natives, married one of them and returned to the States to get his education. He ended up as an editor of a newspaper as well as a justice on the Supreme Court. 

The Vanished Residents of Dudleytown

There were also tales that residents vanished under mysterious circumstances into Dark Entry Forest. Some of these were the Brophy family that still lived in Dudleytown in 1901 when most had already left. 

His wife had died of consumption and he was left with their two children. One day they suddenly went missing, and went into the Dark Entry Forest just after their mothers funeral. Could they have ran off? Yes, as they had been accused of theft. They were however never found again. Shortly after their house burnt to the ground and after this, Brophy himself vanished into the forest just as his children had. He was also never seen again. 

What happened, we don’t know. Did he search for his children? Was he taken by the creature of the forest just like his kids? Perhaps he went on the lamb after burning his house down?

Screams and The Devil’s Breath

There are also more vague and general things that are deemed as strange by many. It is said that dogs refuse to enter the woods around these parts, or become aggressive. Strange animal injuries and going missing, only to never return or return completely traumatized. 

People claim to have heard screams coming from the woods as well as whispers in the night. They also heard heavy footsteps, but when turning around, there was no one there. 

The Devil’s breath is also a thing said to happen in the Dark Entry Forest, where a mystic mist comes from the forest, perhaps even poisonous. This could be from the time in the early 1800s though, when Dudleytown was a mining community.

If not because of a family curse, could it be because they disturbed the natives sacred land, thought to be a burial ground? No one can say for sure, but the legends surrounding Dudleytown and Dark Entry Forest certainly persists.

The Forbidden Dark Entry Forest

Dudleytown, veiled in the shadows of the Dark Entry Forest, remains a spectral enigma that captivates the imagination. The locals talk about it all being nonsense, as well as there are locals that claim there is something going on in the woods.  

Today the woods are closed off and you can suffer a huge fine of around 100 dollars if you enter it and police claim they find trespassers many times every month, mostly people in search of ghosts. So because of this, we have to fear the rumors of it from a distance. Perhaps just as well. 

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References:

THE VIEW FROM: DUDLEYTOWN; A Hamlet That Can’t Get Rid of Its Ghosts – The New York Times 

Dudleytown, Connecticut – Wikipedia 

“curse” on Dudleytown 

The Dudleytown Curse, Connecticut’s Village of the Damned – New England Historical Society 

10 Creepy Secrets about the Town That Never Existed – Listverse 

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Haunting of the Native Burial Ground in Robinson Woods

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After the Native Burial Ground was disturbed in Robinson Woods in Illinois, people have started to notice strange things happening in the woods. Shadow figures and mysterious lights are accompanied by the Tom-tom drum.

In Robinson Woods, Illinois, lies a forest preserve with a haunting past that stretches back to the era of the Fort Dearborn Massacre. Once granted to the family of Alexander Robinson, a chief revered for his heroic deeds during that dark chapter in history, the land now carries whispers of an unresolved promise and a restless spirit.

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Robinson Woods is mostly wooded, with some scattered remnant prairies along the Des Plaines River. About half of 265-acre Robinson Woods. The site includes the Robinson family homestead and burial grounds.

The Noble Deeds of Chee-chee-pin-quay

Alexander Robinson, chief of multiple Native American tribes, played a crucial role in saving lives during the Fort Dearborn Massacre. This was his English name though and he was really named chief Chee-chee-pin-quay of the Potawatomi, born in 1787 with a Chippewa mother and a Scottish father.

After he helped save the white settlers in the massacre, he was also a translator and negotiator between the settlers and the natives. In gratitude, the land was bestowed upon him in 1872 with the assurance that he and his family would rest there for eternity. However, the city reneged on its commitment, breaking the promise to bury Robinson and his kin within the woods.

The Native American Burial Land

Many sources state that it was because Robinson himself was denied burial on his land, but this is not true, he was. In the forest there are two large stones marking his final resting place together with his family. Although, the true story of what happened after is much more upsetting. 

Burial Ground: Although the headstones of the graves was lost for a long time, big stones marks the burial ground inside of Robinson Woods. // Source

His family and descendants continued to live on his land, and at his homestead for decades. This was until 1955 when a fire broke out and burned the family home down. His granddaughter, Mary Boettcher had no means to rebuild their home and had to live elsewhere, thereby relinquishing their family claim to their land. 

The same year three boys were found dead in the Robinson wood that would go unsolved for 40 years. Around this time, tales of paranormal sightings became rampant. It isn’t really said that the murder has anything to do with the haunting, but after the murders as well as what happened with the Robinson Homestead and Burial Ground, people started to talk about the strange things happening in the woods.

In 1973 The Forest Preserve District didn’t allow anyone else to get buried on their family burial and when Robinson’s stone was taken to be restored, it was lost for years until it returned to the family in 2016. It turned out that it was The Forest Preserve District that had the headstones in storage all along, as the stones were so frequently vandalized. 

The Haunting inside of the Forest

Legend has it that Robinson’s spirit, denied its rightful resting place to his people, lingers among the ancient trees, casting an otherworldly presence upon the woods. Visitors have reported a pervasive feeling of an unseen entity, an unexplainable heaviness that hangs in the air. As daylight surrenders to the night, the forest awakens with spectral activity — mysterious knocks echoing through the trees, distant screams haunting the stillness, and elusive dark shadows that dance in the moonlight. Even the sound of the tom-toms drums have been heard according to reports.

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Some claim to have encountered apparitions that vanish as quickly as they appear, leaving behind an eerie silence. Some even claim to have seen strange lights, or mist and even smelled violet and lavender, even when it was in the middle of winter. 

On Haunted Holy Land in Robinson Woods

Robinson Woods, now a tranquil forest preserve, conceals within its depths a tale of broken promises and a chief’s unsettled spirit. As the whispers of the haunted past persist, those who traverse the winding trails of Robinson Woods may find themselves caught between the realms of the living and the spectral, where the legacy of Alexander Robinson and the enigmatic haunting of the woods endure.

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References:

Robinson Woods | Chicago Illinois | Real Haunted Place 

Alexander Robinson (chief) – Wikipedia 

Robinson Woods – Forest Preserves of Cook County 

Headstones From Plot Belonging To Prominent Early Chicagoan Alexander Robinson Returned To Family – CBS Chicago 

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Where Nothing Will Grow: The Devil’s Tramping Ground

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In North Carolina you will find The Devil’s Tramping Ground where it is said that the Devil walks at night and because of it, nothing will ever grow there. It is also connected to the story about Croatan and the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.

In the depths of the Harper’s Crossroads area in Bear Creek, North Carolina, lies a camping spot that has become the epicenter of persistent local legends—the notorious Devil’s Tramping Ground, a sort of barren circle of around 40 feet in diameter on the ground where nothing is said to grow. 

The Devil’s Tramping Ground has written records dating back as far as the 1700s, calling it “poisoned land”. Not even a strain of grass will grow and anytime someone tries to sow a seed there, it will only wither away.

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The area is perhaps known as one of the most haunted and mysterious places in North Carolina with its lush green pine forest. It is also said to be the place where the devil himself comes to, as he paces around the circle, contemplating on his evil plans. It is also said he dances around the campfire in the middle of the circle and people have even seen his red glowing eyes. 

The Devil’s Tramping Ground: Darkened soil goes in a near perfect circle. Many ties in local legends to this strange place, like the stories that the devil is stomping around in circles here at night. // Source: Jason Horne

The name The Devil’s Tramping Ground comes from the settlers, mainly people from Scotland and Ireland and in particular Ulster, that brought their stories and ideas about the Devil with them and eventually became part of the Americana folklore. But some claim that the strange and mysterious stories about the Devil’s Tramping Ground started way before it. 

Is The Devil’s Tramping Ground the Real Croatan?

Another legend about this place was that it was a meeting place for the local native tribes where they would meet in the circle for their feasts as well as ceremonial dances. In an article from 1882, it was even mentioned how some of the tribes had a “superstitious dread” for the place. 

The Croatan, also known as the Croatoan or Hatteras, were a Native American tribe that inhabited the coastal regions of present-day North Carolina. Believed to be part of the Algonquian-speaking family of tribes, the Croatan people played a significant role in the history of the Roanoke Island area.

Also known for being connected with the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island and the very place itself is Croatan, or referring to the Croatan tribes that used to live in the area. 

The Lost Colony of Roanoke: Established in 1587 on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, was the first English settlement in the New World. Led by Governor John White, the colonists faced various challenges, prompting White to return to England for supplies. When he returned in 1590, the colony had vanished, leaving only the cryptic word “Croatan” carved on a tree. The fate of the colonists remains a mystery, with theories ranging from assimilation into Native American tribes, to violent encounters, to relocation to Croatoan Island. The Lost Colony and the mention of “Croatan” continue to be enigmatic chapters in early American history, sparking intrigue and speculation about the fate of those who mysteriously disappeared.

This is allegedly the name of the fallen tribal chief or the tribe itself that is buried there after a big battle between two opposing Indian chiefs and tribes. The losing tribe allegedly then ran off to the Outer Banks and became a part of the Lost Colony. Because as the famous story would have it, suddenly, the entire colony with its 118 settlers suddenly vanished.

The word Croatan is carved into a tree on Roanoke Island or a fort gatepost, and some claim it is referring to this place, the chief that died in the battle or the tribe.  

This story about The Devil’s Tramping Ground being a haunted place long before the settlers arrived has been told in writing for at least dating back to 1905 in The Carolinian. When it got connected with the legend of Roanoke Island and the Lost Colony is a little bit more unclear.

In this story though, the Gods themselves made the circle barren as a memorial to those faithful who lost their lives in battle. 

Lore and Legends of The Devil’s Tramping Ground

Those brave enough to spend a night within the boundaries of the Devil’s Tramping Ground report strange and unsettling events. From inexplicable noises echoing through the forest to an overwhelming sense of malevolence, the haunted atmosphere leaves an indelible mark on those who dare to test the boundaries of the supernatural.

The owner of the land, Tamara Owen has had the ground in their family for more than 100 years, and she doesn’t dare to venture close to the circle of The Devil’s Tramping Ground at night. 

Some of the many legends that are told about the Devil’s Tramping Ground range from objects left within the ring mysteriously vanishing overnight, and dogs are said to yip and howl, refusing to approach the haunted grounds. 

Some even claim that when people have spent the night by the circle, it has driven them insane and some never recovered from it. 

In the 1930s it was even written in the Chatham Record about a big black beast that chased hunters and their dogs away from the place. 

In Popular Culture:

The Devil’s Tramping Ground has transcended local legend to permeate popular culture in both books, movies and music. Renowned horror novelist Poppy Z. Brite has incorporated the haunting locale into two chilling novels, “Lost Souls” and “Drawing Blood.” 

The legends have also found their way into music with bluegrass singers Tommy Edwards and the Bluegrass Experience song, The Devil’s Tramping Ground. This is also the case with the song by Russell Johnson from 1995:

Scientific Reasons to this Strange Phenomenon

Some claim The Devil’s Tramping Ground was a place where horses created the path as they went round and round with ether paths as it was used as a spot for an old molasses mill. It could also have been used as a burning pit when the locals in the area started to produce pine tar to export, all up to the 1940s. 

Soil scientists have taken a closer look to what the scientific reason for this place could be. Tests have shown that the chemistry of the soil is vastly different from the rest of the surrounding area, but it is not toxic, and seemingly, plants should be able to grow there. 

Some also say that the soil itself was salted by purpose and therefore sterile to its cause as shown in tests done by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. People also think that the amount of ashes from it being used as a campsite has something to do with the soil’s ability to grow anything. 

Although the spot has written reports about it being a barren land dating back at least a century, before becoming the local party spot. Or maybe there is something else meeting up in the circle of darkened soil in the forest?

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References:

The Scary Truth: The Devil’s Tramping Ground | North Carolina Ghosts 

‘No human knows:’ Devil’s Tramping Ground legend predates founding of the United States 

UNC-TV Science | Devil’s Tramping Ground | PBS NC 

Devil’s Tramping Ground – Wikipedia 

Devils Tramping Ground 

Devil’s Tramping Ground | NCpedia 

Devil’s Tramping Ground | Amusing Planet 

https://eu.fayobserver.com/story/news/2021/10/18/bladenboro-beast-brown-mountain-lights-devils-tramping-ground-explained/6038220001/

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The Cursed and Haunted Elfin Forest in California

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Amidst the haunted rumors about a white witch on the prowl, a native burial ground as well as an old gypsy curse on the land, the sunny Elfin Forest in California holds dark secrets.

Within the heart of North County San Diego close to Escondido, Elfin Forest remains a hidden gem, known for its picturesque landscapes and scenic trails through the shrub landscape. However, beneath the tranquil façade of this seemingly idyllic forest at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains lies a tapestry woven with eerie tales and haunted rumors that have captured the imaginations of locals and thrill-seekers alike. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories and haunted places in the USA

Officially known as the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, it encompasses over 700 acres of diverse ecosystems, including chaparral, woodland, and riparian habitats. It also used to go under the name Questhaven. There have been many tales about what you can find inside, everything from haunted asylums, strange creatures and ancient burial grounds. But how much of it is really true?

Elfin Forest: View of Escondido Creek inside of the forest which is located in the northern half of San Diego County. The forest is a popular hiking spot as well as thought to be haunted. Some go as far as saying it is cursed. // Source: Wikimedia

The area is a haven for hikers, birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts who seek solace amidst the serene beauty of Southern California’s natural landscapes. The roads going through the area are curvy, full of twists and in some places the phone reception completely disappears.

Who knew that some of the darkest legends would be found in sunny California?

Gypsy Ghosts and Curses

There are stories that the area was inhabited by Romani people or something like them in the 19th century and well into the 20th century. There certainly is a spiritual community that has been there for a while called Harmony Grove.  

According to the local legends, the original spiritual romani settlers were chased away by their neighbors, killing those that refused to follow command. According to their neighboring communities they held rituals around the forest. 

Read more: Check out more stories about haunted forests

Because of how they were treated and as retribution, they cursed the land and the forest. Many of the urban legends and haunted rumors stem from this belief of a gypsy curse and gave rise to the paranormal rumors hovering over Elfin Forest ever since. 

The Urban Legend of the White Owl

One of the urban legends that came out of Elfin Forest is the one of the white owl. According to the stories, it is a ten-foot owl that comes out at nights, soaring above the trees and seeks those that dares enter the forest.

Giant Owls: There are many variants of urban legends concerning owls. One so is the tale of La Lechuza that comes from Mexico and has a heavy influence over California which used to be a part of it. According to the narrative, a lechuza, or owl, notably a white one, embodies a bruja, a witch transformed into this avian form. While smaller owls are associated with witches, La Lechuza stands out as a colossal owl in this folklore. Though some accounts describe it as a white owl, conflicting stories and reports also depict it as a mysterious black owl, adding an air of uncertainty to the haunting legend.

If you are in a car the owl is said to have landed on top of the car, causing it to crash and killing the passengers of the vehicle as it has the power to possess people. If you walk into the forest on foot the owl will come straight for you and kill you. 

The White Witch of Elfin Forest

One of the enduring legends found within the forest is the legend of the white witch that is supposedly haunting tha area still. In some variations of the legend, she is said to have haunted the place since the gypsies stayed in the area. According to the story she was once married to a man and had a son. 

The story tells that she once came home and found them both murdered. According to the legend she is still searching for their murderer. Was it when the gypsies were driven out?

In one version of the story the three of them entered the forest together to explore. The family didn’t return for three days and friends and neighbors started to become concerned. Just then, one of them returned from down the hill and it was the mother, her clothes ripped and her face covered in dirt. Total fear in her eyes.

According to her they had been attacked by a gang of men and only she had been able to escape their deadly attack. After this she was said to have started taking an interest in darker arts and planning for her revenge. One day she claimed she was ready and dressed in all white before entering the forest again. What happened after, is up to legends.

Read more: Check out more stories about witches

She is said to be one of the more dangerous spirits in the forests and rides a black stallion with a black cloak covering her. Some claiming to have seen her say they didn’t hear the horse galloping but was soaring through the air instead. 

When entering the forest, it is said she marks the person with a spiritual tag, and if you dare enter the forest again, you will face certain death. Also if you happen to see her eyes covered in the dark cloak, they are green and are said to kill you instantly. 

Tales of Witches: The many legends of owls, bruja’s white witches, ghosts and gypsy curses echoes from the trees of the forest. Some merge into the others, and one can perhaps never get to the bottom of what really happened inside of this forest.

The roads are said to be dangerous as it is said this is where she rides her stallion. She has also been accused of causing accidents when cars crash after falling into a trance causing them to drive off the road and into the shadows were she leads them. 

Whether she is still haunting the forest here or not is up for debate. The Harmony Grove Spiritual Center is a psychic village found close by and were used to see her from time to time. According to them, she found peace a long time ago and she no longer makes an appearance in the forest.

Native American Ghosts

Before the Europeans took over, this land used to belong to the Northern Diegueño Natives and there is archeological evidence for their presence dating back thousands of years, with their language even dating back 9000 years.

According to the legends and speculations, they believe that Elfin Forest was a sort of meeting place for the different tribes in the area with a good energy. However, as time passed it is said that the energy lingering in the forest turned bad for some reason. 

The stories concerning the Native American are many, but vague. There are as always rumors that there are ancient Native American burial grounds in the area and that a lot of the paranormal activity stems from this. It has been reported on several occasions that people have seen their spirits hanging from trees.

The reporting of these stories were told from the Harmony Grove Spiritualists. One of the members, like Corinne Pleasant (1897-1984) was a resident and told the San Diego Union paper about how they would try to come into contact with them. According to her, they could see the children of these native people running around at night. 

The Lady in White

Another well-known tale centers around the “Lady in White” who is said to wander the trails of Elfin Forest. Described as a spectral figure dressed in a flowing white gown, she is believed to be the ghost of a woman who met a tragic fate in the forest. Some versions of the story suggest a love affair gone awry, while others allude to more sinister circumstances. 

She is said to be following hikers inside of the forest. Encounter stories range from fleeting glimpses to chilling apparitions that vanish without a trace.

A Walk Through the Trees

Elfin Forest, with its lush landscapes and bewitching trails, captivates the hearts and minds of those who seek both natural beauty and a touch of the mysterious with its tales of ghosts, legends and spiritual communities. 

Perhaps the tales are simply echoes of the past, carried through time by the rustling leaves and winding trails of this magical woodland. As visitors tread lightly through its paths, they may find themselves wondering if the whispers in the wind are just that or something more otherworldly, weaving the tales of Elfin Forest into the fabric of California’s haunted lore.

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References:

The Mystery of Questhaven: Exploring the Rumors of Hauntings in the Elfin Forest | Encinitas, CA Patch 

Elfin Forest | Hidden San Diego 

The Terrifying Mysteries of the Elfin Forest. | by Stefan Georgeta | Medium 

Elfin Forest Ghost Haunted Legends and the Paranormal – San Diego Haunted Locations 

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Myrtles Plantation and the Ghosts that Remains

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Now a quaint Bed and Breakfast, the old Myrtles plantation manor houses more ghosts than living guests. 

The old splendor of a plantation in Louisiana, not so far from Baton Rouge, is still quite clear when looking at the Myrtles Plantation. The antebellum mansion was first built in 1796 and is decorated with hand-painted stained glass featuring a French cross to allegedly ward off evil, the walls filled with Aubusson tapestry and from the ceiling, Baccarat crystal chandeliers hang. 

But among the Carrara marble mantels and French furnishing there is something more sinister, more primitive than any riches, gold and luxury can cover over — The blood stained history and the legend of ghosts still haunting the place. 

The old plantation was handed down from many people and in 1950, the house was sold to Marjorie Munson. It was she who started noticing strange things happening around the Myrtles Plantation and started talking about ghosts, that we still talk about today. 

And the tales that are told are many — supposedly, the old plantation is one of the more haunted places in America with reports of at least 12 ghosts inside this Creole cottage style manos sitting on a hill. Although it is only historical records about the murder of William Winter, the number of murders in the house is allegedly 10. 

The Legend of Chloe

The most famous ghost on Myrtles Plantation is without a doubt Chloe, or in some records, Cloe. She was supposedly a slave owned by Clark and Sara Woodruff, who took over the plantationin 1817 after Saras father, General David Bradford, who first built the plantation. 

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In 1992 a picture surfaced after the plantation took some photos of the property to send to the insurance company. When looking closer at the picture, something that looks like a girl can be seen. This is believed to be the ghost of Chloe, who still haunts the Myrtles Plantation with her green turban. 

According to the stories, Chloe was one of the slaves that worked in the house rather than out in the field, which was a much more straining work than inside doing the cleaning and cooking. But perhaps it came with other dangers than grueling labor. According to the stories, she was forced by Clark Woodruff to become his mistress.  

In some accounts though, Woodruff started having an affair with another girl and Chloe feared she would have to start working in the fields instead of in the house. And she started listening in on conversations to find out her faith or pick up on something that she could use against them. 

In any case she was caught listening by the doors and punished by her slave owners. One of her ears was cut off and she wore a green turban to conceal it. 

The Revenge

The Haunted Mirror: Where the spirit of Woodruff and her children lingers.
Photo: Chris Light/1999

But it wasn’t the end at all, as Chloe planned her revenge on her slave masters. She baked a cake that she had poisoned with oleander leaves, which is extremely poisonous. Even the question of why she poisoned the cake is up for discussion. 

Most accounts claim she did it for revenge after cutting off her ear. Another variant saying she was trying to gain favor with the family again as she was planning to cure the family for the poison and come out as a hero instead. 

But according to the story, the plan backfired and only Sara Woodruff and the two daughters ate the cake and died from the poison. Chloe was then hanged by the other slaves and thrown in the Mississippi river, as a sort of final punishment for her or to not be punished themselves by Clark Woodruff for harbouring her. 

A mirror in the house is supposedly holding the spirit of Sara Woodruff and her children. According to custom at that time, the mirrors were covered by a cloth so the spirit would not disappear into them. But after the poisoning, this particular mirror was forgotten and the ghosts of the victims can be seen in the mirrors and there are reports of handprints being left in the mirror, as their spirits are now trapped in the mirror. 

The story about Chloe as a ghost is also told by the previous owner, Frances Kermeen, who also wrote a book on all the strange hauntings that she herself reported about experiencing on her second night in the house: 

 “I looked up and standing over me was a black lady. Her head was wrapped in a green turban,” I could see her [holding an] old-fashioned tin with the loop in it [through] the candlelight and I lost it. I started screaming…I reached my hand out to touch her, I could tell she was a ghost because she was see-through, but as my hand passed through her, she faded away.”

Frances Kermeen told the podcast Mysterious Universe in 2015.

The Uneven Facts

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Do historical records support this though? There is currently not found any records of the Woodruffs owning a slave named either Chloe or Cloe. The legends say that Chloe killed both the wife and the daughters, but one of the daughters, Mary Octavia, survived and grew up to become an adult. And it is said that Sara and the other daughter, Cornelia, were not killed by poison, but by yellow fever in 1823 and 1824. 

Either way, despite the historical records refuting the story, the legend about a woman wearing a green turban haunts Myrtles Plantation. Perhaps trying to tell a story that no historical records can?

The Other Ghosts

There are several pictures you can find on the postcards found in the souvenir shop at the plantation, the Chloe postcard being one of them. Another picture that stirred up quite some stories was the picture of a young girl dressed up in classic antebellum clothing that seems to look out from a window. She is now referred to as “The Ghost Girl” on the plantation. 

Burial Ground

But the legend of Chloe is not the only claim of ghost sightings at the plantation among the Spanish Moss hanging from the giant oak trees. There is the classic tale that the house itself is built on an Native American burial ground, a trope of American ghost story tales that rarely can be substantiated. But even so, the ghost of a young Natice American woman has been reported. 

In this case, the burial ground would be of Tunican tribes in the Mississippi River Valley, and the truth is that the land the manor now stands on used to belong to the Natives before being seized by the Spanish. 

Civil War Soldiers

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Another legend is about the Civil War and about how the houses were ransacked by union soldiers, and three people were killed. But exactly who was killed? The soldiers or the people living in the mansion? At the time, it was then Ruffin Gray Stirling and his wife Catherine Cobb that lived on the plantation with their slaves. It is true that they were robbed of their fine furniture and luxury items. 

According to some of the  variations of the legend though, it was the Union soldiers that were shot dead on the premises by the Confederates. 

But something that is more up for debate is the supposed blood stain in the doorway, around the size of a human body remains that never will be completley clean after the supposed murders that happened then, no matter how well you scrub it. 

The Voodoo Practitioner

The plantation is also the home of the ghost of a young girl that died in 1868, sometimes thought to be the girl in antebellum clothes from the picture. She was treated by a local voodoo practitioner in one of the 22 rooms in the manor, but died. She appears now in the room she died in and has been reported to practice voodoo on people sleeping in the room. 

William Drew Winter

One of the other ghosts haunting this place is someone that either staggers or crawls up the stairs. He always stops on the 17th step. This is rumoured to be the ghost of William Drew Winter, the verified murder victim in the house. He was shot on the front porch of the house by a stranger. To get away, he crawled up the stairs but only reached the 17th step before he collapsed and died. 

Several guests staying at the now B&B have claimed to hear the crawling coming from the stairs, and believing it could be other guests have gone to check. But when reaching the stairs, they find that no one is there, or worse, the apparition of his ghost, begging for help. 

Although here, we have discrepancies in the story as a local newspaper reported that Winter died of a single shot that killed him instantly, and he had no possible way of crawling the stairs after the shot. But did he manage to in his afterlife?

The Plantation

No matter the fact we can now verify, the stories found of plantations from way back cast long shadows. All from the first contact between the natives and Spanish, throughout slavery and a bloody war. The darkest chapters of this plantation, is most likely the stories that we don’t know about. 

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Featured image: Bogdan Oporowski

The Myrtles Plantation

Legend of Chloe And Ghosts | Myrtles Plantation

The South’s Most Haunted Plantation – Myrtles Plantation Louisiana