According to local legend, the body of the ghost was that of a woman. Discover this 3.8-mile loop trail near Voluntown, Connecticut. This is your chance to find the light at the end of the tunnel literally! Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 11 min to complete. , it sounded like someone was following her. Did you know that there are also several haunted cemeteries in Connecticut and they might be even more terrifying than the journey through Connecticuts haunted forest? New Milford. Get more stories delivered right to your email. To locals, however, its a curse Mary set as punishment for burying her alive. Thats an incredible goal! many avoid Downs Road even though it provides a beautiful hiking trail. Restaurants. Strange things, indeed . In fact, there are so many bone-chilling places that we created a road trip full of them! The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Stanton House Inn 2023. So you share this forest with any number of skeletons. So excited for you to explore Connecticut. , a man set on fire in the street in 1935. With rocky summits, beautiful forests, serene waterways, and picturesque fall foliage, Connecticut has a wide variety of stunning nature areas to explore. A mystery in its own right, the Little People's Village of Middlebury was rumored to have been built by a man whose wife claimed that she would see fairies in the area. "Midnight Mary," as she has been affectionately refered to as, is said to still stalk the grounds. It is part of a larger trail system called the Trolley Line Trail - a growing east to west trail system that will eventually stretch 60+ miles from Central Massachusetts to Connecticut. At the intersection of Riversville Road and John Street, a girl decided to take a shortcut in the 1990s around dusk. 76 Maple Avenue As she walked up a hill on a curving trail, she heard the sound of rustling leaves. We're hiring. Reach out below. It's nice year-round, so in the autumn. Many were unmarked and few were relocated. Each step takes you closer to the exit, or does it? Haunted Trails By State. Snake Rock. However, you really have to decide for yourself which is more frightening. There are many other abandoned places in Connecticut, including parks, homes, and even hospitals. Content last updated November 2020. This Connecticut state park has carried its name since the colonial era. Air Line State Park Trail, Multi-Town. One guest claimed to hear unexplained footsteps pacing all night long in a second floor guest room, Another woman claimed she saw the figure of a ghostly woman in an old fashioned dress looking out the window of another guest room, located directly above the figurehead. While Connecticut may not seem like a hikers dream state, there are certainly some amazing hidden gems here that will surprise and delight even the most experienced hikers. Bennett's Pond State Park, Ridgefield. East Rock Park. Even modern hikers in Devils Hopyard State Park claim to hear demonic voices. It's more like an abandoned dirt road. Secret Hikes: 25 CT trails to avoid the crowds. When these witnesses turn to run, they claim to hear footsteps in hot pursuit, though theyre always too scared to confirm anything is actually chasing them. AllTrails has 1,828 hiking trails, mountain biking routes, backpacking trips and more. This one was founded by Rhode Islanders of Welsh descent. Rafael Medina/Flickr. Many of the abandoned places in Connecticut are not accessible, other than perhaps through your car window. You bet! This made it possible to travel from Washington Depot to New York within a day. You've even tried to explore some of these places. Another entry in Bridgeport, Connecticut, these two empty theaters perennially sit empty in the citys downtown. If youre looking for seaside views on an easy, accessible waterfront trail, the Bluff Point Coastal Reserve Trail is one of the best hikes in Connecticut to enjoy the water. A 5-minute hike from the road will take you to the creepy remains of the zoo where metal cages are being reclaimed by nature. This abandoned factory in Bridgeport, CT, was one of Americas largest munitions factories in the early 20th Century. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY: With more than 400 miles explored and "no end in sight," Mammoth Cave boasts the country's longest cave system, and an impressively haunted history. . Deep in Naugatuck is a cemetery that paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren deemed haunted. The rewards are obvious: stunning views, beautiful forests, and the opportunity to hike through one of the most iconic sections of the Appalachian Trail in the state of Connecticut. But their involvement with a mythical book, believed to open the gates of hell, doomed them and anyone who befriended them. However, it served its purpose as a vehicle for transporting milk and cheese into New York City. Does it roll uphill? While no one is sure who she is (obviously), there are a few theories: One motorist even claims to have accidentally hit the White Lady, leaving a dent in his car. Most of the Greenwich ghost stories below were curated by Carl White, Local History Librarian at Greenwich Library. By the 1850s the settlement had been abandoned. You have to check it out! Location: 172-166 Taft Pond Rd Pomfret, CT 06259, Location: 5800 Main St, Stratford, CT 06614, Location: 1000 Silver St, Middletown, CT 06457, Location: 506 Main St S, Woodbury, CT 06798, Location: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, Location: 769 Ella T Grasso Blvd, New Haven, CT 06519, Location: 3 Primrose St, Newtown, CT 06470, Location: 19 Cemetery Road, Seymour, CT 06483, Location: 243 Gunntown Rd, Naugatuck 06770, Location: 60 Slocum St, Waterbury, CT 06706, Location: 185 Enterprise Dr, Bristol, CT 06010, Location: Old Waterbury Road, Middlebury, CT 06762, Location: 201 Middle Turnpike, Storrs, CT 06268, Location: 812 Barnum Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06608, Location: 60 Church St, Brooklyn, CT 06234, Location: 1325 Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06604, Location: 15 Church St, Ansonia, CT 06401, Location: Saw Mill City Rd, Shelton, CT 06484, Location: Seaside Dr, Waterford, CT 06385, Location: Uptown Road, Burlington, CT 06013, Location: Snake Meadow Hill Rd, Sterling, CT 06377, Location: 21 Pepper Street, Monroe, CT 06468, Location: 112 Elizabeth St, Derby, CT 06418, Location: 30 Knollwood St, Monroe, CT 06468, Location: 93 Main St, Torrington, CT 06790, Location: Routes 59 and, CT-136, Easton, CT 06612. Bright graffiti covers almost every possible surface making the stone easy to distinguish from its surroundings. The town was renamed Gay City when the land was sold to the state in 1943. 2. So, subjecting passengers to a bit of darkness was probably no big deal not to mention that lighted bridges were a bit of a rarity. Especially great for families or sunset/sunrise hikers, the views from the top are quite beautiful, especially in the fall as the leaves change colors. Rangers having reported seeing the ghosts of guides past . . It remains to be seen how the spirits representing the orbs and disembodied voices inside the buildings will like the new changes. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In the context of the biblical story, its a statement about being resigned to fate. Located near the border of Massachusetts, the Mashapaug Pond Loop is one of the most beautiful hikes in Connecticut for enjoying serene lake views and spotting fall foliage. In fact, Connecticut has some of the highest amounts of paranormal activity in the entire country. The Steep Rock Railroad Tunnel was constructed in nine months between 1871 and 1872 in Washington Depot. Regardless, it's got a great story. Bethel City Council Member Richard Boe Wiitala came up with the idea after the COVID-19 pandemic hit and he began working from home. Or at worst, mess with our WiFi network in one specific room on the property, as our IT specialist has decided. Yes, the oldest amusement park in America is haunted. A hike here will show you all the natural beauty of the state, but you'll also get to see gravestones and old ruins from the days when these woods contained a thriving town. (833) 600-0054. The story of a young witch named Maude has been around for years, although according to history Maude was just a newborn when she passed. She called for help but alas, no one heard her scream. From when it opened its doors in 1931 until the mental hospital shut down in 1995, the type of treatments now considered barbaric were standard fare here. The Boothe brothers were said to be heavily interested in spiritualism and even built shrines in the homestead, which is said to have caused the area's haunted nature. Visitors who wandered too deep into the woods would lose their soul to the Devil, according to local legend. There is also a throne at the center of the village, and the folklore is that if one sits in it, they will die in seven years. 1h 24m. Algonquin State Forest, Colebrook. But over the years, people have told stories of hearing a woman screaming that seems to come from all directions. See 13 floorplans, review amenities, and request a tour of the building today. Go swimming and have a picnic at Burr Pond, then hike the trails and learn about the . If you come across any lilac bushes, don't touch them. Labeled the oldest homestead in America," the wonderfully weird architecture of Boothe Memorial Park hides some equally strange haunts. Landmarks and Outdoors, Hiking Trail . It had rosy cheeks, black eyes, and a flowing white robe over a hoop skirt. . . Some claim to have actually seen a ghostly figure standing in the grass. From sightings of a man leading a horse through the cemetery to reports of music playing out of thin air, this cemetery is not for the faint of heart. Talk about a historical destination! This former mental hospital was a must-see for ghost hunters in the past. Sailors removed the figurehead from the bow of the Lady Lancashire for repair before setting sail on a voyage that resulted in the ship sinking. If you want to get a taste of the creepy forest . Shelton. They used picks, dynamite, and nitroglycerin to blast through Steep Rock Ridge, creating a curved tunnel that runs directly through the ridge. Locals leave toys strewn about the opera house for him to play. This mountain trail offers stunning views throughout the entire trail as it climbs along a ridge to Mount Higby. That is, a list of haunted places in CT is quite long. 3. CT's Best Haunted House & Haunted Trail Guide - Find Haunted Houses, Halloween Attractions, Haunted Trails, and 3-D Haunts across Connecticut and in New England. Thank you! Close to hiking & biking trails and restaurants. . Now, take a trip through Connecticut's most haunted locations. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Hiking. The man who carved the figurehead gave it to the Mead family, owners of the Homestead Inn. The most frightening aspect, though, was the head, which was a collection of snakes. After the beheading of their father, the Dudley's fled to America in hopes of escaping the curse. Though this island is often associated with its bird sanctuary and adjoining sandbar, many are unaware that the island is said to be thrice cursed. The Riverwalk is a level path running across a lawn to the east bank of the Housatonic River, on property that includes the Kent Land Trust office and Marble Valley Farm. The ruins of the town are now within Gay City State Park and you can hike the trails to explore what has been left behind. Local folklore has it that the former caretaker of the cemtery, who had a hook for a hand, hanged himself from a tree in the cemtery. There are several easy hiking trails you can do in an afternoon, even with a young family. But little Halloween fans may enjoy the Pumpkin Patch . Not bad for a half-day hike, wed say. Take a peek into history like never before but be warned, some of these locales are rumored to be haunted too! See photos, floor plans and more details about 3803 Sugar Creek Ct in Plant City, Florida. But either way, this place is creepy! This haunting dates all the way back to the 1500s, making it one of the scariest places in Connecticut. Connecticut's Farmington River Trail | Photo by Liz Sewell. The entirety of Center Church is on our list of the best free things to do in Connecticut, click over to see why. Batona Trail - New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, NJ. Its said to be one of the most haunted roads in Connecticut, and you might even run into the infamous Melon Heads on your journey. Elevation Gain: 232 feet. Some claim he had his cronies kill people in the building. One particularly creepy trail in Connecticut is at Gay City State Park in Hebron. Town Hall Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:30 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. Tax Collector's Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:30 A.M. to 4:15 P.M. . Youll experience a variety of landscapes, from rocky shorelines to forests to marshy flatlands. EVP sessions inside the building have conjured up orbs and voices that supposedly belong to patients who have died inside the facility. From haunted cemeteries to haunted hotels, Connecticuts rife with the paranormal. Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails! By the early 1970s, it was reported that many of these patients were being violently abused by their caretakers. Fairfield Hills Hospital. Now the abandoned building, footings for the tower, and supports for the generator are all that remain. If you head here in the early hours of the morning, you can take this beginner- and family-friendly hike and watch the beautiful sunrise glistening over the water. Which state parks should I visit in Connecticut? . American Legion State Forest, Barkhamsted. While you can't enter the most-haunted museum in Connecticut, all you need to know is that it houses some of the creepiest artifacts that have ever been aquired by Ed and Lorraine Warren including the one-and-only Annabelle doll. Do you have any brave friends to take with you on this Abandoned Places Road Trip? No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best hiking trails in . Here, you can find hikes of moderate and even strenuous difficulty that even the most experienced hikers will enjoy. To learn more about these walkways, check out our list of the best easy waterfall hikes in Connecticut. AboutCareersPartner With UsPrivacy Policy. Today, the Bruce Museum takes a minimum of an hour to visit, but visitors are welcome to leave whenever they like! She screamed and bolted up the hill and continued running and screaming all the way home. Phone: (203) 869-2110 Visitors say these trails can get busy, so wed strongly recommend going in the early morning to catch sunrise on the water and avoid the main crowds that tend to arrive later in the day. Are there any hiking trails in Connecticut to abandoned places? Mountain Gate & Mountain Trails offers 1-2 bedroom rentals starting at $1,385/month. Which is ridiculous. While the two planned to marry, the boy mysteriously disappeared, leaving the girl heartbroken. The glistening waters and lovely trails will fill you with joy. When the teens got too loud, a ghost made its appearance. Most often, a man would play a small flute for a young girl, listening attentively. Inn, and Starbucks. Kind of like the sound you hear from a helicopter. For starters, head over to Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Now this mine is haunted by a spirits called "Tommy Knockers". Two Irish servants working at Belle Haven mansions in the late 1800s fell in love. Glacial Lake Hitchcock Sediment Dam. Apparently, its inhabitants have lived happy, peaceful lives for centuries. Submit one here . , a full three decades before the much more famous ones in Salem, Massachusetts. Beyond the history, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking trails, ice skating in the winter and pond fishing in the warmer months. The Branford Trolley Trail is essentially a long footbridge occupying an old bridge along the route of an abandoned trolley track. Includes BOTH the Hallow Trail and Haunted Hayride) (Online Processing Fees Apply) Look at what's in store for this year: Embark on our legendary Haunted Hayride and The Hallow Trail, featuring the following attractions: . Which is what all good ghost stories are, after all. Like most nature areas and hiking areas, it is . The parking area may be temporarily closed for a day during that time frame. According to local author Anya Seton, a ghost of a slave girl lives in the old wash house of the Bush-Holley House property. The state park originated in 1927 but from June 1957 to June 1968 was used as a ground defense station. Be warned, for these aren't your traditional hiking trails that allow you to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. But, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, be a braver soul for a spine chilling walk in the dark woods. Finding your new favorite haunted attractions is as easy as using our interactive map to search nearby areas. Be careful about walking through the Greenwich Audubon Center at dusk. But there are plenty of claims of random music playing and disembodied childrens laughter. The storyline of this town is also a source for much of that of the film, The Blair Witch Project. Love Connecticut? Norwich State Hospital checks off all the boxes for your run-of-the-mill creepy, abandoned asylum. However, people who have gone to explore the area claim to hear disembodied voices and see spirit mists. Local kids claim to hear them breathing on summer nights, or coming face to face with them. Urban Outdoors is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Text: (475) 263-3732 With thick, forested trails that border the shoreline of this very picturesque lake, this trail offers a little bit of challenge for beginner hikers, as its slightly hilly and has quite a bite of terrain variety. Follow her at taylorellisblogger.com. Potential sources of the apparitions could be: Head up to the quaint little town of Newtown, Connecticut, for the first haunted place on this list. Explore our hotel and hospitality jobs. Perfect for finding both locations in your city and all across the state, the map will help you plan out the perfect haunted experience. We created this guide to the best hikes in Connecticut so that you can explore some of the states most beautiful parks, trails, and landscapes! While this may have just been her comeuppance, after buying the home in 1983 she was sent to prison for tax-evasion and later died in the house after her release. A moderately difficult 1.5-mile trail will take you to the top of this summit, where you can climb the tower and catch views of the Long Island Sound, as well as the surrounding mountains and forests. . Go during the spring after snowmelt for the most powerful waterfall flows! Having watched the episode, it seemed to be more of a maintenance problem with the door than any ghostly entities. As the creepiest abandoned town in Connecticut, most people stay far, far away from this peculiar destination. 216 within 3 miles. According to Ms Seton, the young girl likely died of a contagious disease and would scream from time to time. However, those who have ventured out into some of the abandoned sections of the campus have claimed to have seen shadow figures roaming the grounds. . When the land was purchased during the depression, it came with the remnants of colonial life, including grave sites. Perhaps the most haunted location in Connecticut, this cemetery was the subject of paranormal investiagtors Ed and Lorraine Warren's book, "Graveyard." The abandoned buildings, still standing and closed to the public, speak to the previous use, though. Plus, its a short trail, so the steep ascent doesnt last long. With several beautiful historic mining structures to explore, forested areas to walk through, and many rock formations to admire, this easy trail is perfect for a weekend adventure in the wilderness. Cross the river and railroad tracks by means of a roadwalk, from there the trail turns into the woods. According to local author Anya Seton, a ghost of a slave girl lives in the old wash house of the. If you enjoy exploring abandoned places then this is the road trip for you. The park is located just a mile and a half away from the ruins of Bara-Hack. This haunted state park in Connecticut contains the remnants of an abandoned village. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Its got some beautiful and seriously underrated hikes. Originally built as a hospital to treat children suffering from tuberculosis in the early 20th century, the Seaside Sanatorium, as it came to be known, was subject to numerous allegations of mistreatment of patients. During the factory's operational years it faced numerous workplaces disasters including employees perishing in the factory and an explosion that killed seven workers. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 9. The coal miners who built the tunnel actually hailed from Pennsylvania. Its beautiful, its fun, its challengingand it combines all of the best things about hiking in Connecticut in one 8.9-mile stretch. It was erected by devout Catholic attorney John Greco in 1955, and featured replicas of biblical sites that people would come visit by the busload. For history lovers and hikers alike, the Roxbury Mines Trail in Mine Hill Preserve is a wonderful place to go hiking in Connecticut. One of the top hotels in Greenwich, CT, is the historic Homestead Inn in Belle Haven. Afterwards, they would then suddenly disappear into thin air. Paranormal believers attribute it to the spirit of a Native American woman who was murdered by a group of Englishmen. The sanctuary rehabilitated injured animals but is also rumored to have performed experiments on animals as well. Did you know that there is a "gravity hill" in Connecticut? Learn more about Shade Swamp Sanctuary. But its close enough to the location of an entertaining local ghost story to provide some sense of place. You'll find it hiding within the 974-acre Steep Rock Preserve, making it an ideal place to visit for outdoorsy types looking for a truly magical hiking experience. Some of the first people to be buried in this remote cemetery in Ansonia were Civil War soldiers and children, which adds to the eeriness of this graveyard. The amazing views of the waterfall can be accessed by an array of different trails within the park. Harkness Memorial State Park. There is ample parking at Wadsworth State Park, one lot near the big falls and the other near the pond. Landmarks and Outdoors, Hiking Trail .