Devil's Tramping Ground
Like most people who live in and around Chatham County (Or for that matter, North Carolina), I know the legend of the Devils Tramping Ground very well. Hell, I've even been to the site more than once; but never by myself and never at night. I will say without hesitating that it is one of the creepiest places haunted in North Carolina. Well, maybe haunted isn't the right word. Possessed is more like it. If you don't know what the Devils Tramping Ground is, allow me to explain.
About 10 miles east of the town of Siler City, on a country road near Harpers Cross Roads is a wooded area. In those woods is a circle, perfectly round, 40 feet in diameter where nothing except a type of grass known as 'wire grass' grows. A path around the circle has no growth at all. It was given the name "Devil's Tramping Ground" because locals believe that the devil himself walks the path going around and around all the while thinking of ways to destroy mankind. In the morning, He turns himself into a crow or other animal and sets out on a mission to carry out whatever devious plan came to him in the night.
Throughout the years scientists have tried to explain away the circle. One theory is that the circle is the result of using horses in a mill many years ago. Another is that the spot was once a sacred place for native americans who used it to perform war dances and such which would explain why the circle is barren. The problem with both of these theories is that similar spots elsewhere are now overgrown with plant life. The NC State Department of Agriculture once took a sample of soil and determined that the area was completely sterile.
Going a step further on the creepy scale is the fact/belief that any object placed on the path surrounding the circle will be moved by morning. I never tried it myself but the residents of Chatham County swear that it's true. I've personally spoken to several people people, both old and young, who claim to have left items on the path only to come back the next day and see the item laying in the brush beside the path.
Whether you believe the area is a fluke of nature, or that the Devil comes every night to plot our destruction one thing you can not argue with is the mystique the place has. Throughout the years tales have been told of people attempting to stay the night at the circle, trying to catch a glimpse of who or what is moving the stuff off of the path. And although many have tried, As far as I know, no one has stayed the entire night. As of this writing we still don't know why the grass doesn't grow, why stuff is moved off of the circle, and why no one can stay an entire night at the grounds.
Below you'll find a few pictures taken of the tramping ground on Oct. 11, 2009. Judging from the smoke coming from the campfire maybe someone was able to stay the entire night. Although we saw no one so maybe the Devil got them? :) I must admit I was disappointed with the logs that filled the circle as well as the trash littering the place. Check out the picture of the tree as well. It looks like a cross to me, maybe someone was trying to rid the area of the devil once and for all?
The area didn't give off a creepy vibe at the time although that could be the fact we were there on a Sunday afternoon at 1pm. But it is still the tramping ground, if you get a chance, you've gotta see for yourself.
Below is a video documenting the Devils Tramping ground. I had nothing to do with it's production, and it's included here for your entertainment.
Comments
My uncle used to tell me about this place ALL the time. He said once he tried to stay the night but saw the shadow on something like a human, but with horns! He said it was the devil himself. I'm not saying it was the devil, but he believed it was until the day he died.
I really love the story of the tramping ground and your story tells the exact same story I have heard for years and years. I am the founder of a paranormal investigation team, East Koast Paranormal, and we have been asked many times to do the Devil's Tramping Ground. Although, we have not been able to to set a time and date to make this possible, I wanted to share a story that I have heard from this place.
I have read somewhere on the internet (I can't remember the website), that some people where able to stay the entire night at the tramping ground and they set up camp around the circle. It was stated that when they awoke the next morning and exited their tents, they were not where they feel asleep. It was said that they were a 1/2 mile to a mile away from their campsite. Is there any truth around this, I'm not sure, but I figured I would let you know the story I came across.
I'm a Chatham County local, and one who loves the paranormal at that. One day my friend Colin and I decided to go and try to stay the night at the tramping grounds. We got there around midnight, and we walked around the circle a few times, and found nothing really creepy about the place when it comes to it just being a circular path in the woods. However while I was there I got a sinking feeling that if we were to stay the night something terrible would happen. Before we left, we decided to walk once more around the trail, and see if we noticed anything out of place. About 1/2 of the way around the circle, the path in front of us seemed to have literally disappeared. We could not move forward because there was no longer a visible trail. We decided to turn back and go back the way we came. We got to a spot where we could see the night sky clearly, and in the light of the moon, I swear I saw a silhouette of a man with horns facing me, and I suddenly got the sinking feeling that I should leave immediately. I bolted for the car, and I haven't been back since.
I'm one of the guys with the Lakeview Phantoms Paranormal Investigators and we would like to investigate the stomping grounds but we need directions could you email me some directions at sweethomealabama_01@yahoo.com
Hello,
I am a member of the Carolina Campers. We would like to camp sometime as a group at Devil's Tramping Ground. (I have wanted to since a kid.) I understand that the property belongs to Bob Dowd (and his family). Does anybody know his contact information (phone number, address, email) so that we can contact him? Also, does anybody know if he would let us camp there? (We would volunteer to pick up a lot of trash.)
Sincerely,
Walter F. Daniel, Jr.
1927 Kilborne Drive
Charlotte, N.C. 28205
wfdanieljr@hotmail.com
The devil's tramping ground is a joke. My best friends and I went there and stayed the whole night. The only creepy thing is that you're in the woods in the middle of no where. Other then that there's no satanic ritual or freak of nature all up in there. It's a myth. But it's fun, so if you have the gas, and the beer... Go for it.
... is upside-down, indicating mockery in the face of God. Probably just some kids thinking they could summon the Devil or some such crap.
The inverted cross, though frequently identified as a mockery, is a common symbol of humility. It is frequently linked to St. Peter, the apostle. It is said that felt himself unfit to be crucified in the manner of Christ, and so insisted that the cross on which he would be placed to die would be inverted.
I was wanting to pay a visit to the devil's tramping ground. Could anyone tell me if i need permission to stop and check it out or is that just for people who want to camp? Could I also get some more specific directions like an address maybe? Hopefully someone can answer these questions. Thanks. My contact info is as follows:
bmk0555@gmail.com
Heather Fox
615 Fox Valley Ct.
Taylorsville, NC 28681
No to my knowledge you do not need permission, just respect the area as its fallen victim to littering over the years ...
I've gone been here many times in the seventies. We would stop here and party. I never saw anything paranormal here.
Yeah man I grew up bear creek bennett area iv been ther had stuff moved from circle we had a fire going and rocks arond the fire in the center of yhe circle so we crashed that night and woke the next morning and the rocks where 25 to 30 feet frm the fire.....on a seperate vist me and a group of friends was meeting and the tramping ground to all go to a party I was ther with another friend and heard foot steps and scratching coming from the circle area..a few more friends showed up and when thier head lights hit the woods we all noticed an unusal creature about mid ways between us and the circle.....couldnt tell you what it was but being from that area I can safly say to this day I have yet to see anything else like tha
I spent the night there in 1975. 10 of us in tents and our cars parked in the circle. We woke up in the same place and our cars were still in the circle.
I have lived in NC for years and have heard about this story. Ive always wanted to go and visit. If anyone could give me directions please email me at southerbrothers01@yahoo.com. I promise to be very respectful of the property. It would be amazing to be able to see it for myself. Thank you
I just found this for you...........From Siler City, take State Road 1106 South for ten miles. At Harpers Crossroads turn right onto State Road 1100. Approximately two miles down this road, you will see a gravel parking area on the left and a little further back the Devil’s Tramping Ground. If in doubt ask any local resident…most likely they can point you right to it.
I hope it helps
hey guys, i was there earlier today. i found some campers tried to stay from hallows eve to Halloween but left in a hurry during the night and left their partially burnt tent.
when i stepped in to the circle i immediately felt intense physical pain and discomfort. my body also started shaking. i have an highly developed gift of discernment, which i use to find and exorcise demons. basically i feel spiritual things near by. actually, i found the grounds by feeling it while driving in my car. other ppl who go may feel these things as well. the woman above mentioned she felt fear. that's another one. some ppl feel depression, discomfort, strange pains, fatigue, demonic nightmares, or negative thoughts/impressions. ppl who are oppressed or possessed will have a number of the symptoms. you can see similar things in the bible when ppl encounter angles. they're filled with fear, trembling, etc.
(if you exude these symptoms. you're probably just oppressed and it wont have enough authority to manifest through you. find some Christians to pray over you and renounce the sins that its exploiting. these sins give it authority to stay. command it not to not manifest and leave. if it's stubborn "pray and fast". ask the Lord to come and pull it out of you.)
I've seen silhouettes of men made of shadows and glowing eyes from the direction I've felt things, herd audible voices, and been psychically attacked. similar things with the angels and God.
what is this place? there are portals or gateways between heaven and earth. that's how angels get here. there are also demonic portals from hell to earth. so thus, where ever there's a portal there's more activity. the devils tramping ground is the larges demonic portal in the country. that's why it's a circle. that's why things are removed that cover it. it's like a highway exit to earth.
don't get your Christian friends together and pray against it. you'll just piss them off. don't "put the Lord to the test" to save you. If the Lord wants to use you against it, He will let you know.
don't mess with this place, you will regret it.
Did a story on my blog about it. It was a quick stop, but I do have pics to go along with the story. The tent is likely the one mentioned in the reply earlier...
http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/2011/10/devils-tramping-ground.html
Funny as it may sound, there are a few similar cirles around the world. In the Netherlands there's one near an old crossroads in Fryslân and in Germany somewhere in Schwarzwald. There's even one supposed to be in current Indonesia, near an old road from the days when Jakarta was still Batavia.
There are a few other explanations other than it beng a devil's place. The one in Fryslân is tied up with white women (kind of ghost), the one in Germany is the work of gnomes which take elements from that soil to make some rings or the other and the Indonesian one is the most gruesome: the grave of a Banaspati.
Add new comment