Devil's Tramping Grounds : Haunted NC

Devil's Tramping Grounds : Haunted NC

by Liv Published on July 23rd, 2006, 4:41 pm Rift: X

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Lydia's Bridge, a real-life ghost story in Greensboro. At the time I must confess I had alot of fun going out and exploring, bringing back images to the Internet that had never really been posted before. It's these stories, you'll find from time to time on the news or in newspapers, but then are lost and forgotten, only to be renewed by when urban legend leads some reporter back to regurgitate past stories.

But it got me thinking. There must be other scary tales of ghosts, and urban legends in North Carolina. Sure the Internet has some good information, but for the most part, what little is posted, is pre-digital camera age, and lack the ability to really describe the story. So here it is my adventure to the Devil's Tramping Grounds:



So here I am, cruising down US-421 South at 70MPH in search of the Devil's Tramping Grounds. What is the Devil's Tramping Grounds you might ask? Good question.

Legend says that this is the very place the devil himself can rise from the depths of fiery hell, and come to earth. It's at this place, the devil walks in circles on certain nights and brings his evil into this world.

In other-words it's the Devil's thinking circle.



Weather looked good when we left the Guilford County line and sped our way down through Randolph County, then finally Chatham County. As we grew closer, the sky grew dark, and we knew we were closing in on the Devil's Tramping Grounds.



Since I was given the GPS coordinates for the Devils Tramping Grounds, but didn't have a hand-held GPS device, a little bit of searching was needed to find it once we got to the general area. Thinking it was possible to reach it by vehicle, I tried several roads which would have certainly looked right at home in the middle of an X-files episode.




Once we were on the outskirts of the woods surrounding the Devils Tramping Grounds, we started to discover signs of Satanic torture and devil worshiping, as you can see by these bones. While the picture didn't come out to well, I do have the bones in the back of my car. Can someone give me an Ebay? (What does Satanic Alien bones go for now-a-days?)



Weather began to decline very quickly, and most of the woods began swelling around where I knew I would have to hike down a path to get to it. We're not talking a normal amount of rain, we're talking buckets. With the car possibly sinking in the mud, and No-Trespassing signs posted on all the trees, things didn't look so good.




Through the following woods is the Devil's Tramping grounds, and only a short walk from the car. But it's dumping water on us and my son Chance is refusing to jump out of the car and be swept away from the rising waters. This is after all, Siler City not Los Angeles and I don't think they have a swift-water-rescue team. Not that anyone would even notice us out here in the middle of creepy redneck land.

The Devil's Tramping Ground - It is a patch of land in a perfect circle- 40 feet across, the perimeter of which is a path about a foot wide. It's said that the devil himself walks that path every night pacing as he spins his evil deeds, no one has ever been able to spend the night there, and nothing will grow on the path, it is said that anything placed in the circle will disappear by the next morning.

At some point, my better judgement got the best of me, and my four-year old was begging for a Happy Meal. With no sign of the rain letting up, we headed back towards God country. I promise to return, better equipped to explore the Devil's stomping grounds. If I would have gotten there I would have seen this:



This picture is one of several available online. This particular one came from here.

I have some curiosities as to if the Devil's tromping grounds even exist any-longer. While it did appear there was a vast area open in the middle of the woods, it did appear a large scale construction project was afoot, and may be building upon the Devil's Tromping Grounds. Can someone say "Full Disclosure" when buying a home there? Needless to say if your adamant about exploring the Devil's Tromping Ground's the GPS co-ordinates are:

Code: Select all

+35° 35' 3.54", -79° 29' 13.26" (35.584317, -79.487017) @35.584317,-79.487017

Or for the human based directions:

The Devil's Tramping Ground is approximately 50 miles south of Greensboro. It is not easy to find and be prepared for mild hiking, rural driving, and super-natural phenomenon.

Take 421 South Approximately 38 miles.
Turn Right onto State Route 902 Follow For about 7 Miles.
Turn Left of Devil's Tromping Grounds Rd. (Not Marked) Follow for 1.7 miles.

You should see a gravel pull off on the left. The Devil's Tramping Ground is about 150 feet down the dirt path.

[Bob Boyd]

Fascinating and intriguing piece.

[Sanjuro]

I have vague memories of going there years ago. It's quit underwhelming.

[mirettesvertes07]

I'm from the Siler City area, and about 3 years ago, I went with some friends to check it out. Nothing happened, althought we only stayed about an hour and a half.

It's pretty stupid, come to think of it, and nothing really happens, so it's not worth while.

Mainly I think young people go there to get smashed, and perhaps that's why there are stories to begin with. It's really nothing spectacular...

[rockplanet12]

Oh, I saw your Devil's Tramping Ground blog but could not find it on your home page. You did not find the DTG but you did find the site of a new and apparently very large development that is going in just down the road. In fact, the road is now called "Devil's Tramping Ground Road." If you go to Siler City on 421, just follow the local signs to the airport (these are the little green signs with an airplane on them) and keep going past the airport on Airport Road. About 7 or 8 miles it comes to an intersection and turns into DTG Road. Another mile or two and you will see a very shallow turn out on the right with what looks like an old logging road leading up to a small clearing. There is always burnt sticks and campfire remnants in the center as this is a local beer spot for the locals at night. It looks pretty trashy these days. Check out this Myspace blog for some fresh details:


Have a great day!

[email protected]

[movromka]

I'd like to be there.

[SilerCityNative]

Just so you know. The dirt roads that your pictures are from are of a hunting range. Not anywhere close to an X-Files episode.

[Nfidel]

OMG! Didn't you notice the spirit orbs in your photos?

Interesting photos and road trip story, Liv. This is why I enjoy the internet. I'll have try this sometime, if I go anywhere interesting.

About those bones. Does anyone know the proper way to handle them, given the rabies epidemic? In my car in a Ziploc baggie I have some bones I picked up a couple of years ago. Should one soak the bones in chlorine bleach to kill the suspected virus? Will the virus die on its own once the animal is dead?

[omertahonor187]

the devil's greatest weapon is making people believe he does not exist

[A Person]

About those bones. Does anyone know the proper way to handle them, given the rabies epidemic? In my car in a Ziploc baggie I have some bones I picked up a couple of years ago. Should one soak the bones in chlorine bleach to kill the suspected virus? Will the virus die on its own once the animal is dead?

The virus won't survive being dried - or cooked. If the bones are clean and dry there is no danger. If you are worried you could bake them at 300F for 30 minutes

[Nfidel]

The virus won't survive being dried - or cooked. If the bones are clean and dry there is no danger. If you are worried you could bake them at 300F for 30 minutes

Thanks. Another question: In my head the howls of my victims are constant, even after my work is finished. How does one mute this? *











*Happy Halloween

[Sanjuro]

The virus won't survive being dried - or cooked. If the bones are clean and dry there is no danger. If you are worried you could bake them at 300F for 30 minutes

Thanks. Another question: In my head the howls of my victims are constant, even after my work is finished. How does one mute this? *

*Happy Halloween

Stop it! You guys are killing me!!

[Nfidel]

Thanks. Another question: In my head the howls of my victims are constant, even after my work is finished. How does one mute this? *

*Happy Halloween

Stop it! You guys are killing me!!

Exactly. I hear that all the time and we don't like it.

[A Person]

The virus won't survive being dried - or cooked. If the bones are clean and dry there is no danger. If you are worried you could bake them at 300F for 30 minutes

Thanks. Another question: In my head the howls of my victims are constant, even after my work is finished. How does one mute this? *

I expect the same method would work here too. Depends how big your oven is, you may have to do it in batches*.

*No Royal Diadem, this is not an ad-hominen attack on you.

[Serendipitous]

The virus won't survive being dried - or cooked. If the bones are clean and dry there is no danger. If you are worried you could bake them at 300F for 30 minutes

Better be careful when opening the oven. Dem bones (dem bones, dem dry bones) may have had some spirits hiding out in 'em. My friend baked a Zuni fetish doll who had come to life and attacked her. So the dumbass opened the door to check and see if he was dead... His spirit needed somewhere to go when she opened the oven...

[A Person]

I'll bet he's really popular at parties now...

[Serendipitous]

I'll bet he's really popular at parties now...

I swear, those are the greatest dolls! No batteries needed... just take off the lil gold chain and the chase is on! He sure does love to use his spear... and his teeth!

[Nfidel]

Better be careful when opening the oven. Dem bones (dem bones, dem dry bones) may have had some spirits hiding out in 'em. My friend baked a Zuni fetish doll who had come to life and attacked her. So the dumbass opened the door to check and see if he was dead... His spirit needed somewhere to go when she opened the oven...

Part 3 of 3.
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[Serendipitous]

Part 3 of 3.

I wonder if he has da rabies...

[Guest]

OMG! Didn't you notice the spirit orbs in your photos?

ummmm it's raining those aren't spirit orbs.....wow, those don't exist....

[Nfidel]

OMG! Didn't you notice the spirit orbs in your photos?

ummmm it's raining those aren't spirit orbs.....wow, those don't exist....

I know, Guest. It was sarcasm. I'm a skeptic and photographer, so I have lots of experience with "orbs". I'm always glad to have another skeptical person onboard though. If you want read some first class sillyness here, go to the thread about Payne Road, a road in my area purported to be haunted.

[Serendipitous]

Happy Halloween, y'all.
A year later, this thread still cracks me up... well, all except for that doll. SOMEONE invited him to celebrate my birthday and wouldn't you know it! HE SHOWED UP and resides in my living room closet.

No worries. He's in a box and his chain is on. At least I think it is...

[Guest]

ok..i live near this..and in school we always talked bout the DTG..i all depends on in wut u believe and how suceptable you are to things of this nature. many ppl will tell u many different things bout the area and u can hear alot of diff stories bout the grounds. we always visited the area on HALLOWEEN around 10pm and camped out in the middle of the area. we had a hard time gettin our fire to stay lit and wen we woke up most of our things were scattered around our camp site. our things being moved. noises at nite, ones that we culdnt explain like growling, howling that didnt sound like just an animal or human but a mixture of both a female screamin and an animal. and just other minor things to add to the creepy feeling you got while being in that particular spot in the woods. i cant say for sure if its true. that its the devils tramping ground. but it is true that its not just a clearing in the woods. whether it be the hauntings of the devil, or just the attempts to scare made by the youth or land owners near the property its no ordinary place to visit on october 31st. good place for a good scare on the ol hallows eve.