Devil's Tramping Ground

Hidden in Chatham County forests near Harper's Crossroads lies a mysterious 40-foot barren circle where no vegetation has grown for at least 300 years. Written records calling it "poisoned land" date to the 1700s, and an 1852 survey described it as "worthless."

The Devil's Tramping Ground lies in a forest near Harper's Crossroads in Bear Creek, North Carolina—a perfectly circular bare path forty feet in diameter where nothing has grown for over a century. Local legend holds that the Devil himself comes here during the dark of night to walk in circles, thinking, plotting, and planning new means of causing trouble for humanity. The Majesty of the Underworld of Evil silently tramps around that bare circle, scheming against good on behalf of wrong.

The existence of this tramping ground predates the founding of the United States. The Chatham County Deed Book contains a 1784 record referring to the area as "the poison field tract," meaning even then, the unusual barren ground was well-known enough to carry a suspicious name. In the 1950s, author John Harden wrote about the peculiar ground, and curiosity seekers began flocking to see the mystery for themselves.

The legends are consistent and disturbing. Objects left within the ring overnight disappear by morning. Dogs yip and howl, refusing to approach the circle. Strange events befall those who spend the night within its boundaries. Haunting enthusiasts have captured video evidence of mysterious fog moving through the woods and hovering over the area. Visitors report dramatic temperature fluctuations—feeling suddenly cold even during hot summer nights. Strange, translucent figures can be seen on the pathway leading to the circle.

Those who have stayed overnight describe an eerie quietness within the area and an overwhelming sense of dread. Some have witnessed red glowing eyes in the middle of the circle. Dating back to the 1930s, hunters and their dogs were chased away from the tramping ground on multiple occasions by a ferocious beast said to resemble a black bear.

Science has tried and failed to explain the phenomenon. Soil scientist Rich Hayes, who lives in Chatham County and has tested the soil multiple times, has searched for answers for years. His findings showed elevated readings of certain minerals inside the circle, but none of the data explained why plants cannot grow there. "None of the readings showed us that plants could not live there," he admitted. The barren ring defies scientific explanation.

Alternative theories suggest the spot was an ancient Native American meeting place, the bare circle worn by ceremonial dances. Others connect it to the legend of the Lost Colony and a fallen tribal chief named Croatan, buried here after battle. Some claim the open space results from salt in the soil, a mineral lick deposit, or moonshine production. But none of these theories account for the continuing phenomena—the fog, the figures, the sense of dread, and the objects that vanish in the night.

The Owens family has owned the land for over a hundred years. Camping and paranormal investigations at the Devil's Tramping Ground remain extremely popular. Whatever walks that circle in the darkness continues to do so, waiting for its next visitors.