The Devil’s Tramping Ground

Posted: 02.15.2025 | Updated: 02.15.2025

A great sense of unease overcomes all those who dare to visit The Devil’s Tramping Ground. This small patch of ground that lies deep in the woods of North Carolina has had no plant life survive there for centuries. It is believed this plot of ground belongs to the devil himself and it is where he goes to stamp around while contemplating his plans of evil, greed, and destruction.

The legend of The Devil’s Tramping Ground is one of the many haunting tales to come out of the state of North Carolina. To discover more about the spooky legends and stories from this historical area, book your tour with Queen City Ghosts today!

What is the Legend Behind the Devil’s Tramping Ground?

According to legend, the devil roams the backwoods of North Carolina, leaving behind a path of destruction along the way. It is believed he tramps around in a circle, conspiring his next plans for all of mankind. Locals believe the ground is cursed, which has rendered it unable to produce any living thing.

Despite the countless investigations conducted by scientists and other experts, The Devil’s Tramping Ground remains an enigma, as it has been for hundreds of years. This space where no plants can thrive is highly speculated by locals and visitors to the site as being poisoned or cursed land. 

But what is the reason for the land being cursed in the first place? Is it really a place on earth where Satan visits to envision his evil deeds? Or are there other sinister works at hand?

The History of The Devil’s Tramping Ground

Located in the woods of Chatham County, in a town known as Bear Creek, there is a strange circular patch of ground that is nearly 40 feet wide where even crabgrass struggles to grow. For centuries, the barren area has puzzled locals. Why is it so empty, and why is it even there in the first place?

Since the 1940s, scientists have visited the area conducting tests on the soil and have found no issues with it. There is nothing in their results that proves why the land is barren. Some have even tried to transplant the wiry grass from outside the circle to the center with no luck. No one has been able to determine why the patch of land exists or how it’s managed to remain in the same condition for hundreds of years.

Even though there is no scientific explanation for The Devil’s Tramping Ground, there are plenty of suspicions and legends surrounding it.  

The existence of this tramping ground predates the foundation of the United States. The Chatham County Deed Book has a record of a 1784 deed referring to the area as “the poison field tract,” meaning even then, the unusual barren tract was well-known enough to have a suspicious name attached to it.

In the 1950s, news of the barren land spread throughout the country thanks to the release of a book by North Carolina author John Harden, who wrote about the peculiar ground. Curiosity seekers began to flock to the location to see the mystery for themselves.

The Haunting of the Devil’s Tramping Ground

While the idea of a patch of ground where no plants will grow doesn’t sound terrifying at first, the lore surrounding The Devil’s Tramping Ground and the uncertainties from locals on why this ground is barren make it an extremely eerie and unsettling place to visit.

There is a strong belief that the space is a sacred land that once belonged to Native Americans. It is believed the natives once held ceremonial dances there. 

There is also one story associated with the land stating that two rival Native American tribes once met at the circle and a fierce battle erupted. The battle led to the death of one of the chiefs who was later buried in that spot. It is believed the circle remains clear because the spirits of old are still in mourning for their fallen leader.

There are plenty of naysayers in the area who dismiss the haunting energy and cursed soil as nothing more than there being too much salt in the soil. Some claim the open space is naturally occurring due to the result of a mineral lick deposit. Others have even said it is due to the area once being a spot used for making moonshine.

But those who believe the legends in the Bear Creek area still outnumber those who don’t. Some locals have even said the land could be an alien landing zone that has poisoned the soil. Still, the most common explanations all point to the cursed space being the work of the devil.

Dark Energy, Beasts, and Eerie Apparitions

The legends of strange activity occurring at this location date back as early as the 1930s when hunters and their dogs would be chased away from the tramping ground on multiple occasions by a ferocious beast said to resemble a black bear.

There are stories that if you place an object in the center of the tramping ground at night, it will be moved or completely disappear by the next morning. Many believe this is meant to serve as a warning message to stay away from the location altogether. 

Multiple people have tested this theory and found it to be true. This could also be seen as leaving an offering to the devil in exchange for something the person longs for.

Haunting enthusiasts have captured video evidence of a mysterious fog moving through the woods and hovering over the area. Some have reported there are fluctuations in the temperature, and they will start to feel very cold even during a hot summer night. 

Strange, translucent figures can be seen on the pathway leading to the circle, and sometimes the path will be pitch black without any light from above entering. Many who have stayed there overnight have mentioned there is an eerie quietness within the area and an overwhelming sense of dread encompassing the lifeless circle.

It has been said the spirit of a young girl can be seen running into the woods, and soon after, you will hear the sound of someone telling you to run. Visitors have also reported strange lights, eerie noises, and the overall feeling of not being welcome there.

Haunted Charlotte

The Devil’s Tramping Ground has intrigued many people who have an interest in haunted locations. Recently, the lore around this area inspired a movie, The Devil’s Stomping Ground (2022). The film was written and directed by Jonathan Landau and starred Marc Bellinger, Marley Aliah, and Laina Martinez de Andino.

Today, The Devil’s Tramping Ground is on private property. The owners, the Owens Family, have owned the ground for more than 100 years and it has been passed down through their family for generations. 

One of the owners, Robert “Bobby” Dowd Jr. had great respect for the strong energy from the circle and even hosted a small music festival there in 1978. These days, the current owners refuse to go to the circle alone at night.

However, they do allow curious people to visit the area with permission. The Owens also allow people to reserve their stay and camp there overnight if they dare. Visitors are urged to be mindful and approach the historical area with the utmost level of respect.

If you would like to learn more about the many spooky areas throughout the United States, be sure to check out our blog, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram accounts. And don’t forget to book your next ghost tour with Queen City Ghosts by contacting them today!

Sources:

• https://www.wgpfoundation.org/historic-markers/tramping-ground/
• https://www.wral.com/story/no-human-knows-devil-s-tramping-ground-legend-predates-founding-of-the-united-states/20699351/
• https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/10/17/the-devil-s-tramping-ground–mysteries-swirl-around-this-barren-spot-in-central-n-c-
• https://chathammagazinenc.com/devils-tramping-ground-a-deep-dive/ 
• https://www.visitnc.com/story/jUnR/haunted-trail-paranormal-piedmont#:~:text=8%20Devil%27s%20Tramping%20Grounds,-Siler%20CitySee&text=The%20Devil%27s%20Tramping%20Grounds%20is,and%20a%20sense%20of%20unease. 
• https://97x.com/north-carolina-scary-devil-tramping-ground/ 
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/o53a1d/the_devils_tramping_ground/ 
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22985272/