Post by Graveyardbride on Apr 15, 2015 14:46:07 GMT -5
Strange and Haunted Woods
Following is a list of six of the world’s most spine-tingling, scream-inducing woods:
Old House Woods (Virginia). We’ll begin our list with something almost every haunted forest requires: a violent history. Old House Woods (above) near Diggs in Mathews County, Virginia, was home to many a bloody battle during the Revolutionary War and War of Northern Aggression, and this is likely the reason people have reported seeing the apparitions of soldiers among the trees. There also have been reports of a screaming woman, headless dogs that attack carriages or motor vehicles, headless pirates searching for their lost treasure, ghost ships floating in the air and a spectral ship sailing for shore on Chesapeake Bay that foretells the coming of a ferocious storm. Additionally, there are tales that a vortex exists somewhere within the forest and those who wander into it are never seen again. At one time, there was an old 19th-century dwelling at the center of the woods, but it was destroyed by fire in the early 20th century. Parents warn children not to venture into the woods, lest they never return. Unfortunately for visitors, the area known as Old House Woods is privately owned and the owner reports trespassers to the police. There are those who believe his penchant for calling the cops is because he knows the woods aren’t safe and he’s afraid he will be held responsible if someone is injured or killed on his property.
Screaming Woods (England). In Kent, outside Pluckley – known as the most haunted village in England – are Dering Woods, also known as Screaming Woods. People have reported bloodcurdling, banshee-like wails emanating from the forest which, according to legend, can be traced to the 18th century when Robert DuBois, a highwayman, was captured, taken into the woods and slaughtered with a sword. People say the vengeful spirit of DuBois still haunts the location where he died and claim if you’re in Screaming Woods and hear phantom footsteps, it’s DuBois in search of someone on which to exact his revenge.
Ballyboley Forest (Northern Ireland). Because of the circular trenches and distinctive stone arrangements, Ballyboley Forest (above) is believed to be a location once inhabited by the Druids, known for their bloody rites and fondness for deep, dark woods. From around 1400 to 1700, this forest became notorious for the disappearances of several people, and the weirdness of the place has become more pronounced with time. There are locals who refuse to enter the woods alone and those who have explored them have reported seeing billows of black smoke and hearing screams in the distance. In one particularly terrifying incident, two men thought they heard a lady crying in pain. Leaving the path in an attempt to find her, they discovered a tree dripping with blood. As they fled, one man looked back and saw human-like figures in brown robes and hoods standing motionless and watching them. Stories like these have led people to believe Ballyboley is a gateway to the Celtic “Otherworld.”
Freetown-Fall River State Forest (Massachusetts). The “Bridgewater Triangle” is an area known for paranormal activity and the Freetown-Fall River State Forest (located in Freetown and Fall River, Mass.) is where most of the strangeness takes place. Its haunted status dates to colonial times when settlers purchased the land from the Wampanoag Indian Tribe. There were a lot of burial mounds in the forest and the Indians considered it sacred ground. As a consequence, some believe the land is cursed. In the 1970s, the woods became known for Satanic activity and murder. One infamous case involved Carl Drew, a local pimp and self-styled Satanist, who kept his girls in line by forcing them to participate in his sick rituals. One particularly gruesome sacrifice occurred February 8, 1980, when Karen Marsden was tortured and killed. Drew tore out the woman’s hair and fingernails before decapitating her and kicking her head around like a ball. He concluded the devilish ritual by raping the woman’s headless corpse. Many claim dark forces haunt the forest. Visitors have reported hearing heavy breathing and screams and some have felt themselves pushed and prodded by invisible hands.
Devil’s Tramping Ground (North Carolina). In horror movies, pets and other animals are often the first to recognize an otherworldly presence, but people rarely heed their warnings. In real life, things aren’t much different. Dogs are said to flee the forest clearing known as the Devil’s Tramping Ground near Bennett, N.C., a burnt, lifeless area where vegetation refuses to grow. Local legend has it the circle of devastation was created by the Devil, who once “tramped” around in a circle while contemplating how he could destroy humanity. People who visit the location say the first noticeable anomaly is the absence of birdsong and it is said if an object is left in the barren patch at night, it will be gone the following morning. Soil samples taken from the circle reveal extremely high levels of salt, but no one has been able to explain why this particular spot contains such elevated levels.
Hoia-Baciu Forest (Romania). In an area sometimes referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania, the Hoia Baciu Forest (above) is infamous for unexplained activity. Locals have long avoided these woods, but the area became notorious in 1968 after a biologist named Alexandru Sift observed a UFO-like object hovering overhead. Supposedly, the weirdly curved trees were normal until they were warped by a supernatural presence. Those brave enough to enter the forest have reported rashes, nausea, vomiting, severe headaches and intense, debilitating anxiety, along with a sensation of being “watched.” Some believe there is an inter-dimensional portal in Hoia-Baciu and those who enter it lose all concept of time.
Sources: Tommy DePaoliStaff, MoviePilot, April 12, 2015; Patricia Martin, The Examiner; Murderpedia, and Legends and Lore of North Carolina.
