Devil’s Hopyard State Park

All Photos Courtesy of Stranger Mindz

Welcome fellow strangers to Devil’s Hopyard!

This location has everything you would consider as “heaven on earth”, beautiful scenery, trees, waterfall, nature at its finest. Ironically, with the name Devil’s hopyard, it is also one of the most haunted locations in Connecticut. So, ask yourself this question, how can such a beautiful place be dubbed Devil’s Hopyard? The answer, history.

Devils Hopyard is a state park located in East Haddam, Connecticut. The park is known for its scenic beauty, including Chapman Falls and the Eight Mile River. There have been some local legends and rumors about hauntings associated with Devils Hopyard, but there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, primarily because, who dares to investigate a place called Devil’s hopyard in the middle of a State Park at night? Very few to no one. 

But if you do enjoy nature walks, hiking, picnics and camping, Devils Hopyard is definitely worth a visit for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. Just remember to respect the park rules and regulations. 

As far as history is concerned, in the mid 1600’s, Puritan settlers managed to establish communities in what we know now as Connecticut. The name Devil’s Hopyard itself comes from a colonial legend about the devil tending a garden of hops in the area, which is how the unique rock formations in the park were formed. These early settlers felt eerie about the Devil, and they believed he could be hiding within the most peaceful areas.

The state park got its recognition from an 18th century malt house located near Eight Mile River due to the folklore of the devil inhabiting the area. As far as the Chapman Waterfall is concerned, legend has it that Lucifer used to play the fiddle on top of this 60-foot waterfall. 

There were also tales of native Americans performing sacred rituals along the falls to put fear within the new arrivals to the land.

Due to all of this, even though everyone who occupied the lands is long gone, there are dozens of visitors who still feel the energy that was left behind. There have been reports of demonic voices, evil laughter and orbs around the waterfall. 

Could the paranormal activity be the Puritans settlers or native Americans who stayed behind? Or maybe its whatever the native Americans conjured to scare off the newcomers. One thing is certain, whatever you choose to believe in there is no denying the natural beauty that is the Devil’s Hopyard.