Episode 3: Devil’s Tramping Ground

If you drive fifteen minutes south from Siler City in rural Chatham County, North Carolina, you’ll find a place called the Devil’s Tramping Ground. Pine trees and red oaks line the edges of this clearing in the woods. And grass and low brush stretch out from the trees, stopping only as they reach a barren, 15 foot wide circle, too perfect to be natural. In the center of the circle, the soil is pure black. Only a plant called wiregrass will sometimes grow there, so sparsely you can barely see it.

Locals say that at night, the Devil himself walks along the two-foot wide outer path of the circle, planning how he will enact evil in the world. They say his hooves tramp out any plants that would otherwise grow and that he moves objects that lie in his path outside of the circle.

Listen to our podcast to learn more about this strange phenomenon and the devils that lurk in the woods.

Sources:

“The Devil’s Tramping Ground” by Daniel Lane, UNCTV Science

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/devils-stomping-ground

https://www.ncpedia.org/devils-tramping-ground

“Digging For Truth: NC’s Devil’s Tramping Ground Mystery” by Meghann Mollerus, Coloradoan.

http://www.ncghostguide.byethost12.com/mail.htm

https://www.northcarolinahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/devils-tramping-ground.html

“Whether Or Not Satan Hangs There, The Devil’s Tramping Ground Has A Truly Spooky History” by Zach Seemayer, Ranker

https://northcarolinaghosts.com/piedmont/devils-tramping-ground/

“MY NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL” by Ethan Feinsilver, News & Record

“‘No human knows:’ Devil’s Tramping Ground legend predates founding of the United States” by Heather Leah, WRAL.com