Episode 74: The Tramping Ground
Mystery Category: Environmental Mystery / Folklore
The Story: In the middle of a North Carolina forest lies a perfect circle where nothing—not a blade of grass or a wandering animal—will stay. Known as the "Devil's Tramping Ground," the archives reveal a site that has defied scientific explanation and sparked dark legends for centuries.
In rural North Carolina, there’s a circle of earth where nothing grows. It’s been there a long time — and why it exists is down to either the unexplainable… or the satanic.
Pre-order Laurah’s book, LAY THEM TO REST: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laurah-norton/lay-them-to-rest/9780306828805/
Hosted by Laurah Norton
Researched Anna Luria and Maura Currie
Produced and written by Maura Currie
Engineered by Brandon Schexnayder
Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing
You can also subscribe to premium episodes on Apple Premium and Supercast!
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OSTPod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/
and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607
Interested in advertising on our show? Contact Glassbox Media: https://glassboxmedia.com/contact-us/
Copyright One Strange Thing Podcast LLC 2023
Sources:
NA, “The Devil’s Ground,” The Evening Mail, 1882.
NA, “The Devil’s Tramping Ground,” The Messenger and Intelligencer, 1898.
Mrs. GM Andrew, “Wells,” The Siler City Grit, 1911.
RA Kennedy, “Circular path in…” The News and Observer, 1925.
NA, “Devil’s Camping…” The Chathan Record, 1930.
NEA Service, “Devil’s Tramping Ground…” The Herald-Journal, 1941.
WB Morgan, “Soil Test Deepends…” The News and Observer, 1946.
NA, “Book causes traffic…” The Durham Sun, 1955.
NA, “What’s the answer?” The Charlotte Observer, 1956.
NA, “Devil’s Tramping…” The Baltimore Sun, 1957.
Frank Edwards, “The Devil’s Tramping…” Sioux City Journal, 1965.
NA, “Devil’s Tramping Ground…” The Gaffney Ledger, 1971.
NA, “No self-respecting…” Associated Press, 1978.
Guy Munger, NT, The News and Observer, 1985.
NA, “Devil’s Tramping…” The Herald, 1986.
NA, “Weeds Claim…” Associated Press, 1987.
Stephanie Willet, “Site not what…” The Chatham News, 1996.
Randall Rigsbee, “Cloaked in mystery…” The Chatham News, 2006.
Charles Duncan, “The Devil’s Tramping Ground…” Spectrum News 1, 2022.