Known for its gorgeous scenery and old-world charm, Connecticut also has a darker side that is buried in myth and mystery.
A calm lake surrounded by the state’s breathtaking scenery is one such location that is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of people who drowned there.
Come explore the local folklore and the unnerving disappearances that have made this Connecticut lake a site of caution and interest as we delve into the spooky stories and inexplicable phenomena around it.
Candlewood Lake: The Connecticut Lake Where Swimmers Go Missing
Why, after swimming in the notorious Connecticut Lake, which is almost a century old and has more myths and stories than lakes much older, so few swimmers ever return?
Connecticut’s largest lake is called Candlewood Lake. Thousands of people visit the artificial lake each year, many of them are New Yorkers on vacation.
The vanished town of Jerusalem, Connecticut, is just 90 feet or less below the surface, something that these tourists might not be aware of.
While ghost towns beneath lakes are not unusual, Candlewood Lake is special because of the ghosts that linger in the water and along the lake’s edges. It also happens to be one of the lakes where the fabled Loch Ness monster may be found.
The Tragic Tales of this Connecticut Lake
Candlewood Lake has seen at least one drowning every year since it was formed, yet the number of swimmer deaths there throughout the years is not officially documented.
With 80 miles of shoreline, Candlewood Lake is the largest lake in Connecticut.
As such, it is not surprise that there have been a few deaths throughout the years, especially considering the lake’s hidden underwater perils. On the lake, there were six fatalities between 2022 and 2024.
Still, stories of swimmers drowning on the lake date back to a more recent era. This has to do with the fact that Candlewood Lake was formed in a way that makes it haunted.
A Haunting History of Candlewood Lake
Jerusalem, Connecticut, was formerly the town where Candlewood Lake is located. The town of Jerusalem was so busy in the early 1900s that it had many churches, schools, farms, residences, and businesses.
For some reason, the Connecticut Light and Power Company chose the site of Jerusalem’s construction to build a man-made lake.
As a result, some households were seized by eminent domain, some were paid for their land to relocate, and still others just refused to give up.
Many of the buildings, cars, and farm equipment from Jerusalem were left behind, even if some of the buildings were transferred out of the valley and into other cities.
Dead were exhumed from cemeteries as well; some of the dead were interred at Brookfield’s Wood Creek Cemetery. Some residents claim that not all of the bodies were removed, though.
Those who would not escape remained in their homes as the town began to flood in February 1928. Some homeowners are thought to have remained in their houses right up until the very end. It’s uncertain how many persons were involved.
There is a tradition that claims the souls of people who drowned in their homes and those who were left in the graveyard have been known to seize swimmers from Candlewood Lake and drag them under.
Every year in February, when the lake freezes over, the ghosts are even audible.
They are reportedly calling out to anyone on the ice to locate them so they can be moved somewhere other than Candlewood Lake’s bottom.
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Swimmer deaths have resulted from people jumping off Candlewood Lake’s Chicken Rock
For some teenagers, visiting Chicken Rock in Candlewood Lake has become a rite of passage. Over the years, many have visited Chicken Rock, whether it’s for rock jumping into Candlewood Lake or swinging into the lake from a rope.
Sadly, mishaps are inevitable when leaping from a 25-foot-tall cliff or dangling into the lake. Because the rocks coming into the water are not removed, this usually results in head injuries.
Unknown numbers of individuals have died while attempting to jump from Chicken Rock.
On the other hand, it is stated that the ghosts of those who perished while leaping can be seen when they attempt their final jump for those who are daring enough to return to Chicken Rock at night by boat.
Instead, those who are invisible cause loud, piercing cries.
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