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Winsted Wildman - Winsted CT
Connecticut’s own answer to Bigfoot. Spotted in Winsted, CT with sightings spanning almost a century since the late 1800’s, he appears as a naked hairy man running through town. Run, Wildman, run!
 
Old Leatherman - Danbury CT
For years, legend says Old Leatherman walked to and from Danbury, CT,  in a circuitous 365-mile route wearing a leather suit he fashioned himself, taking exactly 34 days to complete each trip. Locals said they could set their clock to his rounds.
Phew - sounds tiring!
 
Fairfield Hills - Newtown CT
Site of an abandoned state psychiatric hospital in Newtown, CT. Reported ghosts and other spooky sightings haunt the grounds and buildings. Now the location has been re-purposed into the town’s municipal center along with private businesses who call it’s 185-acre campus home.
 
Melon Heads -  Stratford, Shelton and Trumbull CT
Small human-like beings with oversized heads descended from inbred cast-outs terrorize teenagers in the backwoods of Stratford, Shelton and Trumbull CT in eastern Fairfield County. Sounds like the plot of a scary horror film!
 
Sea Serpents - Lordship (Stratford) CT
Long Island Sound is the home to numerous reports of sea serpents throughout the years, some as far back as the 1700’s. There is a rich history of these cryptid sightings on the CT coast off Lordship (Stratford) CT by many a boat captain. Our very own Nessie right here in CT?
 
Gunntown Cemetery - Naugatuck CT
Dating back to 1790, Gunntown Cemetery in Naugatuck CT  is one of the oldest cemeteries in CT. Ghosts and other spooky hauntings have been part of it’s legend for years. 
 
Ghosts of New Haven Green - New Haven CT
Reportedly there are approx. 5,000 to 10,000 people buried under the Green since colonial times. Keep an eye out for ghostly apparitions dissolving into the mist as you stroll the green in the evening, after dinner and a show, in one of Connecticut’s most cultural cities.
 
 Glawackus - Glastonbury CT
In the first part of the 20th century, the people of Glastonbury described a terrible cryptid creature - seemingly part cat, dog and bear - terrorizing both man and beast. Some say the Glawackus may have been a fisher cat - do you agree?

Black Dog - Meriden CT
“If you meet the Black Dog once, it shall be for joy; if twice, it shall be for sorrow; and the third time shall bring death.”

—W.H.C. Pynchon
This tale from Hubbard Park / Castle Craig in the Hanging Hills of Meriden CT consists of a mysterious supernatural black dog with a silent bark that leaves no footprints whose third sighting ultimately results in death . . . beware of the Black Dog, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying this beautiful CT park! 

Gardner Lake - Salem CT
Word is that in 1895, a family’s attempt to move their lake house to the other shore during frigid times resulted in the house sinking into Gardner Lake - it’s contents, including a piano, were lost to the icy waters forever. Since that time, people claim to hear piano music emanating from the depths. Visit Lake Gardner to see if you hear it too - water you waiting for?

Vampires of Jewett City - Jewett City (Griswold) CT
 Legend tells us in the early 19th century, the Ray family of Jewett City (a borough of Griswold CT) was afflicted by a mysterious wasting disease. As members continued to be stricken, the family suspected that their dead relatives were “vampires”, rising from the dead and feeding upon the living. So they exhumed a few sons and burned their bodies bonfire-style to put a stop to the undead. Today, it is believed it was tuberculosis, not vampires, that caused the family’s misfortunes.

PigMan - Mystic CT
Legendary Mystic CT tale from the 1970’s of a reported man with a pig-like head and making pig-like sounds who drowned a woman in the Mystic River. Scary stuff from a CT tourist town where you’ll never be “boar”ed taking in the sites!
 
Ledge Lighthouse - New London CT
The ghost of former lighthouse keeper Ernie, reportedly opens and closes doors, removes sheets from beds and generally gets into spooky shenanigans as he haunts the Ledge Lighthouse off the New London CT’s coast. 

Samson Rock - Madison
Samson Rock is a glacial rock formation located between two nondescript retail centers in Madison. According to Native American (Algonquin) storytelling, the giant Odziozo created Lake Champlain, then followed a flock of geese down to present-day Madison. A boulder dropped from his massive hand, balancing precariously, becoming Samson Rock. The name “Samson” comes from European settlers who co-opted the legend to align with the biblical giant Samson, and the name stuck. A plaque was placed there, commemorating the huge stone and its twice-told legend. Visit this unassuming location and become immersed in the fascinating mythology of the Native Americans. 

Bruce Mansion -  Greenwich
Legend has that an Irish immigrant young lady worked as a maid in the Bell Haven area of Greenwich in the 1800’s. There she met and fell in love with a piper who, too, worked as a servant in Bell Haven. He would serenade his love with his flute-playing; sometimes she would sing along to accompany him. Before they could marry, he disappeared. Devastated, she booked a ship back to Ireland and subsequently died of tuberculosis. In the early 20th century, sightings of the two ghost lovers were reported outside Bruce Mansion ( now home to a museum). Visit the former mansion grounds today, and maybe you too will catch a glimpse of the star-crossed apparitions! 

Charles Island - Milford

Charles Island (off the Milford Coast) is not once, twice, but three times a lady (oops - three times cursed, that is)! The island is named after Charles Deal, who bought the island in 1657.

Curse #1 came about when in 1639, a Paugusset chief surrendered the island to European colonizers. Supposedly, anyone who tried to homestead or otherwise reside there would be cursed.

The next curse it is said befell the island in 1699, by none other than famous pirate Captain William Kidd (executed for his pirate ways) but not before he buried his treasure and slapped a curse on anyone who might try to access it.

Three times the curse - in 1721, the tale goes some CT sailors buried loot there supposedly stolen from Mexican emperor Guatmozin, transferring an ancient Aztec curse.

Today Charles Island is a CT state-owned Natural Land Preserve, and the nesting area for many avian species. Closed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it is wise to observe it from afar, thus avoiding the strong undertow that has claimed the lives of those who tried to cross the exposed sandbar between tides. The curses at work? Who knows! 

     Hopefully you are now inspired to make your own trip around the state to visit each of these places in WEIRD Connecticut!

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