When manhunts turn up nothing, we often turn to folklore.  However, the original stories are usually founded on a shred of truth, so it makes you wonder about the truth behind the ghost town of Glastenbury in Vermont.  Did the elements and surroundings force the community to leave, or perhaps there was always a dark presence lurking in this ghost town in Vermont?  Let’s take a look at some of the mysterious disappearances that have happened in the area, highlighted in this video by Matt Garland.

Check out a bit more history about Glastenbury in a more prosperous time.

Submitted By: Renee Gliddon
Nearly 250 people lived in this once thriving community at its peak in 1880. There was a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, a store, a boarding house and houses for the workmen. From 1873 to 1878, there was even a post office.
Submitted By: Jens Hilke
Back in the 18th and 19th century, Glastenbury and the surrounding towns depended largely on cutting trees and selling the wood as their major source of income. People needed wood to heat their homes as well as cook.
Submitted By: Matt Jungers
With the trees cut, essentially making a path, a trolley route was created to promote tourism in the area. However a major flood destroyed all the railroad lines and bridges.
Submitted By: Renee Gliddon
All that time, labor and expenses were washed away after just one season in 1898.
Submitted By: Renee Gliddon
The land was never rebuilt and people eventually moved from Glastenbury to seek opportunity in other areas. The local school, mill and homes were left empty. All that remained was an abandoned spot that would come to be known as one of the most haunted places in Vermont.
Flickr/Philip Werner
It is said that this town, which is essentially a ghost town as there is little left to this once active settlement, has always had a dark history. The local Adnaik Indians would not hunt on the mountain because they said it had a dark presence.
Flickr/Jared and Corin
In 1945, strange disappearances began taking place on Glastenbury mountain. At least four people in five years have been reported to be hiking on the mountain, and were never seen again.
Flickr/rickpilot_2000
Among them are a 75-year-old hiking guide, an 18-year-old college student, an 8-year-old boy and a 53-year-old woman. They were never found.
UVM/Tyler Resch
Now nature is reclaiming the area that once held so many hopes and dreams, and with the eerie abandonment comes even more stories.
Flickr/Bob Doran
Namely one of Bigfoot roaming the mountains, as there have been a few reports of an 8-foot-tall hairy monster. These stories go back as far 1879 as in a New York Times article where a wild man sighting was reported in a nearby area.
Flickr/comeonandorra
It is said not to wear red while in the area or else you may disappear too, as Paula Welden was wearing red when she disappeared.

Would you dare hike in a place with so many unsolved disappearances?  Would you wear red? All these Vermont ghost stories make you think about the utterly strange history some of these places in Vermont have.

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More to Explore

ghost town in Vermont

Luke | May 07, 2020

Are there other creepy and eerie towns in Vermont?

Yes, there are. Lewiston and Somerset are two small towns in Vermont that are known for being ghost towns. But perhaps the most well-known town in Vermont for having ghosts and spirits is Stowe. Several ghost stories have come out of this resort town in the Green Mountains. If you are looking for more scary and abandoned places in Vermont, check out this article here of the 17 terrifying places that will haunt your dreams. Explore at your own risk. Happy haunted adventures!

What are the scariest haunted attractions in Vermont?

We all love a bit of adrenaline and scary stories, so why not visit some of Vermont's ghost-haunting attractions. Emily's bridge, a bridge that is supposedly haunted by a girl named Emily, is a place that continually haunts Vermonters. The legend has it that she died a horrendous death at the bridge and now her spirit presides around the bridge and haunts those who come to the bridge. Another haunted attraction in Vermont is the Eddy House in Chittendon. The house and the family have a long history of eerie and scary behavior, full of ghosts, haunting rooms, and a terrifying family history.

Can I visit any abandoned places in Vermont?

Yes, you can. Depending on the area and attraction, you can visit abandoned places in Vermont. Some places will not be safe for entering, but you will still be able to get a glimpse of these places from the outside. Other places, however, you will be able to enter and explore inside. We recommend that you check out this article here about a road trip that will lead you to some creepy abandoned places in Vermont. before visiting abandoned places, make sure you are being safe and responsible. Time to start exploring!

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