Devil's Hopyard State Park
East Haddam, CT
366 Hopyard Road
East Haddam, CT 06423
860-873-8566
Open Year-Round - Free Entry
The explanations for the name "Devil's Hopyard" run quite a gamut, from ghouls reportedly seen among the hops vines to weekly dances, or hops, run by a man named Devlin. The explanations don't satisfy historians, but they do say something about the imaginations of New England's early settlers.
One tale interests both geology and history fans. At the base of 60-foot Chapman Falls are a number of perfect cylinders, called "potholes," bored into the stone by pebbles caught in eddying water. Early settlers speculated that the Devil was so angered by getting his tail wet in the falls that his hooves burned holes in the rock as he hopped around in distress.
The "Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Guide," published by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association; "Connecticut Place Names," by A.H. Hughes and M.S. Alien; and "Connecticut, A New Guide," by William Bixby, recount several theories on how Devils Hopyard gots its name.
The name Devil's Hopyard was first used in connection with Devil's Kettle, a large circular hole on Kettle Hill. A large cavelike opening in a ledge on the opposite bank of the river was called Devil's Cave or Devil's Oven.
At one time, a quarter-acre field of hops grew alongside the road. The Hopyard portion of the name could have come from the malt house of Malt House Brook, 3 miles to the south. Historians also speculate that hops may have been soaked in potholes that were worn in rocks below Chapman Fails.
But, where did the devil come from? Supposedly, a man named
Dibble grew hops in the area. Converting his name to Devil wasn't a large stretch, but more fascinating are the spine-tingling tales told by early residents. One is of a minister's son who was abducted by a man with formidable horns. Another tells of a boy who was seized by a man with a head like a bull and taken on a wild wagon ride down Kettle Hill. Residents also believed that the devil sat above Chapman Falls, playing his violin, while directing witches as they mixed magic potions -beer?- in the potholes.
Devil's Hopyard may have a folklore devil, but it had a real angel: Miss A.G. Willard of Colchester. In 1919, she urged the state park and forest commission to do something to stop a logging operation in the area. Within a month, the state bought the land, the logging stopped, and it became a state park for all to enjoy.
There are more than 15 miles of hiking trails (mostly also suitable for mountain biking), which lead through a variety of terrains, from hemlock forest to marsh to river shore. One trail leads to a scenic vista; another extends outside the park to the town of Millington.
The park is used by cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
Chapman Falls
While the sounds of Moodus will intrigue visitors, the setting of Devil's Hopyard will truly tap into the deep recesses of visitors' imaginations. The craggy landscape is the perfect setting for the supernatural and a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.
For centuries, the 860 acre State Park was used by Native Americans as a meeting and gathering place. According to some local legends, the park is named for Satan himself, who reportedly played in the house band while the Black Witches of Haddam held sabbat. The Dark One reportedly enjoyed a perch atop Chapman's Falls, a 60 foot waterfall in the park's center.
Whether or not you choose to believe these legends, the tales certainly provide fodder for guests in search of legends and settings that inspire the imagination.