Welcome to The Devil’s Tramping Ground Project
This site explores the enduring legend of the Devil’s Tramping Ground in North Carolina as part of a folklore research project for Oregon State University. Dive into the stories, imagery, and historical records that have kept this legend alive for generations.
Abstract
The Devil’s Tramping Ground is a legendary site in Chatham County, North Carolina, where folklore claims the Devil himself paces in a perfect circle, leaving the ground barren. This website explores the legend through oral tradition, belief, and cultural participation. Drawing from folkloristics, this project examines the site’s use in regional identity and fear-based storytelling. Through legend-tripping, storytelling, and symbolic behavior, participants reinforce group belonging and curiosity about the unknown. By analyzing verbal, customary, and material folklore, this project shows how the Devil’s Tramping Ground acts as a living narrative shaped by both tradition and performance in a Southern context.
Visual References
Source: DevilJazz Tripod
Source: DevilJazz Tripod
Source: Spectrum News
Source: Fayetteville Observer