This Delaware Pond has a Terrifying History

Delaware is a state full of scenic delights from parks and forests to beaches and hiking trails. And thanks to the First State's long history, it's also got its fair share of creepy stories.

Photo byKayla Hearst/Burst

Lums Pond State Park is a tranquil state park and campground located near New Castle in the town of Bear. The park surrounds Lums Pond, an impoundment built by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on St. Georges Creek.

While Lums Pond is celebrated as Delaware's largest freshwater pond and most popular state park, it's hiding a dark secret.

Photo bySherin Joy/Burst

During the late 1800s, a local young woman ran away from home and sought shelter in the woods surrounding Lums Pond.

According to news reports, she ran into a man who brutally assaulted her just before murdering her along the Lums Pond's Swamp Trail. Visitors claim that screams can still be heard to this day in the woods behind the pond.

Sadly, the murderer was never caught, and the story remains one of the most well-known tales of the hauntings here.

But that's not the only chilling story that surrounds Lums Pond. The area is named after John Lum and his son, who ran a millhouse on the C&D Canal. The house was eventually donated to the state in 1966 but it is still reported that visitors can see apparitions of the father and son working on the mill and wandering the grounds. Visitors have reported hearing the sounds of water wheels running.

Photo byGeorge Thurston/Burst

But it doesn't stop there. Another dark legend that surrounds Lums Pond traces its origins back to the Underground Railroad, which included stops in and around the park. Visitors to the park have reported many apparitions and strange sounds that are believed to be of the slaves who never reached freedom.

Would you ever camp at this campground after learning of these events? Be sure to let us know if you have and if you have any creepy stories. You can learn more about the park on the official Lums Pond State Park website or the park’s Facebook page.