Dudleytown, a long-abandoned settlement in Connecticut, has gained a reputation as one of the creepiest ghost towns in the United States. Located in the ominously named Dark Entry Forest in Cornwall, the former village is said to be under a curse, bearing similarities to the chilling 1999 horror film The Blair Witch Project.
Settled in the 1740s by Thomas Griffis and later joined by Gideon, Barzillai, Abiel, and Martin Dudley, the village was home to only a small number of residents. However, a series of tragic events in the 19th century led to its decline. After Nathaniel Carter moved in, six of his relatives died from cholera, and the remaining family members left only to die shortly after. Another resident, Gershon Hollister, died under unexplained circumstances after speaking of creatures in the shadows, and his neighbour William Tanner later went insane.
Other strange deaths included Sara Faye Swift, who was struck by lightning in 1804, leaving her husband Herman inconsolable; he soon died of unknown causes. By 1900, all residents had either died or moved away. Some believe the curse originated from a Dudley descendant being beheaded in England by King Henry VII for treason.
In the 1990s, the area became a hotspot for vandalism and ghost hunters, especially after the release of The Blair Witch Project in 1999. To curb anti-social behaviour, the landowners closed Dudleytown to the public. It is now illegal to visit, as the site is private property.
