There's nothing like going for a swim in a Kentucky swimming hole - these natural pools are one of the most delightful simple pleasures of summer. But there’s one popular swimming hole in Bell County, Kentucky, that has a very tragic and terrible secret. Known as “Devil’s Garden,” this swimming hole in Kentucky is a haunting place where a terrible tragedy took place on a seemingly normal night not too long ago.
Middlesboro, Kentucky, is a place that, by all accounts, is your classic small town in the Bluegrass State.
Located in the heart of Bell County, Middlesboro is home to about 9,000 residents and boasts a beautiful downtown framed by the glorious Great Smoky Mountains.
A man-made canal flows through the heart of the city, and Fern Lake is located nearby. In addition, several small creeks and little cascades can be found along the trails and forests surrounding this small town -- Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is a popular place to hike near Middlesboro.
But the wilds of Southeast Kentucky aren't as peaceful as they seem. Within Bell County, there is a small, local swimming hole simply known as "Devil's Garden."
One day, not so long ago, a group of teenagers were swimming here on a sticky summer night. At some point in the night, one of the kids slipped and hit his head on a rock in the shallows, an accident the teens thought was fatal.
Panicking, the teens hid the body under the water, beneath a heavy rock. The next day, the kids returned to find the local authorities had already arrived and discovered the body.
To their horror, their friend had drowned during the night; he hadn't, as they'd believed, died from the fall.
They lived with their secret for over 15 years until they each started disappearing mysteriously. After carrying the weight of this secret for years, the remaining two teens - now adults - confessed and were sent to prison.
Ever since, on the night of every full moon, the moon's reflection casts a skull-like image on the water's surface -- a haunting reminder of a terrible tragedy.
Learn more about the story of Devils Garden Swimming Hole in Kentucky in this video:
Did you know the tragic history behind this Kentucky swimming hole? It sure sounds like the makings of a movie, doesn't it?
There are some places in Kentucky that have borne witness to an unspeakable tragedy. The Pope Lick Bridge is another such place.
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