“Come see the Devil's Holes”
Could the round holes in the falls really be the work of the devil? Or, just nature and water making their mark for future generations? Visit Devil's Hopyard and find your own answer to this age-old mystery. In 1919, the former State Park and Forest Commission obtained an 860 acre parcel located in the Millington section of Haddam. The principle feature of the park, Chapman Falls drops more than sixty feet over a series of steps in a Scotland Schist stone formation. The falls also once powered "Beebe's Mills" which were named after the original owner. The mills operated until the mid 1890's.A search for the origin of the name "Devil's Hopyard" reveals a wide variety of different stories; none of them are verifiable and all are likely to be more fiction than fact. One of the most popular of these stories is about a man named Dibble, who had a garden for growing hops used in the brewing of beer. It seems that through usage, Dibble's Hopyard became Devil's Hopyard. There are records of several farmers having hopyards in the area, but there is no mention of a landowner named Dibble. However, Dibble might have been a tenant.Another tale focuses on the potholes near the falls, which are some of the finest examples of pothole stone formations in this section of the country. Perfectly cylindrical, they range from inches to several feet in diameter and depth. These potholes were formed by stones moved downstream by the current and trapped in an eddy where the stone was spun around and around, wearing a depression in the rock. When the rock wore itself down, another would catch in the same hole and enlarge it. We know this now, but to the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery that they tried to explain with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away.The park today offers some of the finest birding in the state and fishermen find the clear, cool stream water an excellent source of brook trout.
Had a great time here and was not disappointed.
Crowded, nosy. 3-minute hiker tourist waterfall.
My wife and kids were exploring new places one weekend to hike and explore in CT and took a chance at visiting this fairly unknown water fall park. We were very pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. The falls themselves were more impressive than expected even with having visited the more well known Kent falls. People bathed and took in the pool and showered under the falls themselves. The picnic areas were clean and ample with plenty of tables around. There seemed to be plenty of trails for foot hiking and there was supposedly trails for bikes which I couldn't seem to find. We will definitely be back to explore in the future.
Nice little state park. Enjoyed camping here for a weekend.
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Devil's Hopyard
Hours
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Max Stay
- 14
- Season End
- fall
- Sites Count
- 21
- Season Start
- spring
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 50
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Sites
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Laundry
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Showers
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Firewood
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Fifty Amp
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Slide Outs
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Paved Sites
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Rec Facilities
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Back In RV Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
Campground
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