The Enigma of the Bennington Triangle
Why are the most mysterious places often shaped like triangles? Perhaps it’s the minimal number of points needed to define an area, but there’s something undeniably sinister about it. From the infamous Bermuda Triangle to New England’s own Bridgewater Triangle, these regions seem to draw tales of unexplained disappearances, eerie phenomena, and chilling lore. Among them is Vermont’s Bennington Triangle, a place steeped in history, tragedy, and mystery.
What’s in a name
Coined by author Joseph A. Citro, the Bennington Triangle covers the wilderness surrounding Glastenbury Mountain, encompassing the ghost towns of Glastenbury, Somerset, and Fayville. Once a bustling area during Vermont’s logging boom, this region now sits largely uninhabited—a shadow of its former self, shrouded by dense forest and strange happenings.
The area’s reputation for the unexplained stems from a series of unsolved disappearances between 1943 and 1950. Hunters, hikers, and even a bus passenger vanished without a trace. Some were last seen wearing bright red coats, a color locals now warn against wearing in the woods. Add to that legends of a man-eating stone that roams the mountain and devours unwary travelers, and you have a recipe for superstition.
Bennington Monster
Reports of the Bennington Monster—a creature akin to Bigfoot—and a “Wildman” roaming the woods add to the region’s eerie allure. Historical accounts, like a sawmill worker murdering a colleague with a rock in 1892, layer the area’s already grim past. Even the Native Americans avoided Glastenbury Mountain, claiming it was cursed and only suitable as a burial ground.
On a recent trip to nearby Stratton for a ski weekend, I couldn’t resist venturing toward this infamous triangle. Driving along Glastenbury Road in the shadow of the mountain, I felt a palpable shift in atmosphere. The sunny day gave way to a shadowed, muted light as we approached the snow-covered turnoff to Fayville—a ghost town now accessible only by snowmobile during winter months.
The journey was more than just a scenic drive through Vermont’s Green Mountains. It was a trek into a place where history and legend intertwine, leaving behind unanswered questions and lingering chills.
Should you visit this creepy place
Whether it’s the tales of disappearing hikers, the chilling silence of ghost towns, or the shadow of something lurking in the woods, the Bennington Triangle remains one of New England’s most enduring mysteries. Are the stories exaggerated folklore, or is something truly otherworldly at work?
