If you’re looking to get outdoors and learn a little about the history of your state, there’s no better place to visit than Lums Pond State Park. Not only will you find gorgeous hiking trails here, but there are little-known historic ruins hiding near the water.
Lums Pond State Park is one of Delaware’s most popular state parks. In all seasons, visitors come here to hike, camp, and explore.
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The Swamp Trail is said to be haunted by a young girl who was murdered here in the 1870s, and if you listen closely, you may hear her wailing from the woods.
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Don’t let that discourage you from fully exploring the park, though! You’ll want to walk back to the hidden ruins of the Lums Mill House.
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Lums Pond was built in the 1700s to supply water power for the Lums Mill House. John Lum and his son ran the mill, built in 1713, until the home was purchased by Samuel Davies, a historic minister.
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Davies eventually went on to become the fourth President of Princeton University in New Jersey, and the home was vacated. Over the years, it has fallen into disrepair.
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The Lums Mill House is rumored to be haunted. Many visitors report seeing a pair of men working on the house and running the mill - but upon further inspection, nobody seems to be there at all.
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The house was transferred to the state of Delaware in 1966 as a historic monument, and it currently sits vacant, waiting for a resident curator to restore the home. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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Combined with the legend of the Swamp Trail Ghost, the ruins of the Lums Mill House and its ghosts make for a creepy daytime hike any time of year.
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Visit Lums Pond State Park at 1068 Howell School Rd., Bear, DE 19701. The park is perfect for hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, camping, and fishing.
Flickr / Mandy Jansen
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Oh, and you can read more about the Ghosts of Lums Pond here.
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