Buzz
The fear of being underground is universal. Picture complete darkness where even your hand vanishes from sight, and the overwhelming weight of countless tons of rock looming above, ready to collapse. It’s enough to send shivers down your spine. However, some of Earth’s openings are terrifying not just for their claustrophobic nature but because of the grim tales tied to them. These 10 holes are steeped in death, making them even more chilling.
10. Catawba Murder Hole
Local folklore is rich with stories about this cave. One tale recounts a farmer who murdered a traveling tinkerer to steal his goods, then disposed of the body by pushing the cart and horse into the Murder Hole. Another legend speaks of a young couple who, facing family opposition to their love, chose to end their lives by driving a cart into the abyss.
However, one death that is undeniably real is that of David Spencer. In 1958, Spencer, a member of the Virginia Tech cave club, was exploring the hole when his rope broke, sending him plunging into the abyss. Investigators later discovered that cleaning fluid had spilled on his rope during storage, weakening it and leading to the fatal accident.
No deaths have occurred in the Catawba Murder Hole since that tragic incident, but many have still managed to get stuck there. Marian McConnell and her husband, who purchased the land surrounding the Hole in 1994, now prohibit anyone from entering without their supervision. Despite the ban since the mid-1960s, people continue to venture in, risking their lives. The Murder Hole may yet claim another victim.
9. The Spooner Well
On July 2, 1778, Bathsheba Spooner became the first woman executed in the United States after its independence. Her husband, Joshua Spooner, was also memorialized uniquely—with two headstones. One marks his grave in a nearby cemetery, while the other stands at the site of his death, inscribed: “Spooner Well—Joshua Spooner murdered and thrown down this well March 1, 1778, by three Revolutionary soldiers at the urging of his wife Bathsheba.”
In 1777, Bathsheba, then 32, started an affair with Ezra Ross, a 17-year-old soldier. When Ross impregnated her, Bathsheba devised a plan to kill her husband before he could discover the truth. She enlisted the help of two British deserters, luring them with rum and the promise of sexual favors. That evening, as Joshua Spooner entered their home, one of the soldiers attacked him and brutally killed him. Bathsheba then assisted the soldier and her lover in disposing of the body by throwing it down the well, which later became known as the Spooner Well to commemorate the heinous act.
All parties involved were arrested within a day, and their convictions followed swiftly. Bathsheba begged for a delay in her execution to allow her to give birth, but her plea was denied. She was hanged while five months pregnant.
8. Dead Man’s Hole
Discovered in Texas in 1821, Dead Man’s Hole, also known as Devil’s Well, has a grim history. During the American Civil War, Confederate gangs used this sinkhole to dispose of individuals sympathetic to the Union. The remains of at least 17 people have been discovered at its base.
A particularly eerie aspect of the hole is the oak tree growing beside it, with a sturdy branch extending directly over the opening. Victims were hanged from this tree, and once the rope was cut, they fell 47 meters (155 ft) to the bottom. If anyone survived the fall, the poisonous gas filling the hole ensured their demise. The presence of this gas delayed full exploration until 1951, when advanced breathing equipment became accessible.
Today, the hole is sealed, and a plaque honors those who met their end there. Among the victims were a pro-Union judge, several Union officials, and Ben McKeever, who was thrown into the hole after killing a former slave. The site’s violent history has fueled tales of ghostly sightings and eerie sounds in the area.
7. Roman Well Of Belgrade Fortress
Despite its name, the 50-meter (164 ft) well in Belgrade Fortress wasn’t built by the Romans. The current structure was constructed by Austrians in the 18th century, though a well has existed there for far longer. The name likely originates from its association with the Holy Roman Empire.
The well’s dark history is what truly captivates. In 1494, the city served as a defense stronghold against the Turks. When 37 traitors failed to let invaders in, they were punished by being lowered into the pit. After being starved, they were given knives to kill and consume each other.
In 1882, Lena Knicanin, a socialist, attempted to assassinate the newly crowned king. Arrested alongside her accomplice, Lena was imprisoned at the bottom of the well and was found dead days later. The well’s final victim was a woman thrown in by a madman in 1954. Its eerie ambiance even impressed Alfred Hitchcock during his 1960s visit. Today, the well is covered with a grate, but the courtyard remains open to visitors.
6. Devil’s Hole
Situated in Niagara Gorge, New York, Devil’s Hole combines native folklore and a gruesome history, earning its reputation as the “most haunted place in Western New York.” The Iroquois spoke of a demonic serpent called Evil One inhabiting the cave. Legends claim those who entered either vanished forever or emerged with their hair turned white.
The Devil’s Hole Massacre of 1763 was a real-life tragedy. Seneca warriors used the site as an ideal location to ambush an English wagon train. The attack occurred at noon on September 14, leaving only two survivors. When 80 soldiers from a nearby fort rushed to help, they too were ambushed and killed. The bodies of the victims and their animals were thrown into the hole.
5. Killing Cave Of Phnom Sampeau
In Cambodia, the Phnom Sampeau caves stand as a grim tourist attraction. During the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge used these caves for torture and execution. The remains of their victims, including skeletons in glass cases and chicken-wire cages filled with dozens of skulls, are still present. Torn clothing and electrical wires from torture devices remain as haunting reminders.
Many victims were thrown into the cave through the skylight above. Some survived the initial fall but faced a slow, painful death from starvation and dehydration. Over time, the growing pile of bodies cushioned the fall, leaving more survivors to endure a torturous end atop a mound of corpses.
The grim history of the caves contrasts sharply with the experience of modern Cambodian visitors. Today, the site is adorned with beautiful structures, artwork, and breathtaking natural scenery, transforming it from a symbol of tragedy to a place of celebration. This shift has helped locals heal and find joy amidst past horrors.
4. The Zindon Bug Pit
We’ve previously discussed the failed diplomatic mission of British officers Charles Stoddart and Arthur Connolly. However, the horrifying details of the “bug pit” in Zindon Prison, located in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, were too extensive to cover fully. These details reveal the true terror of their ordeal.
After offending the Emir of Bukhara by failing to bring gifts, Stoddart was immediately thrown into a deep pit with other prisoners. Daily, they were covered in terrifying creatures, such as tropical insects, scorpions, and rodents, along with horse manure. When Connolly arrived—a year later—to plead for Stoddart’s release, he too was cast into the pit. Both endured a year of insect-infested torture before their execution, which likely came as a grim relief.
3. The Haunted Mammoth Caves
The Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is believed to be haunted by Floyd Collins, an explorer who died there in 1925 after his leg was trapped under a rock. Rescuers found him quickly but couldn’t reach him. He remained stuck for two weeks, dying just days before help finally broke through.
Explorers report hearing screams and cries from the sealed cavern where Floyd Collins was trapped. Some claim whiskey bottles have been hurled at those who venture too close. One woman even insists Floyd’s ghost saved her from a fall by grabbing her and pulling her back from a ledge.
The other Mammoth Cave, located in Colorado, is also infamous for its deadly history. Locals refer to it as a “keeper,” as it holds the bodies of those who perished inside, too dangerous to retrieve. The most perilous section, Angel Falls, is a 23-meter (75 ft) drop that has claimed three lives. Adding to its dark reputation are tales of a sinister coven of witches once residing there.
Legends from the late 1970s describe five malevolent warlocks—Randy, Sunshine, Lobo, Patches, and Cowboy—who inhabited the cave. They allegedly killed small animals and drank their blood. Another account tells of two girls witnessing the warlocks throwing a pregnant woman to her death. The cave was eventually sealed, and the witches vanished without a trace.
2. Well Of Sacrifice
Chichen Itza, a renowned Mayan city and World Heritage Site, is famous for its iconic pyramid, El Castillo. Nearby lies a limestone sinkhole, often referred to as the Sacred Cenote.
The sinkhole was first explored in 1904 by an American who purchased the surrounding plantation. He recovered gold, copper, and pottery artifacts from the water-filled pit, some originating as far as Colombia. However, the most striking discovery was the remains of at least 120 adults and numerous children.
The leg bones of eight children bear marks indicating they were skinned before being thrown into the pit. Spanish settlers’ accounts suggest the Maya often pushed living victims into the hole. Even more chilling, the 20-meter (65 ft) drop to the water below wasn’t always fatal, leaving many to drown slowly among the decaying remains of earlier sacrifices.
1. Old Newgate Prison
London’s original Newgate Prison was famously dubbed “hell above ground.” When Connecticut’s first prison was established in an abandoned copper mine, its horrific conditions earned it the same name, giving rise to the Old Newgate Prison.
Little sunlight reached the deep, dark shafts. The cells were damp, mold-infested, and cramped. Prisoners were roused at 4:00 AM and shackled for grueling labor in the prison’s nail shop. The chains were so cumbersome that inmates could only move in small hops.
The floors were slick with foul slime, and instead of beds, prisoners slept on vermin-ridden straw. Daily meals consisted of pickled pork and mashed corn, served directly onto the filthy stone floors. Those who failed to meet work quotas faced flogging, being hung upside down, or confinement in the stocks.
Desperate escape attempts were common. One group tried burning an oak door blocking an old drainage tunnel. They gathered flammable materials and ignited them, but the door remained intact. The fire consumed the oxygen, filling the cavern with smoke and causing several men to suffocate.
The last death at the prison was Abel Starkey in 1827. He bribed a guard with $50 to abandon his post, then attempted to climb a 21-meter (70 ft) shaft using a thin rope. The rope broke, and Starkey fell to his death.
