DEVIL’S BACKBONE

Inscription

DEVIL’S BACKBONE
AS EARLY AS 1877, NICKNAME FOR
ROCKY CLIFF WALL ALONG PAINT
CREEK, SITE OF MANY MYSTERIES,
INCLUDING TALES OF BIGFOOT,
HIDDEN MINES AND LOST SKUNKS.
OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2023

Herbert & Patricia Wagers’ Memorial Park in Camden, Ohio is home to walking and hiking trails abounding with beautiful native plants and wildflowers along the winding Paint Creek. However, this idyllic locale is also known locally by a much sinister sounding name, Devil’s Backbone.

As early as 1877, the rocky cliff wall along Paint Creek has been known as Devil’s Backbone and has been the site of many mysterious happenings. One is a story of missing skunks in a “get rich quick” scheme by a local residence, who attempted to raise skunks beside the creek to sell for their pelts in the early 1900s, only to return one day to find that all their skunks had mysteriously disappeared. Other eerie events at Devil’s Backbone include bigfoot sightings, tales of hidden copper mines, and even baffling, unsolved murders. This has led to some saying the area is cursed.

Despite these tales, the surrounding community has for many years continued to enjoy the natural beauty of Devil’s Backbone.