Horror Research Reveals: The Bennington Triangle – Vermont’s Vanishing Point

There are places in this world that don’t make the tourist brochures. Places that seem… off. Too quiet. Too empty. Too willing to let you in—but not let you out. Welcome to the Bennington Triangle, Vermont’s very own Bermuda Triangle—but with more pine needles and fewer yachts.

Tucked away in the enchanting Green Mountains, this captivating wilderness holds a wealth of mysteries, from unsolved disappearances to intriguing legends that pique the curiosity of even seasoned hikers. Between 1945 and 1950, five individuals mysteriously vanished, and that’s only scratching the surface of the tales that surround these woods.

What secrets lie within this alluring landscape? Could it be missing persons, playful spirits, or perhaps even a gateway to another realm? Let’s dive into this fascinating enigma together—just remember to stick close to the group, okay? Adventure awaits us!

What is the Bennington Triangle?

The Bennington Triangle, a term introduced by the insightful folklorist Joseph A. Citro, encompasses an intriguing region in southwestern Vermont around Glastenbury Mountain. This area, once bustling with a logging town, is rich in folklore and mystery. It has become a hotspot for intriguing phenomena like UFO sightings and elusive Bigfoot tales, alongside a few unsettling stories of people who mysteriously disappeared.

Between 1945 and 1950, five individuals—men, women, and children—vanished without a trace, some from hiking trails or even a moving bus. One person’s remains were discovered in an area that had already been thoroughly searched. It’s certainly a captivating topic for those intrigued by the unknown!

The Disappearances That Haunt

Middie Rivers (1945): A seasoned guide, last seen walking ahead of his hunting party. He turned a bend… and vanished. No trace was ever found.

Paula Welden (1946): An 18-year-old college student who went hiking alone on the Long Trail. She was never seen again, despite a massive manhunt. The trail? Cold.

James Tedford (1949): A veteran who boarded a bus and was seen by multiple witnesses mid-journey… but wasn’t there when the bus arrived. His luggage remained on his seat. He did not.

Paul Jepson (1950): A young boy who wandered off near a pig farm. Bloodhounds followed his scent to a crossroads—then nothing. As if he had stepped into another world.

Frieda Langer (1950): The only one whose body was found—months later, in an area that had already been thoroughly searched. No cause of death was determined. And no one could explain how she got there.

The Theories: From Vortexes to Varmints

Folklore and urban legends have had a field day with this one:

• Supernatural Portals: Is this a thin place where the veil between worlds wavers? If so, Vermont needs better signage.

• The Man-Eating Stone: A local Native legend tells of a rock that swallows people whole. Honestly? At this point, we believe it.

• Bigfoot/The Bennington Monster: Sightings of large, hairy, humanoid creatures? Check. Do they keep a calendar for disappearances? Unknown.

• A Serial Killer?: Some believe there’s a more human explanation—but the ages, timelines, and circumstances are all wildly different. And no evidence was ever found.

Unsolved & Unsettling

The truth is, we still don’t know what happened in the Bennington Triangle. But the questions keep clawing at the corners:

• How does a man vanish off a moving bus?

• Why do bloodhound trails stop dead in the middle of nowhere?

• How did a searched area suddenly not get searched hard enough?

• And what exactly is waiting in those woods?

Final Thought: Still Fancy a Hike?

If you ever find yourself wandering the Glastenbury Wilderness, maybe take a buddy. Or ten. Stick to the trail. Don’t follow strange lights. And if a rock looks a little too interested in you, maybe go the other way.

Because some roads… don’t bring you home.