Self-Guided Visit
Self-Guided Daytime Visit
Walk the Colonial-era grounds, read headstones dating to the 1790s, and explore the historic Gunn family section and Revolutionary War veterans' graves during daylight hours.
- Duration:
- 45 min
Photo coming soon
Cemetery / Burial Ground
Gunntown Cemetery
A Colonial-era Naugatuck burial ground established in 1790, cited by Ed and Lorraine Warren as haunted and renowned for phantom children's laughter, ragtime music, and spectral figures among Revolutionary War graves.
Gunntown Rd, Naugatuck, CT 06770
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free public access during daylight hours. Private guided ghost investigations available through Veil Walker Paranormal (fee applies).
Access
Limited Access
Grassy hillside cemetery with uneven ground and stone walls; not paved.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1790 · One of the oldest continuously used cemeteries in New Haven County · Final resting place for Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War veterans · Named for the Gunn family, among the founding settlers of the Naugatuck Valley · Documented in the Charles R. Hale Collection at the Connecticut State Library
Gunntown Cemetery was established in 1790 on a modest hill above the Naugatuck River in Naugatuck's Millville section. The site takes its name from the Gunn family, early settlers of the Naugatuck region whose patriarch Jasper Gunn emigrated from Britain to New England around 1635 and helped found the town of Milford, Connecticut. By the mid-1700s, descendants of the family had spread into the Naugatuck valley, operating an 800-acre parcel that included a sawmill, blacksmith shop, general store, and distillery — a community known as Gunntown. Numerous Gunn family members are interred here, as are veterans from every major American conflict of the 18th and 19th centuries: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
Headstones in the old section display family names typical of early New England settlement — the cemetery represents a cross-section of the farming and mill-working community that built Naugatuck before its industrial expansion in the 19th century. The site is enclosed by a stone wall and an iron gate and maintained by the Grove Cemetery Association of Naugatuck. It is listed in genealogical databases including FindAGrave and BillionGraves, and is documented in the Oxford Past Cemetery Project maintained by local researchers.
The cemetery's reputation as one of Connecticut's most notable historic burial grounds is reinforced by its continuous use from 1790 and the survival of legible Colonial-era markers. It sits within the broader Gunntown Passive Park and Nature Preserve, managed by the Borough of Naugatuck.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunntown_Cemetery
- https://www.damnedct.com/gunntown-cemetery-naugatuck/
- https://patch.com/connecticut/naugatuck/looking-get-spooked-out-check-out-gunntown-cemetery-naugatuck-0
- https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/103380/gunntown-cemetery
Disembodied children's laughter from beyond the back stone wallPhantom ragtime music from the surrounding woodsApparition of a man with a lantern leading a horseApparition of a young boy near the rear wall who vanishes when approachedApparitional black dog that disappears suddenlySpirit orbs and ectoplasmic mist photographed by investigatorsElectronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs)
Gunntown Cemetery has carried a haunted reputation for decades, drawing paranormal investigators and curious visitors alike. The most celebrated endorsement came from Ed and Lorraine Warren, founders of the New England Society for Psychic Research and Connecticut's most famous paranormal researchers. After visiting the cemetery, Lorraine Warren reportedly stated the location harbored dark energy — not because of the souls buried there, she cautioned, but because of the intentions of some of those who visit for negative purposes.
The most consistently reported phenomenon is the laughter of children. Witnesses describe the sound originating in the field beyond the back stone wall and growing closer with each passing minute, until it seems to arise from within the cemetery itself. Some visitors also report hearing old ragtime-style music, described as sounding as though it were being played from deep within the surrounding woods. Paranormal investigators have captured alleged Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs) and photographed what they describe as spirit orbs and ectoplasmic mist among the headstones.
Several apparitional figures have been described over the years: a man carrying a lantern while leading a horse across the cemetery grounds; a young boy playing near the rear stone wall who vanishes when approached; and a large black dog that disappears suddenly. These accounts are documented in Cheri Revai's *Haunted Connecticut* (Stackpole Books, 2006), one of the region's most widely referenced paranormal reference books, as well as in multiple local and regional paranormal publications. According to Damned Connecticut, unlike many haunted cemeteries, Gunntown lacks a single well-known founding tragedy — the paranormal reputation has accumulated through visitor accounts across many decades rather than a specific documented event.
Notable Entities
The Lantern Man (male apparition with horse)The Boy at the WallThe Black Dog
Media Appearances
- Cheri Revai, Haunted Connecticut (Stackpole Books, 2006)
- Referenced in multiple New England paranormal publications
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Ghost Hunt Booking Required
Private Ghost Investigation (Veil Walker Paranormal)
Small-group private paranormal investigations offered by Veil Walker Paranormal, a local CT operator, for parties of 1-2 during daytime hours.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gunntown Cemetery family-friendly?
Historic cemetery suitable for history-minded families and older children. Uneven terrain requires care. Nighttime visits are discouraged by local police. No frightening commercial elements. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Gunntown Cemetery?
Free public access during daylight hours. Private guided ghost investigations available through Veil Walker Paranormal (fee applies). This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Gunntown Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
Gunntown Cemetery has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Grassy hillside cemetery with uneven ground and stone walls; not paved..