Abandoned riverside family burial ground with documented EVP activity
, Durham, NC
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free
Access
Limited Access
Dirt trail approximately 200 yards from trailhead, overgrown, uneven ground
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1780 · Cabe Family Plantation · Early Federal Era Settlement · Eno River Valley Pioneer History
John Cabe, born around 1752 in Pennsylvania to Barnaby and Elizabeth Cabe, relocated with his family to Orange County, North Carolina, in the late 1750s. In 1780, Cabe purchased 304 acres of land along the Eno River, establishing himself as a major landowner and mill operator in the region. His mill operations generated considerable wealth, supporting local trade and commerce during the early Federal period.
By the time of his death in 1818, Cabe had accumulated approximately 3,000 acres, making him one of the largest landholders in the Eno River Valley. The Cabe Lands Cemetery served as the family burial ground, reflecting the landowner's status and the settlement patterns of pioneer families in the region. The site contains an estimated 51 graves, though only 12 bear formal grave markers today. The cemetery lies in a secluded location near the Eno River, situated approximately 200 yards off the modern Cabe Lands Trail.
The cemetery's preservation within what is now Eno River State Park ensures the site remains accessible to visitors and researchers interested in early North Carolina settlement history and family burial practices of the Federal era.
Sources
Paranormal reports from Cabe Lands Cemetery describe several categories of phenomena concentrated around the burial ground and the ancient oak tree on the bluff above the site.
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) activity appears to be the most frequently documented phenomenon. Investigator Herb Englishman reported obtaining EVP recordings on every visit to the site, capturing voices identified as a man, a woman, and a girl. These recordings represent the most systematic documentation of paranormal activity at the location.
Witness accounts describe specific spoken words and phrases captured during visits near dusk. One couple reported hearing a man's voice with the words 'noise,' 'of about,' 'miller,' 'flags,' and 'years' distinctly audible, though the source remained unidentified. Multiple visitors have described hearing whispers around the cemetery grounds, particularly near the old homestead area.
Some reports mention sensed presences beside visitors, audible breathing near observers' ears, and distant sounds interpreted as screams from surrounding wooded areas. One investigator documented a shadow figure near the cemetery that vanished before it could be photographed or examined further. These phenomena collectively suggest residual haunting patterns, wherein environmental impressions replay independent of observer presence.
Notable Entities
Environmental data for this location is not yet available. Check back soon.
Follow the Cabe Lands Trail approximately 200 yards from the trailhead to access the cemetery. The site occupies a secluded area near the Eno River within Eno River State Park. The cemetery contains an estimated 51 graves, though only 12 bear formal markers. An ancient oak tree marks the bluff above the burial ground.
Access the cemetery via Eno River State Park. The trailhead provides parking and access to the Cabe Lands Trail system.
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