The Seven Gates of Hell

 by Brenda Florido-Lopez

The Seven Gates of Hell is located in Hellam Township, Pennsylvania. Once on Trout Run Road, but is now known as Toad Road. One myth about the Seven Gates of Hell is in the 1900s, an asylum burned to the ground and while firefighters were trying to go in and save the patients, they couldn’t make it in time because of the number of gates this asylum had. The patients who did manage to get out of the fire, were caught by police and beaten by police if they were too psychotic, some others managed to not get caught. The gates in this story resemble keeping the patient’s souls from coming out and anyone from coming in. 

Another myth about the Seven Gates of Hell is there was a doctor who lived in the area and he went insane which caused him to build seven gates going deep into the forest. It is said that only one gate was visible during the day but at night, the other six could only be seen at night. whoever has passed the gates never make it past the fifth gate, and once passing all seven, they will be entering Hell.

People who do go into the gates have heard screams and a rush of wind throughout the forest. Because of all the attention this area received, the gates are no longer there. Although the gates are no longer there, travelers enjoy camping near the area where the asylum supposedly was. Hellam Township has claimed there was never an asylum built in that part of town nor a fire. Although there is a doctor who lives there with one gate, he has no trespassing signs throughout his property. People have also argued that because of “Hell” in Hellam, it is named after hell, but Hellam Townhsip has also denied that, they claim it is named after Hallamshire, England. 

The town of Hellam has asked for tourists to stop coming for this reason, and that trespassers will be prosecuted.

Works cited:

Soto, E.L. “The Seven Gates of Hell in Hellam, Pennsylvania.” Fact-chology, June 5, 2021.
https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/gates-hell-hellam-pennsylvania

McClure, Jim. “Insane and wrathful: The horrific Seven Gates of Hell legend in York County.”
York Daily Record, October 22, 2017. https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-
town-square/2017/10/22/seven-gates-of-hell-intriguing-tale-of-horror/787664001/
 

Brady, Olvia, Kyle “Beware Road Tippers, Seven Gates of Hell in Pennsylvania is a Terrifying
Destination.” Drivin’ & Vibin’, October 12, 2021.
https://drivinvibin.com/2021/10/12/seven-gates-of-hell/
 

“Seven Gates of Hell.” Hellam Township. https://www.hellamtownship.com/index.asp?
Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B815447CA-49FB-4346-84E6-75D01939B2DF%7D

For Further Research:

Hellam Township, https://www.hellamtownship.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=
%7B815447CA-49FB-4346-84E6-75D01939B2DF%7D, Hellam Township’s official
website with information about its history.

Drivin’ & Vibin’, https://drivinvibin.com/2021/10/12/seven-gates-of-hell/, Information about
camping near Hellam Township. 

The Human Exception, https://www.thehumanexception.com/l/the-seven-gates-of-hell/, Podcast.

Enter the Devil’s Gate: Devil’s Gate Dam Pasadena, CA

Samantha Jones

            “Devil’s Gate is named for the appearance of a horned devil face in the narrow canyon of the Arroyo Seco, a natural riverbed flowing from the San Gabriel Mountains into Los Angeles basin” (LAGP). This dam is located beneath Suicide Bridge. It was built around the 1920’s to modify the water flow through the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, CA. This was the first control flood dam in Los Angeles County. There is an urban legend behind this mysterious dam. Since the Devil’s Gate Dam, Cobb Estate, and Suicide Bridge are all connected by points, they named it the Arroyo Triangle. It is believed to be one of the seven portals to Hell.

People claim that the portal was opened by three occultist scientists. Jack Parsons , Aleister Crowley , and L. Ron Hubbard  all believed that this Devil’s Gate had some sort of magical energy that could give them power. The three performed rituals that were believed to go along with their project. They referred to this as their Babylon Working. “Babylon Working is a summoning of an entity known as Babylon that would aid then in the creation of an ‘anti-christ’, a child who would eventually destroy mankind” (Marie). But, a few years later, Parsons, Crowley and Hubbard’s friendship died down and they went their separate ways studying in their own perspectives. Parsons died in 1957 due to an unexplained explosion in his home laboratory.

A few years later, several children went missing around the Devil’s Gate area. Two of the missing childrens’ mysteries were solved by uncovering their bodies buried from a killer who was discovered around the area. The other missing children were never found. People believe that they were dragged into the portal and can not get out. A special paranormal activist group who especially believes this mystery are the Paranormal EXP. They visited Devil’s Gate Dam back in 2011 and got first hand voice recordings of a little boy stating his name as ‘Tommy’.



There are many people who believe in this paranormal portal to Hell and think it is true. It dates all the way back to the Native Americans believing this dam was haunted and forbade anyone to go there. Along with that, there are also a handful of people who do not believe in any of it. Even with all the evidence. I feel those people do not want to admit that they maybe a little believe in the Devil’s Gate because they are just not sure whether to believe or not. I guess it is up to you, do you believe in ghosts or portals to Hell? I feel you should go visit Devil’s Gate Dam for yourself and then answer that question.

Work Cited and Further Research:
Anderson, Donna. “Is Devil’s Gate Dam in Pasadena a Portal to Hell?” examiner.com. N.p., Aug. 11, 2012. Web. Oct. 12, 2015.

Kreuzer, Nikki, “Devil’s Gate Dam”. Photograph. LABeat. LA Beat. 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.

Los Angeles Ghost Patrol. “Devil’s Gate: A Portal to Hell?” laghostpatrol.com. Sayontan Sinha, May 18, 2011. Web. Oct. 6, 2015.

Marie, Kelly. “The Story of Devil’s Gate Dam.” Definenormal.org. N.p.,Sep. 22, 2012. Web. Oct. 12, 2015.

Paranormal EXP. “Devil’s Gate Dam-Pasadena, CA.” paranormalexp.com. July 8, 2011. Web. Oct. 12, 2015.

S.I.U. The Supernatural Investigation Unit. “Devil’s Gate Dam Pasadena/LA Canada, CA” hauntedlosangeles.blogspot.com. N.p., Feb. 28, 2014. Web. Oct. 6, 2015.

Mysteries of the Devil’s Gate Dam

Author: Leigh Anne Bloomer

In 1920, a new dam was built in Pasadena, California. The dam was built to control the Arroyo Seco, a seasonal river that often led to serious floods around the area. The Arroyo Seco is a very powerful river when the season is right, but when it’s not, the area seems to be very dried out. During the dry season, as people view the dam and the surrounding area, they start to notice a mysteriously shaped rock formation. Next to the gate that leads to the dam itself, there is what appears to be a devil’s face with horns coming out of the canyon. This is the reason the dam is named the Devil’s Gate Dam. 

Soon after the dam was completed, there started to be a lot of talk about the reasons why the dam was given such a profound name. Many people believed various situations that could have led to the naming of the dam, but one sticks out from all the rest. 

“The rock formation in the shape of a devil’s face located next the dam’s gate.”

In the days of the Native Americans, the area surrounding the dam was considered an evil or haunted place, and was banned from any visitors. The reason as to why the Native Americans believed that there was something going on around the dam is still unclear. Around the 1940s, though, many people came up with a conclusion to the madness of the dam’s mysterious vibe; Devil’s Gate Dam was one of seven portals to Hell on Earth.

 There is one main reason why the dam was considered to be a portal to Hell. That biggest reason being the rituals that occurred at the gate in the 1940s. Jack Parsons and L. Ron Hubbard are two very different, yet alike in thought, men that performed spiritual rituals in the presence of evil.

The men believed that the dam was hiding a magical power that no one else could explain. Parsons and Hubbard continued to perform these rituals and as time went on, their needs began to grow. The two men decided to perform a special ritual that would change their lives completely. This ritual was intended to create a moonchild, a sort of anti-Christ that would overthrow modern society and demolish all religion. No one knows for sure if the ritual ever really turned out to have created such a thing. Soon after the rituals were performed, Parsons died from an experiment he was conducting in his home. The talk of the rituals came to a close after this incident.

It wasn’t long until the mysterious incidents started occurring. In 1956, two young children went missing in the area of the dam. Police were sent out to look for the kids, countless search parties roamed the area for days, and even helicopters were used to find and rescue the children. No hope was found. One year later, a six year old boy was hiking with his family along the paths around the dam. As the family was walking together, the little boy decided he wanted to get ahead of the rest and sprinted in front of them. As he rounded a corner, he was never seen again. Again, search parties were sent out, police were contacted, and even the helicopters, but there was still no luck in finding the little boy. Shortly after, another missing child case appeared, seeming to be just as unusual as the last. A six year old boy was attending camp at a local YMCA. As the little boy was hiking with his group, he told his leader that he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go back. Since the camp site was less than three hundred yards away, the group leader told the boy to walk back as she watched him. This was the last time anyone saw that little boy.

Coming back to present day, only one of these stories has been figured out. The very first incident with the two kids riding their bicycles turned out to have been a kidnapping. A man confessed to burying the bodies and ended up committing suicide in prison many years later. Other than that, all the missing children have never been accounted for. Many people believe that these incidents were all because of the previous activity performed there. The real reason though, which would contain proof, is still a mystery.  

Works Cited:

Antabanez, Wheeler. “Strange Disappearances at the Cursed Devil’s Gate Reservoir.” Weird U.S. Web. 13 October 2013.

Kimbrough, David. “Oak Grove Drive over the Arroyo Seco – Devil’s Gate Dam.” Historic and Notable Bridges of the U.S. Bridge Hunter. Web. 15 October 2013.

Marie, Kelly. “The Story of Devil’s Gate Dam.” The Quest to Find the Land of Normal Define Normal. Web. 9 October 2013.

Media, Magi. “Devil’s Gate.” Photograph. Student Reader. 11 May 2006. Web. 17 October 2013.

Mystery, Man. “Haunted Places: Devil’s Gate Dam.” Religion and Philosophy HubPages. Web. 9 October 2013.

Patrol, LA Ghost. “Devil’s Gate: A Portal to Hell?” Los Angeles Ghost Patrol laghostpatrol. Web. 7 October 2013.

Links for Further Research:

Patrol, LA Ghost. “Haunted Devil’s Gate Dam.” Youtube. 18 May 2011. Web. 17 October 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1V-BA8s9wU

This link takes you to a video that shows the overview of the Devil’s Gate Dam.

Investigation, Supernatural. “Devil’s Gate Dam Pasadena, CA S.I.U.” Youtube. 22 January 2013. Web. 16 October 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PoguMmNPqk

The above link shows a visitor’s reactions from visiting the dam.

“Pasadena’s Suicide Bridge.” Weird California. 9 November 2005. Web. 17 October 2013.

http://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=57

This link takes you to a website informing you of the opinions and information about the dam and the bridge it is located by.

The Seven Gates of Hell

Author: Courtney Simmons

In the outskirts of Pennsylvania, in an area called, Hellam Township, there was a strange event that occurred years ago, which is how this area earned its name, The Seven Gates of Hell. The story behind this tragedy begins with a mental institution or an insane asylum that was said to be both either haunted or burned down. According to an online article called, “The Downtowning Gates of Hell,” from Weird U.S., states that if you were to pass through these seven gates then you would go straight to hell, but nobody has ever made it past the fifth gate (Wheeler). The article also states that the gates were located in the woods off a scene of a tragic asylum fire, and also how the gates today look like fallen trees in the woods. In another online article called, “Seven Gates of Hell,” from Hellam Township, it explains how there are rumors about the wooded off area called Troute Run Road in the northwestern part of the township (Gov Office). It explains the rumor of how the insane asylum caught on fire, and the inmates were either burned, killed, or lived on to murder (Office). The article then switches views and explains how as the rumors all seemed true, no asylum had ever existed in that area, and a local doctor had only one gate which was to keep out trespassers (Office). In an Article called, “Seven Gates of Hell, York, Pennsylvania, from, Unexplained-Mysteries, is based on different people’s point of views from others who have actually been to the area. According to one of the recorders, the doctors were crazy and the asylum was a place of pain and torment (Winchester). The article explains how the doctors and patients that were not killed during the asylum fire, were gunned down by the Sherriff and the cops (Winchester). 

Works Cited:

“Weird Pennsylvania.” Weird U.S., n.d. Web 19 October 2013.

Radon, Musee. “The Gates of Hell.” The Directorate of Fine Arts, 1800. Web 19 October 2013.

http://www.weirdus.com/states/pennsylvania/local_legends/seven_gates_of_hell/

http://www.hellamtownship.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B815447CA-49FB-4346-84E6-75D01939B2DF%7D

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=246618

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=246618

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=246618 

Stull Cemetery: Mystery or History

Author: Disaiah Whack

Stull Cemetery is a cemetery located in Stull Kansas. Still is a small town In Kansas with the population of about 20 people. For over a century there have been many tales of witchcraft and supernatural happenings all around the cemetery.

Stull Cemetery is considered to be one of the seven gateways to hell, but to the residents, the cemetery is just another plain cemetery. To some who know about the legends of Stull Cemetery, it is their dream place to be on October 31 at midnight; hoping to see the Devil in person. According to Prairieghosts.com the local officials have banned outsiders from entering the city after 11:30 p.m. On March 20, 1978, Spring Equinox, more than 150 people gathered at the cemetery, because of rumors that the spirits of the ones that died violent deaths would be accompanied by the Devil in the graveyard. Surprisingly, no spirits showed up, but the rumors were still being spread.

An actual headstone from Stull Cemetery. 

The cemetery’s legends grew during the 1970’s. One legend tells how accused witches were once hanged on a tree that once stood in the cemetery, according to Jennifer Eblin’s article on Yahoo! News Network. There is also a tale that the old church was once a barn were local men were brutally murdered, but when the church came around their spirits remained. Another tale talks about how the Devil had a child with one of the local witched, and the child was buried in the cemetery and his ghost wanders throughout the night.

There have also been witnesses to strange happenings after visiting Stull Cemetery. A college student says he was grabbed by someone or something unseen. Others report strange memory loss after visiting the cemetery.

All these tales and legends of the Devil, witchcraft, and other supernatural happenings around Stull Cemetery seem believable, but are denied by the residents. Is it because the residents are trying to keep the history of Stull Kansas a secret, or are these witnessing and legends pretend stories? It is up to you to decide and solve the mystery, or just study the history of Stull Cemetery.

Works Cited:

DrDevience.”Cemeteries & Graveyards: Stull Cemetery.” Fanpop.com. Fanpop Inc., 4 years ago. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

 Eblin Jennifer. “Kansas Most Haunted: The Ghosts and Legends of Stull Cemetery.” Voices.yahoo.com Yahoo! News Network, 29 Sept.2008.Web.14 Oct, 2012

Taylor Troy. “Stull Cemetery” Prairieghosts.com N.P., April 2002. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.

Links to Further Research:

Prairieghosts.com

http://www.prairieghosts.com/stull.html  
This site contains further information about the history of Stull Cemetery.

LJWorld.com

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jan/26/stull-residents-wary-rock-guitarist-slashs-rumored/  

This site contains information about how Stull residents feel about the reputation of Stull, and how they don’t want any unwanted rumors being spread.

Lawrence.com

http://www.lawrence.com/news/2004/oct/26/stull/  

This site gives history on Stull Cemetery, and interviews with some of the residents.