Cossart Road is a long curvy and narrow road that is located just above the Delaware border in the town of Chadds Ford, PA. The road has such a haunting history that it is now known as “Devils Road“. Even more, it is so famous, that the woods surrounding it were used to shoot the blockbuster movie The Village.
The legend of the road begins with the story of a mansion located within the woods, known locally as the Cult House. Once owned and operated by the wealthy DuPont family, the stone mansion did house a cult of some kind. As the locals told us, it was common for the DuPont family members to marry their cousins in the house, so that the family’s wealth would stay in the family. Other dismissed the notion entirely, pointing to the fact that the house was home to satanists and KKK members who only wanted to rid the world of what they considered “impurities”.
The strange thing about the cult house is that there are natural wonders located on and around the house which cannot be explained other than the works of “dark magic”. For one, a stretch of trees located on the road grow (were not cut) to face away from the home, opposite of the natural order of growing towards the sun. This odd phenomenon with the trees stops occurring about a quarter mile past The Cult House’s location. Other trees in the area resemble skulls, and were rumored to the dumping locations of DuPont babies who were born disabled. Over time, the trees devoured the bodies and took the shape of the child’s skull.
Many people have made their way to Devils Road to uncover the mystery behind the road and the DuPont family. Although the land is private property and the forest is littered with No Trespassing signs, it doesn’t stop people. Those who usually make it tell one of two stories. They are either chased out by guards carrying large bright flashlights and driving huge black trucks. Or they see and hear things that cannot be explained. These voices are thought to be the demons called upon by the family to guard their secrets and fortune; or the devil himself. Over time dead animals and crosses have been found, and spray painted symbols litter the trees, a result of sick minded vandalism.
In 2003-2004 the director M. Night Shyamalan chose the location to film his movie The Village. It was later said that the filming location choice was inspired by the legends associated with Cossart Road. Used to inspire the actors to feel a true sense of fear, the resulting movie was strange and only increased the curiosity locals had about the woods and the road.
Today the road is still visited by teens and adults alike in the hope of capturing a ghost, a disembodied voice or to discover the secrets of the DuPont family.
Share your Instagram pictures, use
Try to Scare me is NOT intended as a guide to trespassing. We present these sites, locations and stories as local unwritten history and the legends surrounding it that are told to us while traveling. Although we provide locations, and some directions, these articles are intended to be read with the knowledge that some places cannot be visited. We do not encourage trespassing onto private property and do not encourage trespassing to obtain articles, videos, pictures and other evidence to be submitted. Trespassing is illegal and those who disregard this advice will (in most cases) be arrested and charged.