Lake Champlain’s Hidden Secrets: Ghostly Wrecks & Mysterious Creatures

There's something magical about standing on the shores of Lake Champlain, watching the mist rise off the water as the sun breaks through the morning clouds. This treasured jewel of Vermont isn't just a beautiful natural resource – it's a keeper of secrets, a teller of tales, and home to some of the most fascinating mysteries our Green Mountain State has to offer.

From ghostly shipwrecks to bizarre discoveries, Lake Champlain invites us to explore not just what we can see on its sparkling surface, but the extraordinary stories hidden in its depths. So grab a warm drink, settle in, and join us as we dive into the unusual tales and haunting discoveries that make our beloved lake so much more than just a body of water.

The Watchful Witch of the Waters

When fierce storms whip across Lake Champlain without warning, or when rogue waves appear on otherwise calm days, old-timers might nod knowingly and whisper, “The Champlain Witch is restless today.”

This legendary figure haunts the folklore of lakeside communities, blamed for mysterious wrecks and sudden squalls that have claimed unsuspecting vessels. Local lore suggests she's the vengeful spirit of a woman who lost either her lover or son to the unforgiving waters, now doomed to wander the lake, stirring up trouble for those who dare to cross her path.

Perhaps the most chilling tale associated with the Champlain Witch involves the schooner Sarah Ellen, which sank in the bitter cold waters of 1860. While one lucky crewman survived the tragedy, the captain and his young bride perished in the icy depths. Some say it wasn't bad luck or poor seamanship that doomed the couple – it was the witch's jealousy of their happiness that sealed their fate.

Next time you're enjoying a peaceful day on the lake and the wind suddenly shifts, casting an unexpected chill – perhaps that's just the Champlain Witch, reminding us that these waters have a memory all their own.

Time Capsules in the Deep: Ghostly Shipwrecks

Lake Champlain cradles over 300 known shipwrecks in its depths, each one a silent storyteller of our region's rich maritime history. But these aren't just archaeological sites – many locals and divers consider them sacred burial grounds, haunted by the spirits of those who met their tragic end beneath the waves.

Nine of these remarkable wrecks are part of Vermont's Underwater Historic Preserve System, open to certified divers during the summer season. These underwater museums span centuries of history, from Revolutionary War vessels to commercial boats that once carried the lifeblood of commerce across our region.

Divers exploring these preserved wrecks often report more than just historical fascination – many describe eerie sensations, unexplained cold spots, and strange noises that seem to have no natural explanation. Are these simply the tricks of light filtering through water, or perhaps something more mysterious?

Here are some of the most fascinating vessels resting in Lake Champlain's embrace:

Revolutionary War Gunboat Spitfire

Discovered in 1997, the Spitfire sank during the pivotal Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. This remarkable time capsule from America's fight for independence remains incredibly preserved, with its bow gun and mast still intact in the cold, deep waters. Protected under the Sunken Military Craft Act, it silently guards its Revolutionary War secrets.

Steamboat Phoenix

The Phoenix holds the distinction of being the oldest steamboat shipwreck in the world, having sunk in 1819 after a devastating fire. For generations, historians believed its paddlewheels had been completely destroyed by the flames – until 2020, when local diver Gary Lefebvre made an astonishing discovery. The charred paddlewheels lay preserved in sediment near Colchester Shoal, revealing new insights into how the fire caused the ship's mechanisms to fail.

Horse Ferry

In the waters of Burlington Bay lies one of North America's rarest maritime treasures – one of only two known horse ferry wrecks on the continent. Discovered in 1983, this 63-foot vessel from the early 19th century was once powered by horses walking on a treadmill, turning the wheels that propelled it across the lake. It's a testament to the ingenuity of early Vermonters finding ways to cross these waters.

The Water Witch

With a name straight from folklore itself, the Water Witch began life as a steamboat in 1832 before being converted to a schooner. The vessel met its end during a fierce gale in 1866 while carrying iron ore. Though the captain and his family survived the sinking, their youngest child tragically perished during the terrifying ordeal – another soul claimed by Lake Champlain's depths.

O.J. Walker

This canal schooner sank during a brutal storm in 1895, but remarkably maintains much of its structural integrity despite spending over 125 years underwater. Now part of the Historic Preserve, it offers divers a ghostly glimpse into 19th-century maritime transportation.

Champ: Vermont's Beloved Lake Monster

No collection of Lake Champlain mysteries would be complete without mentioning our most famous aquatic resident – Champ, the legendary lake monster who has captured imaginations for generations.

While not directly connected to the shipwrecks, Champ adds another layer of intrigue to the lake's mysterious waters. Sightings near Bulwagga Bay have been reported for centuries, with descriptions ranging from a serpent-like creature to something resembling a plesiosaur from prehistoric times.

Is Champ a surviving dinosaur? An optical illusion? A very large sturgeon? Whatever the truth may be, this beloved mystery continues to enchant visitors and locals alike, making Lake Champlain one of the most storied bodies of water in North America.

Curious Discoveries and Strange Finds

Beyond shipwrecks and legendary beasts, Lake Champlain has yielded some truly unusual discoveries that add to its mystique:

The Two-Mouthed Trout

In August 2019, angler Debbie Geddes made headlines when she caught a lake trout with a bizarre mutation – two distinct mouths. The fish appeared healthy despite its unusual appearance, sporting an extra mouth-like opening below its normal one.

After capturing photos that quickly went viral, Geddes released the “bizarrely beautiful” creature back into the lake, allowing it to continue its strange existence in Champlain's waters. Was this unusual fish the result of an injury, genetic mutation, or something more mysterious? The debate continues among biologists and lake enthusiasts.

The Charlotte Whale

Sometimes Lake Champlain's mysteries tell us more about its ancient past than its present. In 1849, railroad workers digging in Charlotte made an extraordinary discovery – a whale skeleton buried 200 feet above sea level!

This remarkable find revealed that Lake Champlain was once part of an ancient inland sea formed after the last Ice Age. Now Vermont's official state fossil, the Charlotte Whale reminds us that our beloved lake has witnessed changes we can scarcely imagine.

Crime Beneath the Waves

In a curious intersection of natural history and true crime, a handgun discovered at the bottom of Lake Champlain was later linked to an unsolved murder case. The lake, it seems, keeps secrets of all kinds – from prehistoric creatures to evidence of human misdeeds.

Revolutionary War Treasures

At Arnold's Bay, archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of artifacts from Revolutionary War vessels scuttled during the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. Buttons, coins, and even parts of shoes offer glimpses into the lives of early American naval fighters who shaped our nation's history.

Bootlegger Relics

During Prohibition, Lake Champlain's waters served as a convenient smuggling route for bootleggers transporting illegal spirits. Items tied to this colorful era have been recovered from the lake bed, including bottles and remnants of vessels used to outwit the authorities – reminders of the lake's role in Vermont's more rebellious history.

Uncovering Hidden History: Technology Meets Mystery

Modern explorers aren't relying solely on chance to uncover Lake Champlain's secrets. A fascinating array of technologies now allows researchers to map and document the lake's mysteries:

Side-scan sonar, mechanical scanning systems, and CHIRP sub-bottom profiling help identify shipwrecks and underwater structures without disturbing them. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) equipped with high-resolution sonar investigate targets in deep water, while photogrammetry creates detailed 3D models by stitching together thousands of photographs.

These technological marvels have led to remarkable discoveries, including over 80 previously unknown wrecks found during Middlebury College surveys. Each new find adds another chapter to Lake Champlain's endlessly fascinating story.

Carleton's Prize: When the Lake Itself Played Tricks

Sometimes Lake Champlain seems to have a mischievous spirit all its own. Perhaps the best example is the story of Carleton's Prize – a rocky outcropping near Grand Isle that became part of Revolutionary War history through a curious case of mistaken identity.

During the conflict, British forces spotted this formation and, in the misty conditions, mistook it for an American ship. They proceeded to waste valuable ammunition firing at what was nothing more than an arrangement of rocks. This quirky historical blunder shows that Lake Champlain has been fooling people long before tales of Champ began circulating!

Visit Lake Champlain: Where History and Mystery Meet

Lake Champlain's blend of historical significance, paranormal legends, and unusual discoveries makes it one of Vermont's most captivating destinations for history enthusiasts, mystery lovers, and curious minds of all ages.

Whether you're scanning the waters for a glimpse of Champ, visiting the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to learn about its shipwrecks, or simply enjoying the beauty of its shores while pondering what lies beneath, our beloved lake offers endless opportunities for wonder and exploration.

Next time you find yourself near these historic waters, take a moment to gaze out across the surface and remember – beneath those waves lie centuries of stories, waiting to be discovered. In Lake Champlain, every ripple might be hiding a mystery, and every mystery connects us more deeply to the rich tapestry of Vermont's extraordinary heritage.

Have you experienced something unusual on Lake Champlain? We'd love to hear your stories on our Vermonter Facebook page or Green Mountain Musings Facebook Group

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