Devil's Punchbowl
Posted by: 
GwynEvie
N 39° 56.176 W 087° 04.380
16S E 493762 N 4420686
This natural round erosional feature was called the "Devil's Punchbowl" by early settlers in Indiana.
Waymark Code: WM6J1Q
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 06/08/2009
Views: 19
The "Devil's Punchbowl" can be found in Shades State Park in west central Indiana. Shades was once known as the "Shades of Death" because of its towering forests and deep gorges. The gorges and this Punchbowl were formed largely by glacial erosion of the Mansfield sandstone that is common in this area. The two streams that converge at this round depression must have created a swirling vortex when fed by glacial meltwater.
As early as the 1880s, students from nearby Wabash College considered it an essential rite of passage to undertake a camping expedition to the Shades of Death and drink from what they called "his Satanic Majesty's Punchbowl." They also visited another nearby erosional feature called the "Devil's Fireplace," which can no longer be accessed by public trails.
An entrance fee is collected from visitor's to the Shades during the summer months. The gate is usually open with no fee during the winter.
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Devilish Location: Not listed
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