Diana’s Pool in Chaplin CT has it all.  A beautiful spot on the Natchaug River, lots of history, great fishing, wonderful picnic spots, and a great place to spend a day trying to reunite with nature and get away from it all.  And you’ll never feel alone. The apparition of a woman has been seen around the high cliffs bordering the pool many times over the years.

Is that woman Diana?  There’s no hard evidence if it is or not.  The pool has a few tales associated with it.  Two would suggest it is her. Supposedly, her lover left her and she couldn’t take the pain of losing him so jumped into the water from the cliffs. Another doesn’t intimate suicide, but says she slipped on all her tears and fell into the water from high up.  And a third version of the legend says the pool is named after the Diana family who once did business there and doesn’t mention a woman at all.  Even if the third option is the correct one, it doesn’t negate the fact that something ethereal has been seen there floating over the area.  And the activity continues.

Although there are signs posted that state, “No Swimming”, and a warning of being fined if you do, people still come here and swim.  The state does stock the pool and fishing is allowed.  There’s a hiking trail about a mile-ish long abutting the river.  There’s a lot of rocks and many of them are quite slippery, so, if you go be prepared for a not-so-easy jaunt.

Around 1983 the state closed the pool to swimmers explaining that all the people visiting the spot were ruining the environment around it.  This angered a lot of town folks who grew up in the area. This was their swimming hole and always had been.  Maybe the woman is an earlier resident of the Chaplin area going back to visit the area she loved, doing something she was prohibited from doing while still alive. 

The Natchaug River flow isn’t always smooth, either.  There are a couple of waterfalls leading to the pool and sometimes the water rushes in a raging current through the area.  Other times are more serene.  Some people have reported hearing voices – not of the living.  Perhaps one is the voice of an old angler telling anyone fishing there to get out, it’s his spot to fish?  Orbs also seem to be a frequent occurrence.  Some follow you as you mosey around.  Did you want a tour guide?  

     -ashanta