Devils turn around

The Haunted History of Devil’s Turnaround — Marietta, Georgia

Hidden deep within the wooded fringes of Marietta, Georgia, there is a place locals speak of only in lowered voices. A small cemetery tucked far off the main roads, half consumed by vines and shadows, known widely as Devil’s Turnaround. To most people, it’s just a graveyard. To others, it’s a location where the veil between the living and the dead feels thin enough to breathe through.

Over decades, stories have grown around this eerie patch of ground—stories of strange lights, chilling voices, unexplained injuries, and a malevolent force lurking among the broken headstones. But before it became a magnet for urban legends, Devil’s Turnaround was simply a burial place with roots stretching back to the 1800s.

A Cemetery With a Strange Layout

Devil’s Turnaround is formally known as the Noonday Extension Cemetery, connected to the historic Noonday Baptist community. Some of the oldest graves form a loose semicircle, an odd design that many believe contributed to the nickname. The curious curve resembles a ritual ring or a place meant for gatherings—or, as some superstitious locals say, “a place where the Devil could turn around and survey his work.”

The cemetery itself feels secluded, almost intentionally hidden. Time has bowed many of the stones, swallowed others, and twisted the surrounding woods into a natural barrier. Even on warm days, the air inside the tree line feels strangely cold.

Disturbing Discoveries and Dark Rumors

The cemetery’s reputation for being haunted didn’t start with ghost hunters. Over the years, visitors have come across unsettling sights: shallow holes where graves appeared to have been dug into, dead animals buried or left behind, and graffiti or vandalism scattered between the markers. Whether these acts were the work of bored thrill seekers or something more ritualistic, they gave the place an aura of danger that has only grown stronger.

Locals whisper that Devil’s Turnaround has attracted people interested in occult activity. Unusual arrangements of stones, discarded candles, and defaced headstones have only fueled speculation. Over time, the cemetery became the kind of place teenagers dared each other to visit—usually at night, usually with flashlights that mysteriously flickered more than they should.

Paranormal Encounters: What People Claim Happens There

While the cemetery’s physical condition is unsettling enough, what people claim to experience there is what turned Devil’s Turnaround into one of Marietta’s most notorious haunted spots.

Physical Attacks

One of the most repeated stories is that people leave the cemetery with scratches or bruises they can’t explain. A few visitors have reported being shoved or pulled, as if by invisible hands. Others describe a feeling of sudden pressure on their chest or back, like someone unseen is leaning in close.

Unsettling Voices

Paranormal investigators who have recorded audio in the cemetery say the playback reveals growls, whispers, and full sentences that weren’t heard at the time. Some claim to have heard chanting in the woods. Others swear they heard children screaming or laughing—despite the cemetery being empty.

The most unsettling stories describe visitors hearing their own names spoken back to them in a voice that isn’t theirs.

Cold Spots, Mists, and Shadows

Many people describe sudden drops in temperature as they move deeper into the cemetery. Strange mists, sometimes described as “white smoke,” have appeared in photos—especially near the oldest graves. Some have seen shadowy figures darting between headstones or standing silently at the edges of the trees.

Hostility Toward Religious Items

A persistent piece of lore claims that something in Devil’s Turnaround reacts strongly to religious symbols. People wearing crosses or carrying holy water say they’ve felt sudden bursts of anger in the air—sharp chills, the sensation of being watched, or a spike in paranormal activity.

Because of this, some explorers advise against wearing anything religious there at all.

Preservationists vs. Storytellers

Not everyone agrees on the cause of Devil’s Turnaround’s dark reputation. Those who work to maintain older cemeteries say many of the wild stories have been exaggerated over time, and that curiosity seekers do more harm than anything supernatural ever could. The vandalism, they argue, has created an atmosphere of decay that invites more rumors.

Yet even skeptics agree on one thing: Devil’s Turnaround feels different. Whether because of its isolation, its tragic neglect, or something no one can fully explain, the place carries a heaviness that lingers long after you leave.

The Mystery Endures

Devil’s Turnaround has become a fixture of Marietta folklore—a place where history and horror blend into something unforgettable. The semicircle of graves, the unsettling quiet, the reports of physical and spiritual encounters all contribute to a legend that refuses to die.

Whether the site is haunted by spirits, scarred by human interference, or simply a victim of its own eerie atmosphere, one thing is certain: anyone who visits Devil’s Turnaround feels its presence. Some describe it as sadness. Others call it fear.

And a few insist that the cemetery is watching—waiting for the moment someone turns their back.