Scotland has Nessie. Lake Champlain has Champ. Meanwhile, Rhode Island lays claim to its own aquatic enigma: the Carbuncle Pond Monster.
Tucked away in the Nicholas Farm Management Area in Coventry, Carbuncle Pond is a 39-acre kettle hole pond. It looks peaceful. However, according to local lore, something much larger than a largemouth bass lurks beneath its surface.
The Origin of the Name
To understand the legend, you have to look at the name “Carbuncle.” In 17th-century folklore, a carbuncle wasn’t just a medical term. It was a mythical glowing gemstone. Folklore said it was embedded in the forehead of a serpent or dragon.
Local Indigenous tribes and early settlers believed in a legend. It suggests that a massive, snake-like creature guarded a treasure at the bottom of the pond. Some stories claim the creature had a glowing red eye. It shone like a coal in the dark water. This feature gave the pond its name.
Sightings and Characteristics
The long-necked plesiosaur shape is often attributed to the Loch Ness Monster. However, the Carbuncle Pond Monster is typically described as a giant serpent. It is also known as a “water hooped” snake.
Common Descriptions:
- Length: Reports vary from 15 to 50 feet long.
- Appearance: Dark, leathery skin, often described as having “humps” that break the water’s surface.
- Movement: It is said to move with a vertical undulating motion rather than the side-to-side slither of a typical snake.
The most famous “modern” era of sightings occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Farmers in Coventry and Foster reported seeing a massive wake in the water on windless days. Several accounts from the 1970s describe “something large and dark” dragging fishing lines deep into the weeds. This entity snapped heavy-duty tackle.
Fact vs. Folklore: The Candidates
While the legend of a 50-foot serpent is the most popular, investigators and locals have proposed several theories to explain what might actually be happening in Coventry’s deepest waters.
The Legacy of the Legend
Today, Carbuncle Pond is a popular spot for trout fishing and hiking. While modern sightings have dwindled into “friend of a friend” stories, the pond maintains an eerie reputation. Its remote location on the Connecticut border is surrounded by dense woods. It lacks significant shoreline development. This makes it the perfect stage for a tall tale.
The Carbuncle Pond Monster might be a prehistoric relic. It could also be an oversized eel. Another possibility is that it is just the product of a sunset-induced trick of the light. Regardless, it remains Rhode Island’s favorite deep-water mystery.
If you’re planning to visit Carbuncle Pond to see the legend for yourself, you’ll find it’s a beautifully isolated spot—perfect for a bit of monster hunting. It’s within the Nicholas Farm Management Area. There are no houses or docks to distract you. You’ll find only the woods and the water.
Here are the best strategic spots for a stakeout:
1. The Handicapped-Accessible Fishing Pier
Located at the end of the first gravel road off Route 14, this is the most stable spot for long-term observation.
- The Vantage: It gives you a clear, unobstructed view of the northern and central sections of the pond.
- Why it’s great: If you’re bringing heavy camera gear or a tripod, this flat, sturdy platform is your best bet. Many modern “strange wake” sightings happen in the center of the pond, and this pier puts you right in front of the action.
2. The South End Rail Bridge (Trestle Trail)
If you follow the Trestle Trail (part of the Coventry Greenway) to the south end of the pond, you’ll find where the old railroad bed passes by the water.
- The Vantage: This elevated position allows you to look down into the water.
- Why it’s great: Since Carbuncle is a deep kettle pond, the water is clearer here than in many other RI lakes. From an elevated height, you’re more likely to spot large shapes moving beneath the surface or identify those “convoying otters” that often get mistaken for serpents.
3. The “Southern Extension” (By Kayak)
There is a concrete plank boat ramp at the second parking lot. While gas motors are banned, electric trolling motors and kayaks are welcome.
- The Vantage: Paddling into the narrow southern neck of the pond.
- Why it’s great: This area is heavily wooded and much shallower, filled with lily pads and fallen logs. It’s the spookiest part of the pond and exactly where the “giant snapping turtle” or “hooped snake” would likely hide.
4. The Carbuncle Pond Overlook
Several small, unofficial “overlook” spots along the North South Loop Trail skirts the eastern edge of the pond.
- The Vantage: Higher ground looking west.
- Why it’s great: This is the best spot for sunset stakeouts. Legend says the “Carbuncle” eye glows brightest when the sun hits the water at a specific angle. Being on the eastern ridge gives you the perfect line of sight as the sun dips behind the Connecticut border.
⚠️ A Note for Modern Hunters
- Check for Algae: As of late, Carbuncle Pond has occasionally been flagged for blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. If the water looks like pea soup, keep your pets away and avoid contact with the water—the “monster” might be the last thing you need to worry about!
- Blaze Orange: Since this is a state management area, hunting is allowed during certain seasons. If you’re visiting in the fall or winter, be sure to wear at least 200 square inches of solid blaze orange so you don’t get mistaken for a different kind of critter.
Make sure to read my other entries in my ROADSIDE RHODE ISLAND series.