The Witches' Tree
4.6(394)google
QuirkyEerie & HauntedPhoto Spot
Overview
The Witch Tree as it is commonly known, also called Manidoo-giizhikens, or Little Cedar Spirit Tree by the Ojibwe First Nation tribe is an ancient Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar) growing on the shore of Lake Superior in Cook County, Minnesota. The earliest written records of the tree by Europeans in the Americas are by French explorer Sieur de la Verendrye in 1731, who commented on the tree as a mature tree at that time, making it over 300 years old. The tree is held sacred by the Ojibwe, who traditionally leave offerings of tobacco to ensure a safe journey on Lake Superior.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration0.5-1 hour
Best TimePerfect for gothic imagery year-round, but October during the Halloween season provides the ultimate metaphysical thrill. To witness its full visual power, visit during a clear dusk between 6:00 PM and sunset; the blood-red twilight sky silhouettes the twisted, lightning-struck skeletal branches of this historic legend against the old brick townhomes perfectly.
Getting ThereCentrally located right on the edge of a historic residential sidewalk near the intersection of N 15th St and E Cumberland Ave, Middlesboro. Drive into the city core via US-25E, head west onto Cumberland Avenue, and travel to 15th Street to spot the iron-girdled maple stump. Ample parallel street parking spots are completely free to park.
Travel Tips
- The landmark occupies a dense municipal intersection bordered by residential properties; idling or continuous double-blinking curbside blocking is prohibited, requiring usage of central public city lots.
- Local historic preservation bylaws explicitly ban anchoring ribbons, burning candles, or scattering coins on or around the tree structure; violations trigger immediate structural vandalism penalties.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Strict residential quiet hours run from 10 PM to 6 AM; high-lumen flashlights, light-painting gear, or vocal disruptions near the site trigger municipal noise citations and rapid police dispersal.
Reviews
Positive
- A weathered, twisted historic tree trunk standing on a town city street corner, packed with fascinating dark local folklore and spooky Gothic aura.
- For travelers intrigued by unusual urban legends, ghost stories, and quirky regional history, this historical spot offers a quick, memorable photo stop.
- The site is well-preserved with a clean black metal security fence and an informative English text plague outlining the historical witch curse folklore.
- Entirely free to visit and conveniently located right alongside the main historical route through town, making it an easy, high-value five-minute road break.
Heads up
- The attraction is extremely limited; it is literally just a dead, concrete-filled historic stump, which can feel incredibly boring to average sightseers.
- There are absolutely zero customer amenities, public restrooms, or interactive digital translations, leaving it as a bare, static roadside curiosity.
- The immediate neighborhood setting is tight, lacking any designated parking bays for oversized RV road rigs or travel trailers, forcing tight street parallel parking.
- After dark, the dense shadows and lack of high-brightness street lighting make the street corner feel intensely eerie, which might unnerve nervous solitary tourists.