Connecticut is home to quite a few oddities, that’s for sure. We are all pretty familiar with the legends and lore surrounding the abandoned villages of Dudleytown and Johnsonville but there is another abandoned place that many of us have visited without even realizing it. There is actually a long-abandoned town under Candlewood Lake, Connecticut’s largest lake, that was once home to 35 families. Come along as we explore the depths and gain insights into this mysterious underwater village.

Candlewood Lake is bordered by five towns: Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman. But another village by the name of Jerusalem lies underneath the lake.
Flickr/Wendy
Candlewood is a man-made lake that covers 8.4 square miles and has an average depth of 40 feet. It is a popular recreation spot in Connecticut for boating, fishing, and swimming.
As seen on the 1895 map below, the only bodies of water originally in the area were a few small ponds, but by September of 1928, the largest lake in Connecticut was complete.
Wikimedia Commons/By Rand McNally Atlas, Public Domain
In the early 1900s, Connecticut Light and Power had a plan approved to construct a man-made reservoir to produce electric power. It took 26 months to build the dam, clear forests, and flood more than 5,000 acres of land.
Along with the farmland and forests that were claimed for the lake, the village of Jerusalem was also taken for the project. Most residents sold their land to Connecticut Light and Power, but a few residents refused.
Wikimedia Commons/By cropped by User:Cmprince (National Atlas) [Public domain]
To this day some of the land under Candlewood Lake is still privately owned. Over 100 buildings were either moved or demolished during the relocation of the Jerusalem residents. A small graveyard, including headstones and bodies, was also moved.

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What lies under the blue waters of Candlewood Lake today are the remnants of a village long forgotten.
Flickr/Doc Searls
In the excitement to push forward with the extensive lake creation project, many residents were forced to leave large belongings behind. There is a great amount of farm equipment on the lake bottom along with foundations of old buildings that were once occupied.
Divers who have explored the lake report the existence of covered bridges and some Model T Fords that were abandoned by the village residents.
Flickr/Eric Heupel
Divers can also trace the roads underneath the lake that connected the surrounding small towns. There is quite a bit of history from the pre-lake era lying beneath the water.
So the next time you are drifting across the waters of Candlewood Lake, think about Jerusalem, the abandoned underwater village beneath you.
Flickr/Western Connecticut State University Peggy Stewart
Who knows what could be right below the spot where you are floating around?

Candlewood Lake is a very popular summer hot spot in the Nutmeg State. Have you ever been here before? If so, what was your favorite part? Did you know about Jerusalem, the town under Candlewood Lake? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

To learn more, check out this previous article to find out what other creepy things are hiding under the water in Connecticut. You can also go to the official Candlewood Lake Authority website, as well as its Facebook page.

If you’re still in the mood for more Nutmeg State adventures, take a look at this video:

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More to Explore

More to Explore in Connecticut

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | June 20, 2023

Where can we find other lakes in Connecticut?

  • Mashapaug Lake in Union is popular because it is surrounded by Bigelow Hollow State Park and the Nipmuck State Forest.
  • Crescent Lake in Southington is where people go for canoeing, walking trails, and more.
  • Squantz Pond in New Fairfield offers swimming, fishing, and scuba diving opportunities.

Read on to learn about some of the many other lakes in Connecticut.

Where can we find waterparks in Connecticut?

  • The Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park in Portland features floating inflatables, ziplining, rock climbing, and more.
  • The Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury is one of the most popular parks in the state.
  • Lake Compounce Amusement & Water Park in Bristol features water tubes, a lazy river floating, and a great deal more.

Read on to learn about some of the many other fun waterparks in Connecticut.

Where can we find scenic overlooks in Connecticut?

  • Dennis Hill in Norfolk rises to 1,627 feet and offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
  • Haystack Mountain in Norfolk offers spectacular vistas from a 34-foot tower at the summit.
  • Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford has beautiful overlook spots that are popular with hikers and photographers.

Read on to learn about some of the many other amazing scenic overlooks in Connecticut.

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Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, USA