HOOP SNAKE HILL

Inscription

HOOP SNAKE HILL
FOR GENERATIONS, LOCAL
LEGEND TELLS OF AN ENORMOUS
SNAKE THAT GRASPED ITS TAIL IN
ITS MOUTH AND ROLLED DOWN
THIS HILL TOWARD ITS VICTIMS.
NEW YORK FOLKLORE
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2023

The local tale of Hoop Snake Hill has been passed down for generations in the Warwick community of Orange County, New York. The hoop snake is a classic creature in American folklore, and in Warwick, the enormous snake is said to grasp its tail in its mouth, forming a hoop with its body, and roll down the hill overlooking Wickham Lake. The hoop snake rolls toward its victims, and at the final moment straightens out its body and lashes out with its spiked tail.