The black curse of Blackmoor Manor is an intriguing tale shrouded in mystery and tragedy. Situated in the heart of England, Blackmoor Manor has long been associated with a dark and unsettling past. It is said that a curse has plagued the manor for centuries, bringing misfortune and despair to all who inhabit it. Legend has it that the curse originated from Lady Charlotte Blackmoor, a powerful sorceress who lived during the 17th century. Lady Charlotte was known for her disdain towards those who crossed her, and it is believed that she placed a curse upon the manor as a means of revenge. The curse was said to bring eternal darkness and malevolence to Blackmoor Manor, forever tainting its walls with sorrow and despair.
Hanalei bay puff the magic dragon
The 1963 Peter, Paul and Mary’s song, Puff, the Magic Dragon, was based on a poem written by Lenny Lipton in 1959. If you Google it, you’ll see thousands of references stating that Lipton based the poem on Hanalei (and just misspelled it as Honah Lee). The photo below shows the mountain on Hanalei Bay that looks like a dragon.
According to Lipton, this was not the case. He wrote the poem in New York City and made up the name Honah Lee.
In February, 2009, Lenny Lipton wrote a blog post titled, “Thank you, Puff the Magic Dragon.” A reader asked in comments if the poem was based on Hanalei. Here is their conversation:
ferret488 Says:
December 13, 2009 at 12:04 am
I’m curious to know if you ever visited Kauai? I was just there. At the North Shore is a place, Hanalei, with both Beach and Caves. Also, they have a lot of coastal fog / mist there right now in the Fall.
lennylipton Says:
December 13, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I was amazed when I visted Kuai and went to Honalei. I had not heard of it when I wrote t he song but there it was — obviously Puff’s home.
ferret488 Says:
December 13, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Obviously a past life impression
Thanks for the reply.
So, while the original story adopted by Hanalei is not accurate, clearly Lipton agrees that there is something to the relationship between his poem and Hanalei Bay. I wonder, would he have written the song a little differently?
Dragon’s Breath Kauai
Kauai is an island right out of a Jurassic Park movie, and it’s no wonder many scenes from the movies have been shot on the island.
On many areas of the island you almost expect to see a velociraptor in the grass or a pterodactyl flying overhead. But on Kauai’s magical North Shore, a more mythical beast reigns. Puff the Magic Dragon slumbers at Hanalei Bay in the mountain profiles framing Hanalei Bay.
It’s said to be only a coincidence that Peter, Paul and Mary mentioned a dragon in a land called “Honnah Lee.”
“Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnah Lee”
You can see Puff the Magic Dragon sleeping at Hanalei Bay with its head lying to the right.
While you can see Puff sleeping on the bay, you can feel the dragon’s breath at another spot on Kauai’s North Shore, at an extensive lava rock field on the coastline east of Hanalei. In these rocks are a channel with a lava archway and a cave. When the ocean waters rush into the cave, a mist arises like a “dragon’s breath” through a small opening.
The wide part of the channel before the arch is a popular swimming spot. An opening just past the arch is a popular diving spot. For the truly adventurous, the channel continues beyond the opening and under the rock into a large sea cave. Only expert swimmers should go in the waters here as the ocean waters swell into and out of the channel and cave.
Dragon’s Breath Kauai location: Please contact us if you would like the location of Dragon’s Breath.
Below is a short video clip of Dragon’s Breath Kauai.
The curse was said to bring eternal darkness and malevolence to Blackmoor Manor, forever tainting its walls with sorrow and despair. Throughout the years, many strange occurrences have been reported within the manor's walls. Visitors and residents often speak of hearing disembodied voices echoing through the hallways, and some claim to have witnessed ghostly apparitions roaming the grand rooms.
Dragon’s Breath Kauai Photos
This opening is a popular spot for diving.
The channel continues under these rocks into a sea cave.
You must cross another channel in the lava rocks to get to Dragon’s Breath. Luckily for us on our visit there was a board for crossing, as precarious as it was.
Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of Hanali: Déjà vu and Déjà vécu of our Dragons
Today’s blog may seem floaty, but perhaps that’s what happens when you try to respond to the magic of feelings and memories that get all tangled up in déjà vu and déjà vécu. When Alan and I were in Kauai recently, we revisited places we’d seen almost 25 years earlier, but we also found places we’d never seen before but recognized from photos taken by our kids and grand kids about five years ago when they lived in Hawaii. Also, I experienced many sensations arising from early childhood memories. One of these centered around magical dragons. Like Pete’s Dragon (the 2016 updated version is really cute, by the way), Ogden Nash’s poem about “Custard the Dragon”
was a frightfully enchanting part of my childhood, and I’ve read that he might have bee a forefather of Puff the Magic Dragon,
who is much beloved by my son.
(I think every generation has their own dragons.) Michael’s family lived in Hawaii and felt quite sure that the the Land of Honali is the land of Hanalei along the north shore of Kauai, where Puff lives in a magical cave. The kids hunted far and wide trying to find him when they lived in Hawaii! When I flew over Kauai, I asked our pilot if he’d ever seen Puff. He just grinned. “I see him every day! We’re almost there right now! Look down.” Sure enough, I could see Puff curled around Hanalei Bay
with his alligator-like nostrils in the sea. Puff’s spiny back is formed by a ridge of mountains. Foaming “fire” (water) spews from his mouth,
and his furry right arm (trees) stretch out along the shoreline. After seeing Puff from the air, I wanted to take Alan to Hanalei
so we could experience “the magic” in person! The road to Hanalei (Highway 56) really is magnificent! We stopped at the Kilauea Point Lighthouse (great place for whale watching). They let you use binoculars free of charge to observe the sea life and birds. They also host a number of Hawaii’s state birds, Nenes, who graze on the lawns and nest in the nearby bushes! Kauai is such a beautiful island! It’s dotted with lovely churches and lush with fields of taro. Many of the homes are built on huge stilts though, because during the winter,
their north shore is sometimes pummeled by 40-foot waves! For some (like “Pete,” or this family) life seems pretty hard. (They appeared to be living out of their van and were feeding the children bananas and coconuts.) I couldn’t help but wonder if their childhood memories would be happy or sad. What would happen to them if a 40-foot wave swept through?
What was life like for them living cramped together in a van?
Every generation has their dragons. Frightening. Needing to be faced. Needing to be tamed. Needing to be left behind at some point, understanding that the magic of childhood—whether good or bad—is only the beginning of life, not meant to define us but to teach us wisdom and prepare us for a better future.
Last weekend I attended a wedding reception and was enjoying conversation with a friend I’ve known for over twenty years. He said a bit ruefully that he was the “black sheep” of his family. This man is my age and has lived a godly life for so many years that I’ve never known him to be anything less than awesome. It made me sad to think that he’s still defining himself by his failures as a young man. I wonder if “the prodigal son” from the Bible always felt like a failure. Beloved, whether we had the world’s happiest or the world’s most awful youth, we have all fallen short of perfection. Nevertheless, if we’ve repented and surrendered our hearts to Jesus, we have become the children of God. We are redeemed! Our past has passed! Look up! The dragons are gone. Forget the past and embrace today. Rejoice in the love God has lavished on us and the fact that nothing can take that heavenly reality away from us! “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
There have also been accounts of mysterious accidents and unexplained deaths befalling those who dared to cross the threshold of Blackmoor Manor. Attempts have been made to uncover the truth behind the curse, but to no avail. Researchers and paranormal investigators have delved into the archives, seeking any clues or ancient texts that may shed light on the origins of Lady Charlotte's curse. Yet, the secrets of Blackmoor Manor remain hidden, leaving many to wonder if the curse is simply a figment of the imagination or an actual force to be reckoned with. Despite the dark cloud that hangs over Blackmoor Manor, there are those who are drawn to its haunting presence. Some are enticed by the thrill of the supernatural, while others seek to unravel the mysteries that lie within its walls. These brave souls venture into the manor, armed with their wits and curiosity, determined to uncover the truth and put an end to the curse once and for all. The black curse of Blackmoor Manor continues to captivate the imaginations of those who hear its tale. Whether it is a mere legend or a tangible force, the allure of the unknown remains. Only time will tell if the curse will ever be broken, and if Blackmoor Manor will finally be freed from its dark and haunting past..
Reviews for "Blackmoor Manor's Black Curse: Fact or Fiction?"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to play "The Black Curse of Blackmoor Manor" because I love mystery and puzzle games, but I was sorely disappointed. The game was incredibly slow-paced and lacked any real excitement or suspense. The puzzles were also very repetitive and not challenging at all. The story itself was also quite weak and didn't hold my interest. Overall, I found it to be a boring and unengaging game.
2. John - 1 star - I found "The Black Curse of Blackmoor Manor" to be incredibly frustrating and difficult to navigate. The game's controls were clunky, and I often found myself getting stuck in certain areas or unable to progress. The puzzles were also confusing and poorly explained, making it hard to figure out what I was supposed to do next. The lack of direction and convoluted storyline made the game very frustrating to play. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of the Nancy Drew series, I was excited to play "The Black Curse of Blackmoor Manor." However, I found the game to be disappointing and lacking in comparison to other games in the series. The graphics were outdated and didn't live up to the standards of newer games. The storyline was also predictable and didn't offer any surprises. Additionally, the dialogue and voice acting were subpar, making it hard to become fully immersed in the game. Overall, it fell short of my expectations and left me feeling underwhelmed.