Camp Wunnegan (Shrewsbury, MA)

Exploring the Abandoned Camp Wunnegan — Forgotten Girl Scout Ruins in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Hidden in the woods between Route 140 and Grafton Street in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts sits one of the area’s most overlooked abandoned places: Camp Wunnegan, a former Girl Scout camp that has been slowly fading back into the forest for more than half a century. Today, its 44 acres are protected as conservation land—but the remains of the old camp still stand, quietly decaying and waiting for curious explorers.

If you enjoy forgotten sites, accessible ruins, and quiet forest trails close to town, Camp Wunnegan is a fascinating place to spend an afternoon.

A Brief History of Camp Wunnegan

Camp Wunnegan operated as a Girl Scout camp and likely was established sometime in the 19340s. The earliest confirmed reference comes from a 1966 Fitchburg Sentinel article describing a scouting event held on the grounds. The grounds featured campsites, a dormitory, a dinning hall, and several activty stations. By the late 1970s, however, the site was abandoned. The Girl Scouts moved out sometime in the early 1970s when Route 140 was established which led to the site being less natural and remote. In 1978 the Town of Shrewsbury purchased the land—30 acres surrounding the camp—which the town added to an adjacent 15 acres it already owned.

The land is rugged. It features swampy areas, a stream (Big Bummet Brook), and a steep, rocky hill. Those same features that once made it an ideal wilderness camp also made it unsuitable for major construction when the town briefly considered it as a potential school site.

Years later, those same features now make Camp Wunnegan a surprisingly scenic escape—just minutes from suburban neighborhoods and a busy UPS facility.

Finding the Trailhead

One of the unusual things about Camp Wunnegan is that getting to it feels a little strange. The trailhead sits directly between two residential houses on Grafton Street. There's no designated parking lot, no wide-open entrance—just a narrow opening in the trees, a kiosk, and a sudden transition from suburbia to wilderness.

Parking Info

The easiest place to park is along Crimson Drive, right across from the start of the trail.

• Parking Coordinates: 42.254361, -71.716861
• Parking: Free street parking
• Trailhead Landmark: Look for a giant oak tree and a white picket fence just beside the entrance.

Once you step onto the path, the suburban world disappears almost instantly, replaced by tall trees, quiet trails, and the sound of running water.

Hiking Camp Wunnegan — What to Expect

Camp Wunnegan has six blazed trails, all of which connect to the main corridor known as the Old Camp Trail. This trail runs west to east, from the Grafton Street entrance to Route 140, passing directly by the camp ruins.

Big Bummet Brook Crossing

From the Grafton Street entrance, the trail descends toward Big Bummet Brook, a surprisingly scenic stream that flows year-round. A sturdy culvert provides an easy crossing, and the brook adds a calming ambience to the small valley at the base of the hill.

After crossing, the trail climbs steadily toward the main attraction of Camp Wunnegan: the old Girl Scout structures.

The Girl Scout Dormitory — Fully Abandoned and Open to Explore

The first major structure you’ll see is the former dormitory, a cinder-block building tucked into the side of the hill. Today, the structure remains standing and is completely accessible. Doors are open on both sides, making it easy to safely enter and exit.

Inside, you’ll find:

• A tall, beamed peaked ceiling
• A working stone fireplace from the camp’s early days
• Exposed electrical wires snaking across the ceiling and walls
• Every square inch of surface covered in graffiti
• Trash, broken glass, empty spray cans, and debris scattered across the floor

It’s atmospheric, photogenic, and an interesting look at how quickly nature and human presence reclaim abandoned places.
Important note: Because of debris and sharp objects, use caution if exploring with children or dogs.

The Dining Hall Chimney — All That Remains After the 1971 Fire

Directly across the trail from the dormitory sits one of Camp Wunnegan’s most striking relics: the standing chimney of the former dining hall.

The building itself was destroyed by fire in August 1971. Today, only the stone chimney and an old fire ring remain, giving you a haunting sense of where the camp’s main gathering space once stood.

This is one of the best spots at Camp Wunnegan for photography—especially in the morning when sunlight filters through the trees.

Continuing Up the Hill

Just past the ruins, the trail continues uphill to the ridge. From here, you can explore several branching trails on the east, west, and north sides. The terrain becomes steeper and rockier, offering a rugged feel completely different from the quiet lowland stream crossing at the trail’s start.

Although the land is relatively small at 44 acres, the variety of terrain makes the hike feel surprisingly immersive.

Our Experience Exploring Camp Wunnegan

When we first visited in 2023, we weren’t sure what to expect. The trailhead feels like you're sneaking between two backyards—and parking in front of someone’s house isn’t exactly a confidence booster. But once we stepped onto the trail, the discomfort disappeared.

Within minutes, we were walking through quiet forest. Then the ruins appeared—half hidden, half reclaimed, fully abandoned. The dormitory, the chimney, the fire ring… it all feels like a place frozen in time.

Camp Wunnegan isn’t large, but it’s atmospheric. It’s the kind of place where you slow down, look closely, and appreciate the way history lingers long after people move on.

Coordinates

• Parking: 42.254361, -71.716861
• Ruins: 42.254917, -71.713528