Cochegan+Rock+is+a+hidden+giant+set+back+in+the+hills+and+trees+a+few+hundred+feet+west+of+Interstate+395%2c+a+mile+south+of+Norwich%2e+The+camp+occupies+100+plus+acres+and+offers+weekend+wilderness+tent+camping+sites%2e+There+are+no+cabins%2c+buildings+or+water+available+here%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAs+a+geological+curiosity%2c+Cochegan+Rock+stands+unique+for+it+is+reported+to+be+the+largest+free+boulder+in+the+United+States+and+is+not+part+of+some+talus+as+there+are+no+cliffs+anywhere+near+it%2e+A+path+to+the+rock+is+lined+by+rows+of+ancient+mountain+laurel+and+18th+century+gravestones+dot+the+area%2e+Cochegan+Rock+was+proclaimed+New+England%92s+largest+boulder+after+it+was+measured+in+the+1870s+by+Harvard+University+scientists%2c+who+calculated+it+at+176%2c000+cubic+feet%2e+The+most+recent+measurement%2c+in+1986%2c+showed+the+rock+at+54+feet+long%2c+50+feet+tall%2c+58+feet+wide%2c+and+weighing+7%2c000+tons%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

Published%3a+July+8%2c+2007+in+the+New+York+Times%0d%0a%0d%0aCOCHEGAN+ROCK+was+deposited+by+a+glacier+in+what+is+now+Montville+approximately+17%2c000+years+ago%2e+In+the+17th+century%2c+Chief+Uncas%2c+the+leader+of+the+Mohegans%2c+held+tribal+meetings+on+top+of+the+rock%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aLast+Monday%2c+the+Mohegan+tribe+bought+back+Cochegan+Rock%2c+considered+the+largest+glacial+boulder+in+New+England%2c+and+the+92+wooded+acres+surrounding+it%2c+from+the+Connecticut+Rivers+Council+of+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America+for+%24200%2c000%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+%93The+rock+is+considered+one+of+our+sacred+sites%2c%94+said+Lynn+Malerba%2c+the+vice+chairwoman+of+the+Mohegan+tribe%2e+%93It+has+always+been+our+intention%2c+now+that+we+have+revenues+from+casino+gaming%2c+to+repurchase+our+sacred+sites%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+%93It+is+very+emotional+to+have+this+back+in+our+possession%2e%94%0d%0a%0d%0a+The+Boy+Scouts+had+owned+the+site+since+it+was+deeded+to+them+by+a+local+family+in+the+1960s%2e+Ms%2e+Malerba+said+she+did+not+know+how+the+tribe+had+lost+ownership+of+it%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+When+it+was+last+measured+in+1986%2c+Cochegan+Rock+was+54+feet+long%2c+50+feet+high%2c+58+feet+wide+and+weighed+7%2c000+tons%2e+Ralph+Lewis%2c+formerly+the+state+geologist+and+now+a+geology+professor+at+the+University+of+Connecticut%2c+called+it+impressive%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+%93It%92s+unique+for+its+size%2c%94+he+said%2e+%93Compared+to+a+lot+of+glacial+boulders%2c+it%92s+huge%2e%94%0d%0a%0d%0a+Kevin+Bishop%2c+the+director+of+support+services+for+the+Connecticut+Rivers+Council+of+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2c+which+oversees+300+local+councils+in+the+state+and+about+35%2c000+scouts%2c+said+the+property+was+used+for+weekend+camping+trips%2e+Under+the+sales+agreement%2c+the+Boy+Scouts+will+still+be+able+to+camp+there%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+Mr%2e+Bishop+said+the+Boy+Scouts+decided+to+sell+the+rock+and+the+land+for+financial+reasons%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+%93This+was+an+additional+property+for+us+that+we+didn%92t+have+the+ability+to+fund+as+well+as+it+should+be%2c%94+he+said%2e+%93As+it+turns+out%2c+this+is+a+win%2dwin+for+us%2e%94%0d%0a%0d%0a+Ms%2e+Malerba+said+the+tribe+might+improve+the+trails+at+the+site%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a+%93It+is+our+intent+to+leave+it+in+a+very+pristine+and+natural+state%2c%94+she+said%2e+%93We+certainly+believe+in+conserving+and+honoring+the+sacred+sites+that+we+own%2e%94%0d%0a%0d%0a