TRENTON, NJ – If you thought your morning commute on the Garden State Parkway or your latest property tax bill are the scariest things in New Jersey, think again. New Jersey, one of the original thirteen colonies that made the United States is full of history, urban legends and local mythology dating back hundreds of years.
Some of New Jersey’s legends are based on colonial superstitions while others are modern day mysteries.
Here are ten of the most popular urband legends and haunted places in New Jersey
The Devil’s Tree – Bernards Township: Allegedly the site of numerous suicides, eerie figures are said to hang from its branches. Inexplicably, snow won’t settle beneath it, and a nearby stone remains warm even during cold winters. Some believe this rock might be a gateway to the netherworld.
The Boy that Haunts a Road in Atco- Burnt Mill Road: Following a tragic accident, the ghost of a young boy is believed to haunt this spot. Visitors honk their horn and flash their lights, then wait in anticipation to witness the apparition dribbling a basketball.
The Jersey Devil – Estellville: Legend tells of a woman cursing her thirteenth child, proclaiming, “Let it be the devil.” The cursed child reportedly transformed into a winged demon, causing panic across Estellville and the Pine Barrens for centuries.
Flanders Hotel – Ocean City: Built in 1923 and surviving a massive fire, the hotel is rumored to be haunted by Emily, a young woman awaiting her lover’s return from WWI. Mysterious activities include lock tampering, eerie laughter, and photo-bombing wedding pictures.
Shades of Death Road – Warren County: This road has multiple tales woven around it, including a settlement that fell victim to a malaria outbreak, and a gang that targeted unsuspecting travelers. Some claim a Native American spirit attempts to caution drivers in the form of a deer.
The Devil’s Tower – Alpine: Originally built as a gift for Harriet Rionda, it became a place of tragedy when she witnessed her husband’s infidelity and took her own life. Visitors now report feelings of being pushed and hearing chilling screams.
Hoppie the mysterious creature of Lake Hopatcong: This lake hides a gentle giant. Nicknamed Hoppie, the 40-foot creature, bearing a dog’s head and snake’s body, has been sighted multiple times since its first appearance in 1894, although photographic evidence remains elusive.
Long Beach Massacre: A brutal massacre in 1782 led to the legend of buried treasure, hidden by a British crew that escaped capture and killed their captors. The treasure, however, remains undiscovered.
Hookerman on the haunted railroad – Long Valley: Railroad tracks here are haunted by the glow of a lantern, believed to be held by a worker searching for his severed arm. His replacement limb, a hook, gives him his eerie name.
The Ghost Train of Newark: Each month, on the 10th, the sound of a phantom train reportedly fills Newark’s Broad Street station. Driven by a ghostly engineer who met his fate in 1868, while many have heard its rumble, no one has ever seen it.