Many awesome things come with October – fall foliage, pumpkin pie, and colder weather – but it’s not a true October unless there’s something spooky involved. Whether or not you’re into the haunted stuff, it’s very likely it will find its way to you. Instead of paying $30 to be chased by a college kid with a fake chainsaw, we encourage you to take a drive and check out one (or all!) of these 5 creepy New Jersey spots.
The Spy House; Port Monmouth, NJ
1.) The Spy House Located in Port Monmouth, NJ, the Spy House is said to be NJ’s most haunted house. It was built in 1663 and operated as a tavern during the Revolutionary War. British troops frequented the establishment often and it’s said that they openly discussed their strategic plans of attack, which the tavern owner and innkeepers overheard and passed along to the Colonial troops. That’s where the name “The Spy House” originated. Many paranormal investigations were conducted on the Spy House and it was then closed for a period of time. This led paranormal experts to believe the keepers were trying to hide what was actually in there. The Spy House Ghost Boy is just one of the ghosts that many people have claimed to have seen. Curious yet?
2.) Snake Hill While it got its name for the abundance of snakes in the Meadowlands, its creepiness comes from the psychiatric facility that was in operation for a period of time. Though it was demolished a long time ago, the facility’s graveyard was used from the 1880s through 1962. There was a new train station being built, which disturbed the graves. They were eventually able to uncover 4,000 bodies but it’s estimated that about 10,000 more still remain underground. Most of them were mentally ill or criminally insane. While there haven’t been any reported ghost sightings, the site itself is the epitome of eerie – especially knowing what happened there over the years. Definitely worth the drive to Secaucus!
Entrance to The Gates of Hell; Clifton, NJ (via WeirdNJ.com)
3.) The Gates of Hell Residing in Clifton, NJ, the Gates of Hell is a series of underground tunnels and storm sewers that is said by some to be the home of Satan himself. Regardless if that’s true, the mere existence of the passages are beyond creepy. Completely dark, the typical trickle of water can become a cascade during heavy rains, creating an especially dangerous situation. Whether or not there’s any kind of supernatural presence, it takes a truly brave human to even fathom stepping foot into the entrance. The pictures speak for themselves.
4.) The Devil’s Tree Located on Mountain Road in Bernards, NJ, the legend says that a local farmer killed his wife and children and eventually himself. He committed suicide by hanging himself on the tree and the legend continues that anyone who cuts down the tree will come to an untimely end. With the amount of ax marks on the tree, it’s clear many people have attempted to cut it down. Some have said that their ax broke upon hitting the tree…and they didn’t feel compelled to try again. Swing at your own risk! 🙂
5.) Clinton Road Clinton Road in West Milford is most commonly associated with the story of a dead little boy who supposedly hangs out under a bridge and returns coins that are thrown into the water by passersby. If you visit the creek, you’ll notice the bottom is lined with tons of coins that people have tossed into it, most likely to see what would happen. Obviously it’s hard to know which, if any, coins were returned. One person reported that he threw a quarter into the water and on his way back, a small metal object was thrown at his car while he passed the creek. Others have reported seeing a reflection of a small boy in the creek after tossing a coin into the water. There’s only one way to get the true experience – anyone have any spare pennies?
If you intend to venture out to any of these locations, we encourage you to do so with extreme caution. You never know what could happen 😉
