The Most Haunted Places In New Jersey
Some people love ghosts and stories of hauntings. Maybe it’s a curiosity about the worlds beyond the veil, or about what happens when we die. Perhaps it’s more about the stories in the background of a haunting — after all, ghosts were people once, with lives we can learn about. Or maybe it’s an attraction to the rush of adrenaline that comes from being scared. For whatever reason, haunted tours and haunted attractions captivate visitors once the sun goes down. And, in great news for ghost enthusiasts on the east coast, New Jersey recently ranked as the most haunted state in the country.
According to a report by Home Advisor, nearly 30% of the homes on the market in the Garden State have a probability of being haunted! It makes sense — New Jersey has a long history of inhabitation, after all. The first Native Americans moved into the area 15,000 years ago, and the first Europeans showed up in 1524. That’s a long history of people in the area, more than enough for murder, mayhem, and tragedy to take place. Today, there are several places throughout the state that boast the most haunted happenings in the area. Let’s take a look at New Jersey’s six most haunted places.
Brighton Asylum
Want to participate in a real paranormal investigation? Then Brighton Asylum is waiting for you! This historic medical building first opened in the 1940s to house and treat the mentally ill and unstable of the time. Unfortunately, many patients were violent, which resulted in a number of deaths on the property. Many more died as a result of the primitive medical experiments conducted on the patients. The state permanently closed the facility in 1952 as a result of the death count and other unspeakable events that occurred at Brighton.
Now a haunted attraction, Brighton Asylum welcomes visitors with multiple opportunities to experience its sordid past. Visitors during the day can puzzle their way through escape rooms or burn some energy throwing axes. Those brave enough can stay after closing and explore the asylum’s dark hallways with nothing but a flashlight, ghost hunting equipment, and a guide.
Contact Information
2 Brighton Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055
(201) 848-2517
Jenny Jump State Forest
This state park houses two haunted locations: Jenny Jump Mountain and Ghost Lake. Jenny Jump State Forest features a great many trails for hikers of all levels. There are also numerous fishing, hunting, boating, picnicking, and camping spots.
Jenny Jump Mountain
On the trails up to and around the park’s rocky cliffs, visitors report seeing the spirit of a young girl in the area. Stories tell of how she once gathered berries near the peak of the cliffs when she was startled by the sudden appearance of another person. She was so spooked, she jumped to her death over the edge of the cliffs. Her father also saw the stranger approaching and, frightened, yelled to his daughter to jump. He apparently hoped to catch her, but instead she died. Some say poor Jenny is still searching for someone to catch her.
Ghost Lake & Shades of Death Road
Also in Jenny Jump State Forest, Ghost Lake offers a chill to all those who venture to it for boating or fishing. The lake is relatively new, created by local men who dammed the creek in the early 20th century. It’s said that a mysterious fog engulfs the lake regardless of the weather, and several visitors claim to have seen spirits reaching out from the water.
Various stories revolve around the lake and the nearby Shades of Death road. Some say that when the two landowners created the lake, they drowned a Native American burial ground and the spirits remain angry to this day. Others tell of early settlers ambushing and killing Native Americans along the road and disposing of the bodies in the lake. Or maybe it was highway robbers pulling the same trick. Still another story tells of a malaria outbreak that killed countless people in a settlement nearby. It seems you can take your pick on the reason why, but there’s ghosts in the lake.
Contact Information
330 State Park Rd, Hope, NJ 07844
(908) 459-4366
The Devil’s Tree
A single, solitary oak stands in an undeveloped field. Its bark bears the scars of several attempts to cut it down, but clearly they didn’t work. In the winter, the ground beneath the tree remains clear of snow, regardless of how much snow has accumulated just outside its branches. Both the tree and a large boulder nearby are said to be warm to the touch, even during the frigid New Jersey winters. It’s said both are portals to hell. Those who damage or disrespect the tree usually come to some sort of harm shortly after. Many who “got too close” to the tree report being chased by a black Ford truck that drives aggressively but mysteriously vanishes just before hitting them.
Several stories and local legends revolve around the Devil’s Tree. A common theory links back to the fact that Bernards Township played host to the central headquarters of the KKK. It’s said the group used the Devil’s Tree for its lynchings. Another story tells of a farmer who hanged himself from the tree after killing the rest of his family. After so many reports of accidents and misfortunes from locals, the township decided not to take the risk. It put its development plans aside, choosing to protect the tree rather than attempt to cut it down.
Contact Information
Mountain Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
The Cranbury Inn
The Inn originally opened as two roadside taverns in the mid-1750s and has undergone several changes and additions in its 270 years of operation. The Cranbury Inn hosts a great many stories of ghostly sightings and unexplainable activity. Some guests report seeing mysterious orbs, both while they visit and in photographs they take. Many others report hearing phantom footsteps traversing stairs and doors opening on their own.
It turns out the Cranbury Inn hid a great many secrets. It offered many a safe harbor as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The owner at the time added hidden rooms and passages to the east wall of the oldest tavern. The Cranbury Inn was mentioned by Enoch Middleton, an agent of the Railroad, as a primary stop in the area. Meanwhile, the wear on the attic stairs in the innkeeper’s house and remnants of a secret door indicate much more activity than the typical attic receives.
Today, the Cranbury Inn no longer offers lodging options. Its two taverns are open daily, however, and a retail store for wine, beer, and spirits sits in a recreation of the old barn.
Contact Information
21 S Main St, Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 655-5595
The Pine Barrens
Central and Southern New Jersey
Stretching across seven counties, the Pine Barrens include over one million acres of the unique Atlantic coastal pine barren ecosystem. So many acres of deep, dense forest automatically feel spooky — there’s no telling what’s waiting in the trees. The Pine Barrens are said to be the home of the Jersey Devil, but the famed cryptid isn’t the only one haunting these woods.
- Captain Kidd’s headless ghost has been seen near Barnegat Bay. The famous pirate perhaps hid one of his treasure caches there.
- A spectral black dog roams the beaches and forests between Absecon Island and Barnegat Bay. Though many cultures view ghostly black dogs as malevolent portents of evil, the black dog of the Pine Barrens is said to be harmless. It’s said the dog was killed along with his crew in a pirate attack off Absecon Island.
- The Golden-Haired Girl stares out to sea, dressed in white and sighing over the waves. She is frequently seen alongside the Jersey Devil, giving rise to a legend that she loved the (strangely human) son of the Jersey Devil. She’s said to have died as a result of her family’s disapproval and attempts to separate the pair.
- The Black Doctor offers aid to injured or stranded travelers in the Pine Barrens, carrying on the work he did in life. It’s said the ghost is what remains of Dr. James Still, a Black man who studied medicine. At the time, it was illegal for him to do so.
- Though it hasn’t been seen recently, legends tell of a White Stag ghost that prevents impending disaster and aids lost travelers.
In addition to the opportunity to see ghosts and cryptids, the Pine Barrens offer several other reasons to visit. The forest envelops many interesting towns, while the landscape features great hiking and camping options. The area’s waterways feed into a large underground aquifer, making for fantastic canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming.
Burlington County Prison Museum
This former prison ranks among the most haunted buildings in New Jersey. Several paranormal teams have investigated the prison and recorded voices, orbs, and electromagnetic energy spikes. The Burlington County Prison operated from 1811 to 1966 and saw several deadly escape attempts and executions during that time. In fact, some of the first reports of a haunting occurred after one of the first executions took place. Joel Clough was buried on the grounds after his execution. Shortly after, both guards and prisoners heard moans and rattling chains, and smelled phantom cigarette smoke.
When the prison was being renovated in the 1990s, many workers also reported paranormal occurrences throughout the building. Sometimes, their tools would go missing, only to turn up in locked cells. Now a museum, the Burlington County Prison displays its history through self-guided or audio tours. In addition, ghost hunters can schedule a night of fright to experience the haunting themselves.
Contact Information
128 High St, Mt Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5476