A Guide to Spooky South Jersey

It’s no secret that New Jersey has a unique history, and is therefore replete with urban legends, ghost stories, and cryptid sightings. After all, the state is the perfect backdrop with the Pine Barrens and horror movie filming locations (let alone towns named Haddonfield and Voorhees just around the corner) the enthusiasm for Halloween shared by locals noticeably fills the air every fall season.

New Jersey’s best known haunted destinations like Clinton Road, Annie’s Road, and Bloody Mary’s grave may be in the northern part of the state, but South Jersey has plenty of its own folklore. Celebrate Halloween while learning more about New Jersey history in a frightfully fun adventure with these spooky destinations. Be sure to drive safely if visiting at night, but these locations are also great to visit during the day!

Camden County
Walt Whitman Tomb – Camden
Despite the cemetery location, Walt Whitman’s Tomb Site at Harleigh Cemetery is more of a historical excursion than a creepy one. The late poet’s final resting place is an interesting local connection to a historical literary icon. The Walt Whitman Association preserves sites related to his life in Camden, and has educated generations on his work, legacy, and memory. Visit the nearby Walt Whitman House to learn more, and to complete the experience.

Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House – Glendora
It is claimed that you can see ghosts in the windows of this historical site, which was once used to provide medical attention to wounded Revolutionary War soldiers. Some visitors claim to hear paranormal sounds while touring the Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House, and that there are blood stains in the attic. The property has been preserved and restored; so, the building is located within a beautiful landscape full of recently planted greenery.

Burnt Mill Road – Atco
Every state has its own variation of an urban legend about a ghost boy with a ball, and locals are accustomed to drivers traveling Burnt Mill Road to catch a glimpse of the “Atco Ghost.” Teenagers and ghost hunters have performed the ritual of driving late at night and making the U-turn at the end of the street to apparently be greeted by the spectral vision of headlights and a young boy dribbling a basketball. Because this location is in a residential area, please be mindful of the community and refrain from honking or flashing headlights.

Battleship New Jersey
Guests and staff have reported strange, unexplainable noises and fully formed phantom figures gliding down the ship’s passageways at night. The Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial often hosts nighttime ghost tours and investigations, and has even been featured on the television show, Ghost Hunters.

Burlington County
Burlington County Prison Museum – Mount Holly
This site is truly a historic relic, with original structures still intact and designed by the same architect who created the Washinton Monument, Robert Mills. Operating from 1811 to 1965, it was once the oldest operating jail in the United States. Paranormal researchers have experienced strange atmospheric conditions, noises, smoke, and orbs that led to the location’s status as one of the most haunted buildings in the state. The Burlington County Prison Museum’s history contains death, suffering, executions, and trauma; so, although that is one of the suspected reasons for the hauntings, it’s also a reason to explore respectfully.

Witch Trial Site / Holy, Holy, Holy Altar– Mount Holly
At the top of The Mount, there is a stone structure with the words, “Holy, Holy, Holy” inscribed, and legends say that the Jersey Devil was sacrificed on top of it along with the woman who summoned him. This altar is close to the “Witches’ Well,” where legend claims they were thrown after sacrifice. The well is prohibited from public access, but a journey nearby without trespassing creates a creepy ambiance. The18th century Mount Holly witch trials have not been confirmed as historical fact and are often regarded as a hoax created by Benjamin Franklin for the Pennsylvania Gazette. Still, there isn’t an explanation for the scratching sounds allegedly heard from the altar and well.

Batsto Village – Batsto
This historical town still operates as a landmark site and a museum, with walking tours available to experience The Iron Works. The surrounding Wharton State Forest is an eerie setting already, but there is a famous local legend of a ghostly figure in the window of the mansion. People have claimed to spot the silhouette above, from the grounds.

Big Rusty
Ghost hunting likely isn’t for everyone, and there is an incredible piece of art in Hainesport by Thomas Dambo that captures the Halloween spirit. “Big Rusty,” a giant, monstrous troll statue, is the first of 18 pieces in a “Troll Trek” exhibit across the county. Plus, each statue is made from recycled and natural materials.

Salem County
Hancock House
During the Revolutionary War in 1778, Judge William Hancock opened his home to troops as a convenient lodging site close to the Delaware River that they were defending. Early one morning, British troops massacred at least 10 and wounded five occupants with bayonets. This tragic and excessively violent event further revolutionized Patriot troops and forever cast a dark cloud over what is now the Hancock House Historic Site. Visitors have claimed to see apparitions dressed in Revolution War-era military uniforms.

Fort Mott and Finn’s Point National Cemetery – Pennsville
As a Civil War defense system for the Delaware River, it’s fascinating to walk through the park grounds and actually see the structures used during that time. It’s an immersive experience where the whole family can explore, climb, learn, and get fresh air and exercise. However, visitors warn of unexplained chills, orb sightings, and uneasy feelings even during the day. This location’s morbid history expanded when over 100 years later, the man who would go on to take designer Gianni Versace’s life stopped at Finn’s Point National Cemetery right before his final acts of violence in Miami to take the life and the car of William Reese, the grounds’ caretaker.

Gloucester County
Bunce Hall at Rowan University – Glassboro
This location’s access is limited to Rowan students, staff, and approved visitors—and they most likely have experienced paranormal phenomena already if they’ve visited Bunce Hall and Tohill Theater. For decades, the Rowan community has claimed to experience disembodied footsteps following them through the halls, objects moving on their own, lights flickering, unexplainable shadows and physical sensations, and conclusive ghost-hunting technology readings.

NJ-55 - Deptford
There has been a long-established legend that a 4-mile stretch of NJ-55 was built upon sacred land, and is therefore cursed, because it led to several bizarre deaths of men who worked on it. This unsettling history resurfaced in 2016 after an online video circulated of a girl in a white dress walking along the highway alone, in the middle of the night. However, it was confirmed by police that this was not a supernatural sighting. It was just an eerily coincidental one.

Pine Barrens
Said to be the home of one of the most famous American cryptids, the Jersey Devil, there are several spots across the Pine Barrens that represent his namesake. With spotty service and an increased likelihood of getting lost, the Pine Barrens feel both spooky and magical. There’s discovery at every turn, like the abandoned remains of Brooksbrae Brick Factory, a birdwatching area with a Nessie replica sitting in a bog, and plenty of other hidden gems perfect for experienced hikers and adventurers. However, just a drive through on the way to the Shore already captures the unique atmosphere. While it is a great time to surround yourself in nature this season, be wary of isolation, difficult terrain, bodies of water (like the bottomless “Blue Hole”), and even quicksand; so tread carefully.

Cape May County
Elaine’s Cape May – Cape May
This charming, Victorian-style restaurant and boutique hotel fully embraces its paranormal status with events like ghost tours and dinner theatre that transforms the site into “Elaine’s Haunted Mansion". Despite the lively atmosphere consisting of music, food, and community, there are said to be a few spirits that occupy different parts of the property. The most famous ghost is Emily Reed, who legends claim is the daughter of the original owners—and is actually quite friendly.

Emlen Physick Estate – Cape May
Another stunning, Victorian mansion in Cape May that appears to be frozen in time, the Emlen Physick Estate is reported to contain a noticeably heavy energy, presumably caused by the melancholy nature of the original owners’ story. The Physick family line ended at this estate, as the location of several of their deaths. The most well-known apparition is a woman in an old-fashioned, white dress, who has been seen in the windows from outside and wandering the halls inside. The preserved estate is open for both historical and ghost tours.

The Flanders Hotel – Ocean City
The Flanders Hotel is a currently operating oceanside hotel, but it is also a historical site that was originally built in 1923. The hotel is known to house a ghost named Emily, and it even has a portrait of her on the second floor, created by Tony Troy from witness descriptions. Visitors and staff describe her as playful, and paranormal activity consists mostly of rattling doorknobs and unscrewed light bulbs.