The Fascinating New Jersey Hotel That's Steeped In Mob History

The building features a full basement, below sea level, known as the "catacombs of Flanders." The catacombs contain a maze of seven or eight expansive rooms. According to the Flanders hotel website, "In the 1920’s and 30’s organized crime was a major force influencing business operations throughout the country and the east coast was no exception. Ocean City, being one of the few thriving areas in South Jersey during this time, was an ideal neutral location for occasional meetings by organized crime bosses from New York, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City. And of course the perfect place to hold these meetings was in the private catacombs of the Flanders."

While we can't be sure exactly what sort of mob activity occurred here (those meetings were, of course, kept secret), we do know that the catacombs housed illegal speakeasies during Prohibition. Alcohol was served and gambling likely took place. While no murders have ever been recorded in the catacombs, psychic Joseph Tittel believes that two people were killed in the secluded basement, one hanged and the other stabbed. Of course, there's no evidence to support that. The catacombs are still in use today, but only for storage.