The New Jersey Pinelands is one of the most fascinating places on earth. Packed with folklore about demons and ghosts, as well as glass-making ghost towns and lots of historic villages and buildings still standing, there's almost no better place to explore if you want to see a unique side of the Garden State. The Pines take up nearly a quarter of all of New Jersey's land, and there are endless treasures to discover. One of the most unique is the Pygmy Pitch Pine forest in Warren Grove. It's one of the only dwarf forests in the country.
If you've ever driven Route 539 through the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, chances are you've noticed that, at some point, the tall and towering conifer trees turn into tiny patches of pines that are barely taller than your car.
Like so many of the wonders of the Pine Barrens, the pygmy pitch pine forest is heavily influenced by frequent wildfires. The biggest contributing factor to the height of these trees? They just don't live long enough to grow any bigger.
The trees also struggle to grow in the nutrient-poor sandy soil. This isn't an overhead photo, by the way - this is what you'll see if you follow the trails through the Wildlife Management Area.
Most dwarf or pygmy forests in the world are located in tropical and coastal areas. They're found in Oregon and parts of California, as well as in various rainforests. The Warren Grove Pygmy Pines may be the only pine tree dwarf forest you'll ever get to see.
Ah, good old college days. I went to school right here in New Jersey, and I have many fond memories of lunches in the student center, nightlife in the college town, and searching the college library for interesting texts. What I certainly didn't have at my college, though, was any thrilling hikes among the treetops! That's changed for some lucky students today at Kean University's Skylands Campus, an innovative school that incorporates the gorgeous wooded area near Oak Ridge into its atmosphere. This campus looks amazing, but its most distinct feature has got to be the best canopy walk in New Jersey - a metal walkway that snakes high above the campus and into the woods, before leading to one of the most unique classroom facilities we've ever seen. Come with us and discover why college at Skylands looks very different.
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Kean University's Skylands Campus is a truly unique place, fusing a modern college campus with a natural wonderland.
Have you seen this unique canopy walk in New Jersey? What was something unusual at your college that could only happen in the Garden State? Let us know in the comments section! You can find out more about Skylands Campus on the official website, and visit the Facebook page of this innovative college campus for more stunning pictures. While you're in the area, you're not far from gorgeous Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey's top inland water destination. If you're visiting overnight, the Courtyard by Marriott Rockaway/Mount Arlington is an amazing place to lay your head.
The Pine Barrens of New Jersey encompasses over 1.1 million acres of preserved woodlands spanning seven counties. Though this forest is in the heart of America's most densely populated state, situated between two major cities (New York and Philadelphia), the land is mostly rural and dotted with ruins of former mill and mining settlements. Along with an incredible assortment of ghost towns, this heavily forested stretch of the state is also known for an abundance of ghosts. Many national publications have listed this scenic spot among the most haunted places in the country. But are the Pine Barrens dangerous? No; however, according to some, they may be quite haunting. Have you ever visited this haunted forest in New Jersey?
In 1978, congress designated 1.1 million acres of coastal plain in Southern New Jersey to be protected as part of the Pinelands National Reserve. This was America's first National Reserve, established to protect the unique ecology of the region. However, the history of the Pine Barrens dates back much further than 1978.
Lenni Lenape Indians first inhabited the area around 1200 A.D. European settlements began springing up along the Mullica River by 1694. The iron industry brought jobs and wealth to the Pine Barrens, with New Jersey producing much of the iron used during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.Other industries that thrived in the Pine Barrens included glass making, paper, cotton, and clay production. However, when coal was discovered in Pennsylvania, many area residents headed west. Communities were abandoned overnight, leaving behind more ghost towns than almost any other state in the US. Along with ghost towns, the area is known to have an abundance of ghosts and other supernatural creatures.
The Jersey Devil is probably the most famous paranormal Pine Barrens resident. Legend says that the demonic creature was the 13th child of Deborah Leeds, born in 1735. The literal spawn of Satan, this creepy cryptid is said to have wings and hooves. With a horse-like head, claws, forked tail, and blood-curling scream, many South Jersey residents have spotted the beast.Reports of Jersey Devil sightings date back to 1820 when Joseph Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon) claimed to have witnessed the Jersey Devil on his Bordentown estate. The creature was blamed for livestock killings in the 1840s and again in the 1920s.The most famous incidence of panic over the Jersey Devil occurred in 1909. In the month of January, hundreds of sightings were reported along with attacks in Haddon Heights and Camden. Newspaper coverage led to widespread hysteria. A $10,000 bounty was put on the creature's head and schools were even closed for a short time.
Of course, the Jersey Devil is only just the start. The ghost of a small boy is said to haunt the Atco area. The victim of a hit and run, he roams Burnt Mill Road, still searching for his killer. If you drive down the road at night and turn off your lights, you may just see a boy running for his ball. However, I wouldn't recommend turning your lights off on a dark road, unless you're looking to be the next Pine Barrens ghost.Another spirit said to roam the Pine Barrens is the ghost of James Still. An African American doctor during the time of slavery, legend says that he was lynched when locals found that he was practicing medicine. Some say he died of natural causes, but most believe he is a friendly ghost, assisting those lost or injured in the area.Other ghosts include a blonde woman, white stag, black dog and the headless spirit of the infamous pirate, Captain Kidd. Of course, with the milling industry being incredibly dangerous, many spirits of maimed workers may linger on as well.
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For a quick clip on the Jersey Devil from Destination America, check out the video below.
Have you ever had a Jersey Devil sighting? What other Pine Barrens ghosts do you know of? Share your experiences with us about this haunted forest in New Jersey in the comments. For more haunted places in New Jersey, check out my previous article on the Proprietary House, haunted by a young boy, a Revolutionary War soldier, and a woman in white.
