One Of The Most Haunted Forests In North America Is Right Here In New Jersey
The Pine Barrens of New Jersey encompass over 1.1 million acres of preserved woodlands spanning 7 counties. Though they are 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.


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.

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.

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 infamous pirate, Captain Kidd. Of course, with the milling industry being incredibly dangerous, many spirits of maimed workers may linger on as well.
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 in the comments. For more haunted places in New Jersey, check out my previous article on the Proprietary House, haunted by a young boy, Revolutionary War soldier and woman in white.