This Spooky Small Town In New Jersey Could Be Right Out Of A Horror Movie
New Jersey is home to dozens of towns that have been abandoned over the years, but most are anything but spooky. Many have been demolished to make way for new developments and those that remain are actually quite charming. Non-profit organizations have done an amazing job of restoring our ghost towns, turning them into unique open air and living history museums. Batsto Village is a beautiful place to visit and Waterloo Village is a quaint destination… Feltville is a bit different but equally intriguing.
The town of Feltville was named for David Felt, the businessman whose mill was the center of the village. While he brought jobs to the area in the 1840s and '50s, he was not the first settler - that honor goes to Peter Willcox who inhabited the area all the way back in 1736.
This town was abandoned not once, but twice. It thrived as a center of industry until the 1860s, until the land was sold. Several businesses occupied the space but all failed. The area was given new life in the 1880s, when it was renovated and transformed into a summer resort named Glenside Park.
At its peak, the town had nearly 200 inhabitants. In summer months, many flocked to the mountain retreat. However, as the Jersey shore became more popular and more accessible, Feltville fell out of favor. The land was eventually purchased by the Union County Park Commission and it became part of Watchung Reservation. Homes were restored and rented out for some time and a large barn served as a cafeteria and lecture hall.
The village contains 8 homes, a church, carriage house, barn and cemetery. The mill, mansion, dormitories and school are no longer standing. The public is welcome to walk the grounds and enjoy a visitor center, but you won't find costumed staff or regular activities. However, there are occasional interactive weekend events like apple cider pressing and haunted hayrides in the month of October.
There are now only a handful of residents that live in the area, but some say there are a few residents of the non-living variety. There have been claims of a ghostly girl wandering from home to home, the spirits of three young sisters inhabiting a residence and occult activities in the woods surrounding the village. While no one knows where the wandering girl originated, the three sisters are said to have disappeared in the area around 1912. The centuries-old cemetery adds a bit of a spook factor as well and some visitors have reported cold spots.
For a peek around the village, check out this short video by YouTube user, robwas.
Visit for yourself, ideally during October 21-23 for the unique haunted hayrides which last around an hour. Learn all about Feltville and those who lived…and died…there. For more spooky spots in New Jersey, check out this underwater ghost town.
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Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
