There is nothing like a trek in the summertime through green overgrowth on a narrow country road, twisting and turning without knowing what is up around the next bend, but it's even more spooky when you know the road has a reputation for unexplained mysteries, ghosts, spooklights, and weird creature sightings.
I'm going to share my top 5 favorite haunted roads in America.
West Milford, New Jersey
As haunted roads go, this one is pretty exceptional. The most famous ghost reported there is a boy ghost. He supposedly hides under the bridge and when you toss coins in the water, he returns them. Most stories relate to the boy being at the bridge at dead man's curve.
Another variation is that throwing a penny in the lake will have it returned to the road the next day. This might be a variation on the boy and the coins ghost.
The road has a remote feel to it, poorly kept, several dangerous curves and wilderness bearing down on it.
It got a reputation for some kind of village of albinos because of some very white pale people seen there. To delight and cause more chills, there are some aliens that are white beings often called by some, Tall Whites or Tall Albinos.
There is an old abandoned building on the road called Cross Castle that has seen many partiers and some say satanists.
The 10-mile street has had about every kind of reported activity one imagines in such a place from driverless cars chasing folks to ghost children's laughter, escaped lunatics, satanists, and strange lights. It's one of those roads that just feels it should be haunted.
Another variation is that throwing a penny in the lake will have it returned to the road the next day. This might be a variation on the boy and the coins ghost.
The road has a remote feel to it, poorly kept, several dangerous curves and wilderness bearing down on it.
It got a reputation for some kind of village of albinos because of some very white pale people seen there. To delight and cause more chills, there are some aliens that are white beings often called by some, Tall Whites or Tall Albinos.
There is an old abandoned building on the road called Cross Castle that has seen many partiers and some say satanists.
The 10-mile street has had about every kind of reported activity one imagines in such a place from driverless cars chasing folks to ghost children's laughter, escaped lunatics, satanists, and strange lights. It's one of those roads that just feels it should be haunted.
Warren County, New Jersey
As if the name doesn't seem prophecy fulfilling enough, there is a lake ("Ghost Lake") near the road that often hugs a low level of fog over its surface, adding to the chill factor.
One legend says settlers killed some Indians long ago and threw them into the lake. With a number of deaths associated with that area, it was come to believe there was a curse.
A cabin near the lake also got a reputation for ghostly goings on, as did the roadway where some said they saw figures.
The origin of the name of the road is up for grabs but one of the more accepted explanations had to do with an outbreak of malaria some time ago.
One legend says settlers killed some Indians long ago and threw them into the lake. With a number of deaths associated with that area, it was come to believe there was a curse.
A cabin near the lake also got a reputation for ghostly goings on, as did the roadway where some said they saw figures.
The origin of the name of the road is up for grabs but one of the more accepted explanations had to do with an outbreak of malaria some time ago.
Hornet, Missouri
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
This road's reputation has to do with spooklights seen along it since way back into the 1800s.
Some believe this orb of light is the torch of a beheaded Native, the spirit of a couple who were not allowed to be married, a decapitated miner looking for his head, and many other spirit light explanations. Science hasn't come up with a definitive answer, though the old swamp gas and other variations have been tossed out there.
The chances of seeing the light are pretty good as it has been making itself seen regularly.
Bray RoadSome believe this orb of light is the torch of a beheaded Native, the spirit of a couple who were not allowed to be married, a decapitated miner looking for his head, and many other spirit light explanations. Science hasn't come up with a definitive answer, though the old swamp gas and other variations have been tossed out there.
The chances of seeing the light are pretty good as it has been making itself seen regularly.
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
In 1936, they had the first reported sighting of a werewolf-like creature on this rural road. Some have reported the creature as bear/Bigfoot like, others a wolf-like tall creature walking on two feet.
The journalist who investigated this topic extensively and has gone on to be an expert on the subject of the Beast of Bray Road (sometimes called Dogman), is Linda Godfrey. She has many excellent books on the subject including The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf.
The journalist who investigated this topic extensively and has gone on to be an expert on the subject of the Beast of Bray Road (sometimes called Dogman), is Linda Godfrey. She has many excellent books on the subject including The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf.
Near Melville, Long Island, New York
It begins like many bad mojo areas with legends of Natives seeing the land as cursed. A mental asylum built in the 1700s in that area was said to be burned to the ground and the ghost of a patient's who died in the fire is said to wander the area in a white hospital gown.
In one area, it was said a woman's car crashed and she died. If you park your car under the North State Parkway overpass and put the car into neutral, it is said she will push it uphill to save you.
Although part of the roadway is quite developed and only a short portion is secluded, ending in a park, it still carries hundreds of years' of fears and anxiety.
Conclusion
Are you in the mood for a good spooky lonely-road-don't-wanna-break-down-here movies? Be sure you have your AAA membership intact. Talk about road kill! Here's some winners!
"Incident On and Off a Mountain Road"
A woman's car breaks down on a lonely mountain road at night where she runs into a serial killer "Moonface."
"Wrong Turn"
Two cars collide on a dirt road in the West Virginia mountains, and a bunch of young people are faced with inbred cannibals chasing them.
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
Two siblings face a cannibalistic psychopathic family in the Texas countryside.
"The Hills Have Eyes"
A family drives out in the desert with their station wagon and trailer for a getaway, only to break down and be vulnerable to a cannibalistic family in the desert.
"Tourist Trap"
A group of friends break down on a lonely road. They go to the nearest building, an old tourist trap style museum of oddities where the mannequins might just be alive.
"House of Wax"
A group of friends break down at some obscure fake town that is set up like a movie set. The wax museum appears to be filled with the real bodies of victims dipped in wax.
