Haunted Road Trip
Our 2025 Road Trip of the Spookiest Places in Salem County, NJ
Welcome to the 2025 Haunted Salem County Road Trip, a chilling journey through the eerie heart of New Jersey’s most beautiful and haunted county! This carefully curated adventure takes you to ten of Salem County’s most spine-tingling locations, from historic sites steeped in Revolutionary War tragedy to shadowy corners of the Pine Barrens where the Jersey Devil lurks. Each stop offers a unique glimpse into the paranormal, with reports of mysterious orbs, blood-curdling screams, the unsettling sensation of being watched, ghostly footsteps, and otherworldly encounters. We’ve mapped the route to guide you through these haunted hotspots, ending your journey at the historic Woodstown Tavern and Hotel, where you can reflect on the day’s thrills.
Along the way, we’ve highlighted local small businesses to treat yourself to delicious snacks or cozy meals, supporting the community while fueling your courage for the next ghostly encounter. Buckle up and prepare for a day of spine-chilling exploration in Salem County!
Stop 1:
The Salem County Insane Asylum
WHERE WHISPERS OF THE PAST REFUSE TO BE SILENCED
In 1870, Salem County built an insane asylum, known as The County Farm, on what is now Route 45 in Mannington Township. This three-story Italianate cube housed both the county almshouse and asylum. A paranormal investigation revealed unsettling evidence suggesting some former residents never left.
During the investigation, an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) captured a male voice saying, “Go down,” immediately after the recorder started. This aligned with eerie experiences in the basement, where investigators felt uneasy, heard unexplained movements, and saw batteries in devices, including a digital camera, drain rapidly—only to regain full charge upon leaving. When asked, “Do you want us to leave?” the team’s meters surged to full capacity and stayed lit, signaling a strong presence.
The investigators concluded the entity might be a 6-year-old child, possibly mentally ill, abandoned by their parents. Local legend claims patients were once chained in the basement’s six individual rooms, adding to the site’s haunting reputation. Convinced the presence wanted them gone, the team ended their investigation.
Address: 900 NJ-45, Mannington Township, NJ 08098
Small Biz Connect: Start your spooky adventure with a visit to Java Dog, where you can enjoy anything from a fall-themed specialty coffee and pastry to a full meal to fuel your ghostly travels.
Java Dog Coffee & Tea 198 NJ-45, Mannington, NJ 08079
Stop 2:
Barrett’s Plantation House
WHERE RESTLESS SPIRITS INTERACT WITH THE LIVING
Barrett’s Plantation House, built in 1735 along the historic Old Kings Highway in Mannington, is a charming bed and breakfast with a spooky side. Its original sitting and dining rooms, two second-floor suites, and eerie garret were joined by a mid-1800s kitchen and a 1991 addition. During a paranormal investigation, investigators placed a flashlight on a garret bed, inviting any presence to turn it on. It lit up, defying the heater’s vibrations, as confirmed by Doug Hogate Jr. of Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society. A strange light anomaly and chills followed, and when I asked for a touch, the flashlight flickered instead. For ten minutes, it responded to our questions, turning on and off. Audio later revealed a child’s voice saying “no” to being a servant, aligning with sightings of a five-year-old boy’s ghost. Owner Gaynel Schneeman doesn’t advertise the hauntings, but guests often return despite eerie sensations, drawn to the historic allure of this possibly haunted inn at 203 Old Kings Highway.
Location: 203 Old Kings Hwy, Mannington Township, NJ 08079
Please note: This is a private residence - please respect the privacy of the owner. Do not approach the property unless you have a reservation.
Stop 3:
Salem City Courthouse
JUSTICE LINGERS... BUT SO DO THE GHOSTS
The Salem County Courthouse, erected in 1735 in Salem, New Jersey, carries a haunting legacy from its grim past. Originally serving the county, it became the Salem City Municipal Court in 1969. Its darkest chapter unfolded during the 1778 Treason Trials, where suspected Loyalists faced accusations of aiding the British. Four men were sentenced to death for treason, only to be pardoned later, leaving a chilling imprint of espionage and near-executions. While no direct evidence confirms hauntings, the courthouse’s somber history fuels eerie tales, often overshadowed by other local sites.
Location: 92 Market St, Salem, NJ 08079
Small Biz Connect: Cawman’s Mall of Antiques & Things is the perfect place to stop your haunted journey through Salem County. This store offers something for every age and shopper, and you might even discover a haunted piece of Salem County history waiting just for you!
Cawman's Mall, 529 Route 49, Quinton NJ
Stop 4:
Hancock House
GHOSTLY SOLDIERS STAND AT ETERNAL WATCH
The Hancock House, built in 1734 in Salem County, New Jersey, by William and Sarah Hancock, is a striking example of English Quaker architecture, with their initials etched in the brickwork. This historic home, later inherited by their son William Hancock, became a tragic stage during the Revolutionary War. In March 1778, it was the site of a brutal massacre where British troops, guided by local Loyalists, silently attacked with bayonets, killing 10 colonial militia men and wounding five, including Judge William Hancock, who later died. The violence, believed to have spilled inside the house and near Hancock’s Bridge, left a haunting scar.
Today, the house’s eerie reputation persists. During a tour, the attic’s narrow, winding staircase evoked unease, and a glimpse of a woman’s dress—possibly Sarah Hancock’s spirit—swished by. Historic bloodstains in the attic, likely from wounded militia, deepen the chilling atmosphere. A male presence, perhaps William Hancock or a fallen soldier, lingered elusively. The original cabinet and period antiques preserve the home’s 18th-century essence, while the “witness tree” outside stands as a silent testament to the massacre. Open for tours and hosting haunted candlelight events, the Hancock House at Hancock’s Bridge remains a haunting portal to a bloody past.
Location: 3 Front St, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038
Small Biz Connect: Pick up a spooktacular pumpkin at T&M Hahn's Pumpkin farm in Lower Alloways Creek! Choose from a wide variety of gourds and pumpkins to decorate for fall or carve into jack-o'-laterns!
T&M Hahn Pumpkin Farm, 17 Frog Ocean Rd. Salem, NJ 08079
Stop 5:
Finn's Point National Cemetery
SILENT GRAVES WHISPER SECRETS
Pea Patch Island, a final resting place for over 2,000 Confederate prisoners who died in captivity during the Civil War. Tucked at the end of a desolate dirt road off Fort Mott, the cemetery feels forgotten, its iron gates guarding a haunting past. On a ghost tour, Anthony Melita of Revolution Tours sets the scene: “It’s 1863, and the war has claimed countless lives.” White tombstones and an 85-foot Confederate Monument loom within a stone wall, circling a sunken mass grave. JUMPS founder Doug Hogate Jr. reveals the grim truth: “They dug a hole and threw the bodies in.” Investigators have sensed unrest here, whispers and shadows of soldiers, far from their Southern homes, wandering lost. Melita calls it a vital piece of America’s history, binding a young nation through its pain. Finn’s Point remains a chilling reminder of lives cut short, their spirits lingering in the still air.
Location: 454 Fort Mott Rd, Pennsville, NJ 08070
Small Biz Connect: It's the perfect time to take a break and enjoy homemade treats:
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homemade ice cream and farm-fresh goodies at Pennsville Farm Market & Custard! You can also pick up some adorable, locally made fall decor.
Address: 358 N. Broadway, Pennsville, NJ 08070
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CC's Candy Factory for freeze dried candy, choclolate dipped pretzels, and baked goods.
Address: 164 N Broadway , Pennsville, NJ
Stop 6:
Slabtown Road
A CHILLING PATH WHERE SPIRITS ROAM FREE
The spooky description of Slabtown Road in Upper Pittsgrove, NJ, is rooted in reports and local legends documented by sources like Weird NJ. These accounts describe unsettling phenomena, including mysterious white lights glowing on the ground, in trees, and across the grass, as well as the sound of footsteps trailing walkers near a stream, suggesting an unseen presence. Additionally, tales of “The Crowd”, shadowy figures that silently accompany those walking the road at night, circulate among locals, with warnings to avoid interacting or shining a light on them to stay safe. These stories are based on reported experiences, contributing to the road’s eerie reputation.
Location: Slabtown Rd, Upper Pittsgrove, NJ
Small Biz Connect: It's time to grab another local souvenir, so stop by Harvey's Honey to pick up some locally made honey. you'll be ready for the cold months ahead, enjoying local honey in your hot tea.
Harvey's Honey, 912 Rt. 40, Monroeville, NJ
Stop 7:
Seven Stars Tavern
WHERE GHOSTLY PATRONS STILL LINGER
In Pilesgrove, New Jersey, the Seven Stars Tavern, built in 1762 by Peter Louderback, pulses with ghostly echoes from its Revolutionary War days. A key stop for 18th-century travelers, the tavern was a patriot stronghold where the Louderback family, especially John Louderback, rallied Revolutionary soldiers, offering shelter and supplies to the Continental Army. In 1778, British troops raided the tavern, seeking John and his rebel comrades, but found only whispers of defiance. Peter’s ghost, it’s said, still searches for treasure he buried to thwart the redcoats, his footsteps haunting the halls.
A Tory spy, accused of betraying the patriots, was hanged from a third-floor window, his restless spirit leaving heavy footsteps and scuffling in the attic. A river pirate, possibly Bluebeard, drowned in Oldman’s Creek after defying warnings, his ghost adding to the tavern’s eerie lore. Revolutionary soldiers, who once gathered here to strategize and rest, may also linger, their spectral presence tied to the tavern’s role as a patriot haven. Modern visitors report doors locking inexplicably, cold spots, and faint whispers of laughter and knocking, as if the soldiers, spies, and pirates of the tavern’s storied past still hold court in its shadowy corners.
Location: 1349 Kings Hwy, Pilesgrove Twp, NJ 08098
Please note: This is a private residence - please respect the privacy of the owner. Do not approach the property.
Stop 8:
John Kelly House
GHOSTLY ECHOS OF THE PAST STIR THE PRESENT
The John Kelly House stands as a silent sentinel of history, its aged walls harboring a ghostly mystery. One morning, the home’s owner, a skeptic of ghost stories, was rushing down the stairs, and as he entered the Great Room, his eyes caught a startling sight: an older, bald man dressed in green, seated calmly in a chair. Heart racing, the owner blinked, but when he looked again, the figure had vanished into thin air. The once-doubting owner now wonders if the man in green, a silent specter from the house’s storied past, lingers in the Great Room, watching over the home with an unspoken purpose, forever tied to its shadowy corners.
Location: 46 Witt Rd, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098
Please note: This is a private residence - please respect the privacy of the owner. Do not approach the property.
Stop 9:
Muttontown Woods
LOOK FOR THE JERSEY DEVIL STALKING AMONG THE PINES
In the shadowed heart of Salem County, Muttontown Woods harbors a chilling legacy. Once called Wyncoop’s Woods, the forest near Woodstown earned its grim name in the 1700s when John Mountain turned it into a slaughtering ground for sheep, staining the earth with blood and giving rise to its haunting moniker. The woods’ dark history intertwines with Southern New Jersey’s enduring legend of the Jersey Devil, a creature tied to the region since a 1927 sighting cemented its place in local lore. Whispers of the supernatural linger here, none more eerie than in 2014, when a property owner, working alone in a historic house near the woods, heard a dog barking upstairs, only to find the rooms silent and empty, as if the past itself stirred in the shadows.
Location: Acton Station Rd & Clancy Rd, Mannington, NJ
Small Biz Connect: After visiting the Jersey Devil's stomping grounds, you've likely worked up quite a thirst after visiting all these haunted locations, so stop by Farmers and Bankers Brewers for a frosty brew, slushie, or a soft drink and enjoy the beautiful ambiance of this historic bank turned brewery.
Farmers and Bankers Brewing, 8 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098
Stop 10:
Woodstown Tavern and Hotel
SOME GUESTS HAVE NEVER LEFT
In 1818, Daniel Sheppherd bought an acre in what became Woodstown, New Jersey. In 1836, Jacob B. Keely built a grand three-story tavern and hotel, The Washington House (later renamed Woodstown Tavern and Hotel) , a stagecoach stop for travelers to Penns Grove and beyond. By 1880, Samuel French owned it, renaming it French’s Hotel. In 1886, politician John Holmes survived a shooting in the sitting room, the bullet grazing his leg. French died there in 1909, and over the next century, the Woodstown Tavern and Hotel changed hands often, amassing tales of lingering spirits. Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society investigated, capturing odd events: a camera repeatedly fell from a secured spot, and a laser light grid shifted inexplicably. With hours of recordings still under review, the hotel’s history of life and death suggests some guests may never have left.
Location: 13 N Main St, Woodstown, NJ 08098
Small Biz Connect: Finish off the journey with delicious food from the historic Woodstown Tavern and Hotel, known for a warm, friendly ambiance and cozy meals.
Boo!
As your 2025 Haunted Salem County Road Trip comes to a close, we hope you’ve felt the thrill of exploring the county’s most haunted corners. Each stop has woven together Salem County’s rich history with spine-chilling tales of mysterious orbs, unsettling screams, and ghostly footsteps, all while supporting local businesses with delightful treats along the way.
Share your eerie adventures on Facebook and tag us for a chance to win a spooky prize, and don’t forget to grab your exclusive first-edition Haunted Salem County T-Shirt, “Ghosts, Legends, and Lore Tour”, available at our online shop. Thank you for joining us on this unforgettable journey into the supernatural heart of Salem County—until next time!
Interested in More Spooky-Themed Outings in Salem County? Check Out The Ghost Train Tour with Woodstown Central Railroad!
Salem Ghost Train Tour
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Dates: October 4–26, 2025 (specific weekends)
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Summary: Hop aboard the Salem Ghost Train for a hauntingly unforgettable 19-mile roundtrip journey from South Woodstown Station to Pederson Park in Salem City. In collaboration with the Salem County Historical Society, this 135-minute excursion immerses passengers in the spooky history of Salem County. As you travel through the county’s historic countryside aboard beautifully restored 1930s train cars, storytellers share chilling tales of local haunts, from ghostly apparitions to eerie legends. Upon arrival in Salem City, passengers disembark to hear more haunted stories of Market Street’s ghostly sites. Each guest receives a Halloween goody bag and a map highlighting the area’s spookiest locations, perfect for continuing your paranormal adventure. Tickets start at $30 for adults, $22 for children, and $4 for toddlers, with free parking at 650 Alloway-Woodstown Road, Woodstown, NJ. This family-friendly, spine-chilling ride is a highlight of Salem County’s fall festivities, blending history and hauntings for all ages.
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Webpage: woodstowncentral.com
Thank You
Special thanks to Doug Hogate, Jr. of Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society (JUMPS) for his outstanding research and historical insights provided for this tour. Visit his Facebook page to learn more about his work and upcoming Salem County tours and events!
You can follow Doug's work on his Facebook page:
Detailed Road Trip Information
Stop | Property Name | Address | Lore |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Salem County Insane Asylum | 900 Route 45, Mannington Township | Start at one of the most chilling landmarks — easy access from Salem City area. |
2 | Barrett’s Plantation House | 203 Old Kings Highway, Mannington Township | Just minutes away; connect the Mannington legends. |
3 | Salem City Courthouse | 92 Market Street, Salem, NJ | Colonial hauntings in the center of Salem City. |
4 | Hancock House | 3 Front St., Lower Alloways Creek Township | Continue south to the massacre site, rich in Revolutionary ghost lore. |
5 | Finn’s Point National Cemetery | 454 Fort Mott Rd, Pennsville, NJ 08070 | |
6 | Slabtown Road | Slabtown Rd, Upper Pittsgrove, NJ | Northeastern turn toward Pilesgrove; Revolutionary hauntings and ghostly horsemen. |
7 | Seven Stars Tavern | 1349 Kings Hwy, Pilesgrove Twp, NJ 08098 | Revolutionary ghostly horsemen and strange figures. |
8 | John Kelly House | 46 Witt Rd, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098 | |
9 | Muttontown Woods | Acton Station Rd & Clancy Rd, Alloway, NJ | |
10 | Woodstown Tavern | 13 N Main St, Woodstown, NJ 08098 | End with a drink (if you dare) where spirits and shadows are said to linger. |