Nestled deep in the New Jersey Highlands, between what is now known as the towns of Mahwah, Ringwood, and Sloatsburg, NY, is a secluded mountain with mysterious lore. Therein resides a melding of cultures from Native American to Irish, German and African American, as well as a rich mining history, historical moments in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Stories claim the Natives called the area "The Haunted Wood."
To Ringwood Manor graveyard--by Claire T. Dunn
Due to the geography—steep and often craggy mountains rich with iron ore—the largely inaccessible Haunted Wood was a haven for runaways, escaped slaves and others. Its perimeters were settled early in our country's history, but predominately for the iron ore. Even today, the heart of the Haunted Woods remains unpopulated. Descendants of the area's first settlers, many of whom became working members of the eighteenth century mining community, still live on this mountain. Much of it is now parkland with many trails, but no roads run through.
This area may have once been a haven for hideaways, but even today, it is easy to get lost here—camera crews find their batteries dying quickly, and the unwary hiker will find the same goes for flashlights and phones. Cell service is rare. Even compasses have been known to go a little crazy. Perhaps these strange occurrences are due to the magnetite, iron ore, and large number of underground streams, but some believe there is more to it.
Stories of time slips abound here. Visitors have recounted walking for hours along familiar paths that should have ended after only a few minutes, whereas others have heard and seen figures from centuries gone by in the distance.
There is belief that this secluded area of New Jersey is one of three powerful energetic vortexes in the region. There are a number of instances of orb photography from the area, a quantity of ghost stories and sightings, and some belief in supernatural activity.
In these three photos from Ringwood Manor, Carrie Sheehan captures a light orb that follows her as she changes angles
Ringwood Manor, one of the most famous icons of the Haunted Wood with a history dating back to the Revolutionary War, has a number of ghost stories, although most of them likely stem from the property's rich history--something rare in our relatively young country. This State run park hosts tours during weekends in October to fund restoration on the site while sharing the manor's rich historical value.
Ringwood Manor--Photo by Alisa Daven Banta
Even I have felt the power of the ghosts on this land. Once, during a hike through the Ringwood mines, I found myself overcome by fear of being pushed into one of the deep chasm mines. I backed against a tree, stunned, clammy, and unreasonably afraid. After un-freezing myself, I backed away and ran wildly to the trail. Later, I learned that Hope mine, although small, had been the resting place of many a miner and that evil spirits were often felt there.
Where have you felt the pull of the otherworld strongest?
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