Some people say that taking a drive is one of life’s little pleasures, especially on roads with little traffic. You can enjoy the scenery from time to time, put on some music you like and even roll down the window if it’s a little hot.
But what about those mysterious roads where people report witnessing unexplained phenomena, such as a figure suddenly appearing in the middle of the road, strange noises coming from the surrounding woods or even more disturbing, a person who manifests in the back seat of your car?
The place I have chosen to talk about today is a road, very ordinary. However, the one called Clinton Road is famous for its numerous paranormal phenomena, but also for its history.
Sit behind the wheel and let me guide you through one of the most haunted roads in the United States.
A little history
Clinton Road is located in West Milford, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, approximately 55 miles from New York City. It is named after the first settlement in the area. The road has been in existence since the 1700s, but its course has been changed many times. It has very few houses and most of the properties are in public wooded areas (either a state-owned forest or a Newark City watershe
The road itself has two lanes and receives very little maintenance. It is not part of the New Jersey county road system and was not paved along its entire length until very recently. Clinton Road begins with Route 23, which is fairly well traveled, and then stretches north to Greenwood Lake. So, all in all, other than the trees, the reservoir, and a few houses, there’s not much to see on Clinton Road. According to motorists, at the intersection of Clinton Road and Route 23, the wait for the red light would be nearly 5 minutes.
However, there are still some remnants of the past that are of interest not only to history buffs, but also to fans of the paranormal and unexplained phenomena.
Cross Castle
Before 1988, it was still possible to find the ruins of Cross Castle, buried along Clinton Road. They have since been completely destroyed. Sadly, only a few scattered pieces of the castle remain where it once stood.
In 1905, Richard Cross purchased land along Clinton Road to build a castle for his family, including his wife and their three children. Those who remember the castle describe it as a place straight out of an English Gothic novel, with its three-story, masonry structure and turrets. Cross lived there for only 12 years, dying in 1917. His family sold the property to the City of Newark in 1919. Shortly after this transaction, the majestic castle fell prey to fire, completely destroying all the wooden structures, but leaving the stone and concrete intact.
According to local rumors, even at the time the castle was built, the forest surrounding the property was considered to be evil and populated by strange creatures. Very few people were willing to set foot in the forest, which many believed to be haunted.
However, the abandoned site is said to have become a meeting place for Satanist ceremonies and even Ku Klux Klan meetings. Those brave enough to walk near the ruins at night claimed to have heard strange chants, laughter and murmurs. Some walkers also reportedly had epileptic seizures for unknown reasons and even found carcasses of sacrificed animals.
In 1988, the Newark Watershed Commission deemed the structure unsafe and unsanitary. When demolition officials arrived on site, they found the stone walls covered with graffiti and unusual messages left by visitors. Many had stolen mementos, either a stone, a photograph, or some other souvenir that had been left in the house before the fire. To this day, the location of the castle is considered a favorite spot for paranormal enthusiasts.
Clinton Furnace
As mentioned earlier, there are very few houses along Clinton Road. But a stone structure soon attracted attention deep in the woods. Many believed it to be an ancient Druidic temple, dedicated to ancient gods, or to ancient rituals. This ancient stone structure is in reality an old furnace, part of an ironworks such as could be found in the 19th century, even in New York State, neighboring New Jersey.
In 1826, William Jackson purchased more than 1,000 acres of land at this location for iron processing. Two nearby ponds and waterfalls provided enough power and water to run the planned sawmill and grist mill, and the dense forest provided enough charcoal to keep the furnace running properly.
According to records, Jackson was unable to complete his project and sold the property to a buyer who also sold it to John Winslow and Freeman Wood. This partnership resulted in the completion of the blacksmith shop in 1833. The forge operated under the name Clinton Ironworks for three years before being sold again to an owner. The owner operated the furnace sporadically and eventually abandoned it in favor of a blacksmith shop. At a time when coal was not a viable option, it appears that local wood supplies were exhausted, forcing the closure of the furnace. Although the furnace continued to operate for about 15 years, it was abandoned in 1852 and the property was annexed into the Pequannock Watershed in 1900, which has since been used to supply water to the City of Newark.
The Clinton Furnace is one of the best preserved steel structures in northern New Jersey. Constant patrols by the Newark Waterched Commission soon discouraged vandals from defacing the furnace. Or perhaps rumors of satanic rites and KKK meetings were a greater deterrent. What remains today is only the lower part of the structure. Originally, it was a 10-foot-high wall that rose above it.
The most haunted road in the United States?
According to the sources studied, Clinton Road is considered by many investigators, visitors and travelers to be the most haunted road in the United States. Paranormal investigators attribute the increase in unexplained activity more to the surrounding forest than to the road itself. Here are some of the phenomena observed that may make you reconsider your itinerary if you are thinking of venturing into this area.
The ghost boy of Dead Man’s Curve
The most often mentioned phenomenon is that of the ghost of a little boy on a particularly dangerous stretch of road known as Dead Man’s Curve, which is actually a bridge. This curve turns almost 90 degrees and is located over a stream called Mossman’s Creek. Careless or distracted drivers who missed this curve ended up in the reservoir near the bridge and many lost their lives.
Legend has it that the ghost of a young boy who either drowned in the river or was hit by a car (depending on the version), is under the bridge. Also, if you stopped just above the bridge and tossed a coin, if you waited a few minutes, your coin would be tossed to you…Other more gloomy versions say that if you leaned over the bridge railing, an invisible force would push you down into the water several feet below. Since it was considered dangerous by motorists, the Dead Man’s Curve bridge was replaced in 2016.
Several sources also mentioned the presence of a ghost truck that appeared on the road. Many drivers would have seen a black van surrounded by fog materialize next to them and then pass them and disappear. Others would have seen blinding headlights appear behind their car and then disappear into the night.
The ghost truck and the red-eyed creature
As if the ghost of a child and a pickup truck were not enough, drivers reportedly saw a creature resembling a huge dog with very short hair, covered in wounds and with very bright red eyes leap in front of their vehicle, forcing them to brake suddenly. The creature is said to have looked menacingly at the occupants of the vehicle before heading back into the forest. Rumor has it that it was none other than the Jersey Devil, a demon-like cryptid whose legend dates back to colonial times (1735) that appeared to the drivers.
The strange lights of the Clinton Reservoir
To most people, Clinton Reservoir is a beautiful body of water surrounded by mountains and forests with a lovely scenic beach. But visitors have reportedly seen unexplained orbs and lights floating over it, others have spotted UFOs and even a snowfall in the middle of July.
Disturbing activities
A forest along an almost deserted road can be the perfect place to engage in illicit activities. Clinton Road is also known to be a possible gathering place for the Ku Klux Klan, which is said to have met in the ruins of Cross Castle, as well as for Satanist cults, which are said to have engaged in animal sacrifices. Paranormal investigators have speculated that these meetings may have unleashed evil forces that are responsible for the high level of paranormal activity on Clinton Road.
In addition, the woods along Clinton Road are rumored to be an ideal place for murderers and organized crime members to dump bodies. In May 1983, a body was found in the nearby woods. An autopsy of the body revealed that the man had been murdered. However, after finding ice crystals in his blood. His internal organs had decomposed much more slowly than his skin, as if he had been thawed. Investigators concluded that the victim had been placed in a freezer shortly after his death. This maneuver would have been done to make the police believe that the man had died much later than he actually had. Without evidence and clues, the killer(s) would never have been found. Drivers reported feeling a cold and frightened feeling as they drove by the area where the body was found.
Motorists also saw people wearing period costumes suddenly appear in the middle of the road and disappear just as quickly. Perhaps they were victims of organized crime who were never found…
Although I mentioned that there are only a few houses on Clinton Road, one of them still attracts the attention of paranormal enthusiasts today. Indeed, a black and white two-story house has been spotted by investigators. It bears numerous graffiti and most of the windows seem to be broken. However, after a few years a Keep out sign would have been placed near the house and in the door. So someone is still keeping a close eye on this neglected house.
What’s left of it today?
Clinton Road remains a seldom-used stretch of road, even by local residents. Exasperated with the sight of paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers, many have posted signs saying « No Trespassing » and have even organized themselves into a patrol to remove unwanted visitors.
The terrifying location has even been the subject of two movies, The Lake on Clinton Road in 2015 and Clinton Road in 2019. You can find the trailer for the 2nd film in the video sources.
Often topping the list of the most haunted roads in the world, Clinton Road remains to this day an object of fascination for paranormal investigators, who wish to shed light on the many stories that run along this road, or better yet, witness a phenomenon themselves.
After waiting for 5 minutes at the red light, you enter the deserted road of Clinton. Slowly, the evening begins to fall. To your left, you see the huge Clinton Reservoir, bathed in the last rays of sunlight. On this hot day, you nonchalantly roll down your window and put your arm out.
Then, just as you thought you were alone on the road, two headlights appear in your rearview mirror, followed by a roar. Behind you, a black truck approaches.
Sources
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/states/new-jersey/
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_(New_Jersey)
https://weirdnj.com/stories/clinton-road/
http://www.dupontcastle.com/castles/cross.htm
http://www.hiddennj.com/2014/06/forging-iron-not-fright-on-clinton-road.html
https://maps.roadtrippers.com/trips/15740010
https://frightfind.com/haunted-clinton-road/
Video sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WpVKTqjKqQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt&ab_channel=Paradigm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crm_YngYG9g&feature=emb_imp_woyt&ab_channel=Top5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gunueLq8VbI&feature=emb_imp_woyt&ab_channel=TheSpeakeasy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FfR3Dbs834&ab_channel=HorrorFuel (Trailer)
Sanctuaire - Blogue de Véronique Lessard 