4 Haunted Spots To Visit In Ocean County

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Do you believe in ghosts? Ocean County is an old area - while officially formed in 1850, settlers were here dating back to the Revolutionary War and of course, the land was populated by the Lenni-Lenape long before that. So naturally, with such a lengthy history, there's bound to be a few unexplainable and downright spooky occurrences.

If you're looking for something truly terrifying this Halloween, check out four places in Ocean County that are allegedly haunted.

Royal Pines Hotel/Crystal Lake

As you head down Forest Hills Parkway in Bayville, the towering and elaborate building is impossible to miss. Now a healthcare facility, Crystal Lake has lived many lives since its construction in 1930. Then known as the Royal Pines Hotel, it was built to be an escape for wealthy New Yorkers and Philadelphians. A long-standing rumor claims that it was built in Al Capone (and that bootlegged liquor was hidden in tunnels) but this has been denied by the local historical society. Read more: Did Al Capone Hide Out in the Royal Pines Hotel?

It was meant to be the center of a sprawling city, but a small issue called the Great Depression got in its way. Read more: The Depression and Corruption Killed Grandiose Plans for Pinewald

Its years as a sanitarium are where ghost stories stem from. Weird NJ reports at least two ghosts - a young girl in a white dress playing with a ball, and a man in a striped shirt who apparently was a former patient who took his own life. Its eerie beauty makes it a perfect setting for ghost tales. So whether true or not, we all can agree this place is undeniably creepy.

Hangar One, Lakehurst Naval Air Station

"Oh, the humanity!" is what was cried on that fateful day when the Hindenburg crashed in 1937, killing 36 people. It seems some of those victims never left.

Hangar One, where the Hindenburg was supposed to be stored after landing, is actively used today and up until recently was where Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools housed their Performing Arts Academy. Many who have visited have claimed that they experienced paranormal activity. It even drew the attention of SyFy's "Ghost Hunters."

The base hospital, Branch Medical Center, is also said to be haunted by ghosts of the Hindenburg.

True or not, the Hindenburg crash is an important part of Lakehurst's history, and zeppelins are used throughout the borough as a sign of its lasting memory.

The Parkway Ghost Of Exit 82

Have you ever seen a ghost on the Parkway in Toms River? Apparently, that's the Parkway Phantom and sightings of him date back to 1955, when the Garden State Parkway was first completed.

The ghost is a tall man in a raincoat that seen waving his arms wildly on foggy nights, according to 101.5's Jen Ursillo, who says she once saw the ghost herself. But when drivers stop to help the man - he's nowhere to be seen.

No one knows who the man really is, or why he waves his arms on the Parkway. But it is true that there are a lot of accidents around Exit 82, so he could possibly be a victim of one.

Surf City Hotel

In 1854, the Powhattan ship sank off the shore of LBI. All 50 of the deceased passengers were buried by owner of the Health Mansion Edward Jennings, but not before taking everything of value off their corpses, according to the county.

His reputation was permanently marred and he apparently became more and more detached from reality, sometimes seen arguing with no one.

Now the Surf City Hotel, some have claimed to see ghosts of those drowning victims. A Union soldier with a missing arm has been spotted strolling on the beach, and four women walking with linked arms have also been seen.

However, the owners say that have been seeking the ghosts themselves since purchasing the hotel in 2017, to no avail.