Truth Or Tale: The Atco Ghost

ATCO, NJ — Anyone who lives in the Garden State has heard rumors of haunted happenings and urban folklore close to home. In fact, there was an entire magazine, Weird NJ, devoted to them.

Patch is taking up the task of exploring these myths throughout October in the hopes compiling a master list comprised of the best of the unexplained throughout New Jersey. Today we are discussing the Atco Ghost.

It is said that theAtco Ghost resides on Burnt Mill Road in the Pine Barrens, where the little boy was struck and killed by a drunk driver. He appears whenever someone driving down the road honks their horn three times.

Specifically, you’re supposed to drive to the end of the road, turn around, and drive up to a spot in the road where there is a crack from one side of the street to the other. Stop, honk your horn and flash your lights three times each, then sit in the darkness and wait to see a child dribble a basketball across the street.

According to Weird NJ, the story finds its roots in a Christmas night tragedy in which the child was playing with a basketball he had just gotten as a present when he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. The driver sped off to the end of the dead-end road and was forced to turn around, passing the boy they had just killed.

Another method is to park your car in the spot where the child was killed, turn off all your lights and the engine, get out and walk away. Once you are 20 feet away, you turn around and you should see the child running toward you. Be careful, though. One commenter on newjerseyhauntedhouses.com says the child’s parents still live in the house and will call the police if they see anyone they believe is trying to summon the ghost.

So what do you think readers? Buy it or boot it? Is the story of the Atco Ghost real? Have you tried to summon him? Maybe you have another, even scarier tale of your own to share. Drop them in our comments or send them to anthony.bellano@patch.com.