When people think of New Jersey, they think of gambling in Atlantic City, partying on the Jersey Shore, or TV’s hit series, Sopranos. However, what many people do not realize is that the Garden State is pretty big news in the paranormal community. Aside from plenty of haunted locations to explore, there is also an abundance of haunted accommodation to be found.
Join us as we check in to the most haunted hotels in New Jersey.
1. Widow McCrea House Bed & Breakfast, Frenchtown
The Widow McCrea House Bed & Breakfast is a pretty little inn that’s hugely popular with tourists. Maybe its appealing home comforts and the quaint setting is why guests never want to leave! There have been many reports of unexplained paranormal activity over the years here, and they’re continuing to grow, year after year.
The house dates back to the 1870s, and the most common ghost story linked to the property relates to a ghost cat! The spooky feline has been seen wandering the halls, and many guests say they feel a cat jump up on their bed during the night, but when they look, there is nothing there!
2. Angel of the Sea, Cape MayBook Here
Not only does the Angel of the Sea have a pretty name, but it also looks like something out of a storybook with its pastel pink facade. However, the tales linked to the hotel are anything but fairytales.
The hotel is apparently haunted by a former guest’s ghost known only as ‘Miss Brown.’ The story goes that in the 1960s, she forgot her room key and tried to climb into her room from the outside. However, she unfortunately slipped and fell to her death. She makes her presence known to guests by vibrating the beds, moving the furniture, and causing mysterious light anomalies.
3. The Flanders Hotel, Ocean City
The Flanders Hotel sits right on the beach in Ocean City and has garnered quite the reputation for being haunted! It’s hardly a surprise given the hotel was named after a cemetery in Belgium! It’s said that the Flanders Hotel was once a regular venue for crime boss meetings, which took place down in the onsite catacombs!
One of the most famous ghosts said to be haunting the Flanders Hotel is a young red-haired lady called Marilynn or perhaps Maryann. There are also sightings of a small child and a middle-aged man. Guests often say they hear disembodied laughter throughout the hotel, and apparitions are fairly common.
Another spirit said to be haunting the hotel is Emily, and she appears as a lady in white with long dark hair. She has been accused of unscrewing lightbulbs, playing with the door locks, and disappearing into walls!
Learn more about the haunted Flanders Hotel, Ocean City NJ
4. Union Hotel, Flemington
Dating back to 1814, the Union Hotel is a historic landmark located on Main Street downtown Flemington. The building is one of only three properties to be a part of the Flemington Historic District. Although it’s no longer a hotel, it was used as a restaurant up until 2008 and was left unused to this day. There were plans to demolish this historic building, but thankfully those have been shelved and plans to utilize the building are proceeding.
Though members of the public were never given access to the upper floors during the last 50+ years, there were a few rooms used by businesses, and employees were constantly reporting strange poltergeist occurrences. In one instance, an employee reported seeing shoes walking up the staircase all by themselves! Others reported children playing and laughing from empty rooms, and people often reported a feeling of someone in the room with them when the floor was empty!
5. Grenville Hotel, Bayhead
Several ghosts apparently haunt the Grenville Hotel in the Bayhead area of New Jersey. There are frequent reports of apparitions wandering the corridors, and guests will often complain about children playing noisily in the lobby when no kids are staying at the hotel! There are reports of loud noises coming from empty rooms, and many people have spotted full-bodied apparitions.
Book a RoomLearn more about the ghosts of Grenville Hotel
6. Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City
According to local legend, the spirit there is the ghost of a man who committed suicide by jumping from the parking structure’s tenth floor. The ghost is said to make an appearance every night at around midnight.
7. Surf City Hotel, Long Beach Island
The Surf City Hotel is located in Surf City on Long Beach Island. It’s a popular summer vacation spot, and people flock to the hotel every year not just for the surf, but for the ghosts! The original structure was built in the late 1800s and was popular with local fishermen and hunters then later on during prohibition it was known to be the place to be, gaining notoriety for its fabulous parties. Although the original structure burned down, the stories of the spirits still remain.
Guests have reported a transparent woman holding a baby looking out of the window. People can also hear the screams of dead passengers from the tragic sinking of the Powhatan in 1854 can be heard screaming.
8. The Historic Hotel Macomber, Cape MayBook a Room
One of the most haunted locations in New Jersey is Cape May’s, Hotel Macomber. It is claimed that multiple spirits are haunting the boutique hotel, including a waitress in shabby clothing who haunts the dining room and kitchen. There are frequent reports in these areas of strange noises and silverware being moved around.
Another of the most commonly reported spirits inhabits Room number 10, but only in the Summer months! The spirit is believed to be a former guest who summered at the hotel in the 1940s. She is often heard dragging her trunk around the room.
Some guests have even reported banging on their door, but when they answer, there is nobody in sight.