BY KEVIN SAWYER – It is a ten mile stretch of rural Route 23 in West Milford, New Jersey and it just may be the most haunted road in all of America. Stories and sightings of the eerie and creepy nature have been making their way out of this lonely stretch of road for many decades. It is called Clinton Road and the stories told about this lonely and bizarre road are stuff of national legend.
So, what’s so creepy about this lonely ten mile stretch of Clinton Road?
- The road is surrounded on all side by thick and supposedly haunted woods. There is also a Dead Mans Curve which has, indeed, been the scene of many an accident. Those who were unfortunate enough to venture out into the surrounding woods at night have been witness to many strange and frightening sights including humans wearing all black robes who just seem to be drifting along. Strange lights and unrecognizable footprints have been seen and found everywhere along the road and the woods.
- There was once a little boy who had been riding his bike along the road when out of nowhere a huge black truck came swerving around Dead Mans Curve and hit him, tossing him into the nearby river. The boy drowned and the trucker escaped. The story has it that if you place a coin in the middle of the road, the boy will appear and return the coin to you.
- There is the ghostly appearance of a young girl driving a Camaro. She was killed in a crash there in 1988 and if you invoke her, call her, she will show up on the road in her Camaro.
- A few people reported seeing some park rangers out walking around in the woods at night. Turns out these park rangers have been dead since 1939.
- Then there is Cross Castle. It is long abandoned but is a favorite party place for teenagers. It is said that strange writing and Satanic symbols will just show up on the walls at any time. The stories are that magical and satanic rituals have been going on there for over 100 years. While being at the castle, people have reported having seizures and then, after they stop, having serious purple bruises all over their bodies.
- If you driving along in the middle of the night, two bright lights, which may or may not be headlights, will suddenly be glowing bright in your rear view mirror. And, just as suddenly, they will blink out and not be seen by you again.
- And, finally, there are the strange and scary creatures that are seen around, especially the hellhounds. They have been reported to be giant black dogs with glowing eyes. Also seen have been weird looking monkeys but there are no monkeys in the United States. There have been creatures sighted int the woods that look like bizarre crosses of several different types of creatures. Legend has it that when a nearby small zoo closed down in 1976, the animals all escaped to the Clinton Road woods and have been living and cross breeding ever since.
PHOTO CREDITS: New York Daily News / David Case / Ghostlyhollow.com