Forest Haven Asylum

This was once one of the most state of an art facilities within the US before it went down in flames and became known as one of the most deadly institutions.

This facility was well known for its death an abuse long before it closed. The Facility opened in 1925. It was hailed as a forward-thinking institution, part of a progressive movement sweeping Europe and North America at the time. A lack of funding and stifling of newer treatments kept Forest Haven from evolving with modern medicine. When the District began suffering from its mid-century financial crisis, all education and recreation programs at the facility were terminated. 

 Forest Haven Video part 1

   

 Below are some photos from Forest Haven:

Jungle Habitat (Abandoned) West Milford, NJ

 Jungle Habitat

West Milford, NJ 

    An abandoned drive through zoo that was located in North Jersey. Tales of escaped and left behind animals plagued this location for years. Nature has once again taken over and the only remains of this zoo is the parking lot, a ticket booth and the tunnels that lead under the road from the parking lot. Not much left to see. this is a cool spot to do some hiking though. 

Short video of the tunnels

Trail

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The Jersey Devil: The Red Kangaroo Theory

Phantom Kangaroo

 In January 1909 the Jersey Devil was revived by a hoax and displayed in a private museum (9th and Arch Museum) in Philadelphia, the creature was actually a kangaroo outfitted with fake wings affixed by a harness and painted with green stripes. To make it leap at spectators when the curtain was drawn, a boy hidden at the rear of the cage prodded the unfortunate animal with a stick and a nail attached to it. The showman's name was Jacob Hope (or Norman Jefferies RIP May 25, 1933) and he claimed JD was an Australian Vampire and offered a reward for its capture.

In the 1800's and early 1900's many residents of New Jersey did keep exotic animals as pets and traveling circuses were the norm. So a kangaroo being either kept as a pet (or at a circus) could have possibly escaped and was spotted in the Pine Barrens mistaken for the Jersey Devil.  I think you could look at a kangaroo in the dark woods and see a deer due to the very similar facial structure and body type. In modern times, it is "illegal" to have a kangaroo in the state of NJ but you can obtain an exotic pet license and a permit for the kangaroo.

The Jersey Devil: Hammerhead Bat Theory

If you look at pictures for the hammerhead bat that is native to Africa, you will see that its face does resemble traditional depictions of the Jersey Devil. The sizes are a bit off given that some people stated that the Jersey Devil was between 6-8 feet tall and the bat has a wing span of 27-38 inches and a total length of 7.7-11.2 inches, weighing 8-15.9 ounces and the females are slightly smaller.

One theory could be that someone in the area was keeping a Hammerhead bat as a pet and it escaped. But once again, the sizes between the Hammerhead Bat and the Jersey Devil are way off. The comparison between the two animals is not to far off since throughout time many residents of New Jersey have kept exotic animals as pets. There also have been quite a few zoos, circuses and what not associated with the area.

Many skeptics and those people looking for a rational explanation as to what people have been seeing for several hundreds years in the New Jersey Pine Barrens have searched desperately for an answer. One of the most common and logical given answers has been the Sandhill Crane.

The Jersey Devil's Birth House

 The Jersey Devil's Birth House

On November 2nd, 2013 Kenneth Sooy Sr met up with us to provide  a detailed interview 

concerning the Jersey Devil. He is the town historian and proved to be a wealth of 

information concerning the legend and history of the Jersey Devil and the surrounding 

area. Ken is a descendant of the Shrouds and his wife is a Leeds.

We met at Scott's Landing Road in Leed's Point/Galloway area and conducted the interview 

at this location. Afterwards he showed us the location where the famous Shroud's House 

once stood. The house burned to the ground in 1952 and only a small "overgrown clearing" 

remains.

Afterwards he took us to a location in Smithville that is protected by development and we 

walked to a very old cemetery and then over to the lake where the cement foundations of a 

house still rests that burned in the 1950's. This location also has been claimed to be the 

birthplace of the Jersey Devil..on both the Leed's and the Shroud's side of the tree.

The Jersey Devil: Hammerhead Bat Theory

The Jersey Devil: Hammerhead Bat Theory

 Featuring: Kenneth Sooy Sr - Galloway Historian

 Den Haller - Businessman 

Lord Rick Rowe - The Paranormal and Ghost Society 

 If you look at pictures for the hammerhead bat that is native to Africa, you will see that its face does resemble traditional depictions of the Jersey Devil. The sizes are a bit off given that some people stated that the Jersey Devil was between 6-8 feet tall and the bat has a wing span of 27-38 inches and a total length of 7.7-11.2 inches, weighing 8-15.9 ounces and the females are slightly smaller. One theory could be that someone in the area was keeping a Hammerhead bat as a pet and it escaped. But once again, the sizes between the Hammerhead Bat and the Jersey Devil are way off. The comparison between the two animals is not to far off since throughout time many residents of New Jersey have kept exotic animals as pets. There also have been quite a few zoos, circuses and what not associated with the area.

As far as the face of the Hammerhead Bat it appears to be a better explanation of what people of the Pine Barrens have been seeing as opposed to the Sandhill Crane. But the one up that the Crane has over the bat is that the Crane is native to New Jersey and the bat is native to Africa. The Sandhill Crane is a herbivore, but since the Jersey Devil has been accused of stealing and attacking livestock and chickens he is thought of as a carnivore. Also the Crane stands about 40-48 inches (3-4 feet) tall and the Jersey Devil is about 72-96 inches (6-8 feet). It is noted that the crane has a loud screech and legend has it, that the Jersey Devil does too. Many skeptics and those people looking for a rational explanation as to what people have been seeing for several hundreds years in the New Jersey Pine Barrens have searched desperately for an answer. One of the most common and logical given answers has been the Sandhill Crane.

The Devil's Tree, Bernards Township, New Jersey

 The Devil's Tree

Mountain Rd

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

    Many legends are associated with this mysterious tree. it is claimed that those who attempt to damage the tree will suffer misfortune in due time. Claims of Satanic, religious and KKK activity are tied to this tree.

    Numerous attempts to harm, hurt and cut down the tree have occurred over the years, people even tried to burn it down. The tree still stands firm.

    Stories state that the tree and ground is warm, thus disallowing snow to fall and stay near the tree. We conducted some temperature readings but did not detect any out of the ordinary temperatures.

Short video of the Devil's Tree

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