The Best Ghost Towns to Visit in New Jersey
The greatest ghost towns in New Jersey include Feltville, Walpack Center, Waterloo Village, and Batsto Village. Here's Jerry's guide to touring them.
Written by Claire Beaney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
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Some of New Jersey’s most famous ghost towns are Feltville, Walpack Center, Waterloo Village, and Batsto Village. Each of these spots has a unique history, and visiting them transports you to a special part of New Jersey’s past.
Once a hub of mills, ports, and mining towns until technology shifted the industrial landscape,
New Jersey
has more abandoned settlements and ghost towns than you might expect.These once-thriving communities are regarded as ghost towns for a reason: note that visiting them may involve traveling to a remote location and taking unkempt or hazardous roads.
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Feltville
What is the story of Feltville?
Feltville sits in the Watchung Reservation near the Watchung Mountains. It was a ten-building settlement established in 1845 and named after New York industrialist David Felt. He opened a paper mill on the land and had over 175 employees by 1850.
After just a few decades, the mills stopped bringing in profit, so Feltville was converted into a summer resort in the 1880s. Unfortunately, this plan also didn’t work out, as families began to vacation further down the Jersey Shore.
After Feltville’s stint as a town ended, the Union County Parks Commission bought the land and converted it into a historic site for visitors to tour the 18th- and 19th-century buildings and observe historic demonstrations.
What was once a small and hard-working settlement is now locally referred to as “The Deserted Village.” Due to many rumors of ghost sightings and even witchcraft, the surrounding forest is known as “the Enchanted Forest.”
What makes Feltville special?
The buildings still left standing in Feltville are all rather well-maintained:
- The original building that housed David Felt’s business
- The store and post office that served the town originally
- The Commons, which is a block of four buildings that housed Felt’s workers, managers, and specialists
- Masker’s Barn, which was built in 1882 and hosted a number of dances during Feltville’s resort era
The “enchanted forest” surrounding Feltville is also a popular spot for paranormal investigators and people interested in rumors of local hauntings. (See some alleged testimonies
here
.) Pro Tip The Masker’s Barn can be rented out now for private parties, dinners, conferences, and even weddings!
How to Visit Feltville
Feltville is situated inside Watchung Reservation, the largest nature reserve in its county. It’s only a 25-minute drive from Newark.
To get to Feltville, follow I-78 W to Diamond Hill Rd in Berkeley Heights. Take exit 43 to get on McMane Ave and Glenside Ave. Turn right on Cataract Hollow Rd to reach your destination.
Walpack Center
What is the story of Walpack Center?
This former farmer community was originally established in the mid-1800s and sits in the center of Walpack Township.
Walpack Center was built up around multiple farms, some shops, a school, and a church. It was a small but peaceful community until 1965, when most residents were forcibly relocated to make way for a dam at Tocks Island.
Though the government spent nearly $100 million purchasing buildings along the Delaware River, the dam was ultimately never built due to a risk of seismic activity and possible salmonella poisoning the water.
The residents were never able to return, and after the project’s abandonment in the mid-1970s, Walpack Center was a certifiable ghost town. Some historic buildings remain, and there are fewer than a dozen residents still living in the area.
What makes Walpack Center special?
Now a part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Walpack Centre has a historic district with sights including:
- Well-maintained houses dating back to the town’s founding
- The Walpack Methodist Church, built in 1850
- A one-room schoolhouse, post office, and general store on Main Street
- Van Campen Inn, a Revolutionary War-era farmhouse that hosts historic tours, period actors, and demonstrations of apple cider marking, spinning wool, and more
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
How to visit Walpack Center
Going to Walpack Center lets you experience a true blast to the past, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a spot to fill up on gas, food, and other supplies.
The nearest starting point where you can stock up is the town of Branchville, which is about 12 miles away.
To reach Walpack Center, get on US-206 N until you reach Tuttes Corner Dingmans Rd, where you’ll take a left. Continue straight on Bevans Rd, which will turn into National Park Service Rd 615/Walpack Rd.
A final left turn onto Main St will land you in Walpack Center.
Waterloo Village
What is the story of Waterloo Village?
Originally established as a canal town alongside the Morris Canal, Waterloo Village was built around 1820.
It was a popular rest stop for travelers to spend the night along the route from New York to Pennsylvania. An inn, general store, chapel, blacksmith’s shop, and watermill were built to accommodate the canal employees.
The village prospered for decades until the canal’s commercial activity dwindled following the Civil War. The village still held on for a while—Waterloo Village wasn’t abandoned until the 1940s.
Unlike other ghost towns you may visit, Waterloo Village has undergone a complete restoration. The Waterloo Foundation for the Arts was established in 1967 and managed to turn the town into a living history tourist attraction.
The Waterloo open-air concert field has hosted some impressive acts over the years, including Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, and three Lollapalooza tours.
That said, both history buffs and arts enthusiasts would enjoy a visit to Waterloo Village.
What makes Waterloo Village special?
Thanks to the restoration, you can see the following sites at Waterloo Village:
- The Rutan Cabin and farm site, which has been recreated to portray life on an 1800s farm
- A working mill complex with sawmills, a general store, blacksmith shop
- Several historic houses
Waterloo Village was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and is entirely free to visit.
How to visit Waterloo Village
To grab some food and rest a while, you can start at Hopatcong before heading to Waterloo Village.
Take Lakeside Blvd and Brooklyn Rd until you reach Waterloo Rd, and you’ll arrive in this amazing restored town.
Batsto Village
What is the story of Batsto Village?
Initially settled in the 1760s, Batsto Village began as a mining operation with a successful ironworks industry.
When the demand for iron decreased, Batsto became an industrial center for glass making. At this time, it had two glass factories, two sawmills, a brick-making factory, and a gristmill.
This industry eventually declined as well, and the town lingered without a purpose until the state of New Jersey bought the land in 1950.
And though many of the buildings in the village were destroyed or crumbled over time, enough remains to make this ghost town worth a visit.
What makes Batsto Village special?
Batsto Village remains a popular site for history buffs and ghost town enthusiasts alike, with over 40 sites and structures still standing:
- Numerous cabins and houses
- A 19th-century ore boat and charcoal kiln
- The general store, blacksmith shop, church, and post office—which is still operating
- The Batsto Mansion, which is the center of town and has 50 rooms
- There are frequent living history demonstrations and reenactments held in town.
How to visit Batsto Village
Batsto Village is located near the edge of Wharton State Forest. Washington Township in Burlington County is a good nearby reference point.
To reach Batsto Village from Washington Township, head west on County Rd 542 towards S Bend Rd. Continue onto Batsto Village Rd and follow the signage to reach this ghost town.
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Going on a tour of New Jersey’s best ghost towns can be an exciting and even spooky experience! Staying prepared with the right
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