Epping Forest – Britain
Spanning nearly 6,000 acres, Britain’s Epping Forest is shrouded in tales of paranormal encounters and a violent past. Locacted between London and Essex, the forest has long been associated with chilling events, like Roman-era violence or burial sites for the the notorious Kray twins’ victims.
Visitors have reported encounters with spectral figures, from Queen Boudica to a headless biker, and strange phenomena like cars seemingly rolling uphill on “Hangman’s Hill.” This has solidified Epping Forest’s reputation as one of Britain’s most haunted sites.
Freetown State Forest – Massachusetts
Back in 1974, then-California Governor Ronald Reagan reported seeing mysterious orbs in the sky while flying over Freetown State Forest, Massachusetts. Located an hour south of Boston, this 5,000-acre forest has been the site of multiple murders, including the tragic case of 15-year-old Mary Lou Arruda. There have also been reports of assaults, Satanic rituals, and other ritualistic activities.
Beyond these chilling histories, Freetown State Forest is also said to harbor supernatural beings, such as Native American cryptids called Pukwudgies, poltergeists, and ghosts.
Pine Barrens – New Jersey
The New Jersey Pine Barrens spans 1.1 million acres of dense forest and is home to chilling tales of ghosts as well as the legendary Jersey Devil. Originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape people, who left behind generations of ancestors buried there, the forest has since become associated with eerie apparitions, from a ghostly boy to the infamous pirate Captain Kidd.
No tale from Pine Barrens is more famous than the Jersey Devil, though. It was said to have been born in 1735 to a desperate woman named Mother Leeds, transforming soon after birth into a creature with a horse’s head, bat wings, and dragon-like talons. It’s been haunting the Pine Barrens ever since.
