Explore The Haunted Holy Altar, Then Visit The Prison Museum In Mount Holly, New Jersey
By Kim Magaraci
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Published August 03, 2022
Do you love tracking down the spookiest places around? This haunted New Jersey day trip is one of the best adventures you can take to see two truly unique sights. Buckle up! This is about to be one creepy trip.
Mount Holly is the county seat of Burlington County. It's a small town that's packed with history, and the residents really lean into the town's spooky and haunted past.
The town was named for "Mount Holly", the tallest hill in town. You can hike to the top of the mount on a short trail that connects to either Evergreen or Prospect Street near the town's vibrant downtown district.
Near the top of the Mount there's a small altar with a brick patio.
The altar was built by a local church, and it has been used for Easter Sunday service since 1935. Every spring, volunteers come by to clean up the area and prepare it for its one day in the spotlight.
For the rest of the year, though, the altar sits unused -- in a town that's considered one of the most haunted in the state.
Most locals agree that the altar is surrounded by paranormal activity. At night, visitors have reported the sound of chains ringing from within, suggesting that this is perhaps the Jersey Devil's final resting spot. Other local lore claims that this area was the site of extrajudicial hangings in the early 20th century. No matter what you believe, it's hard to ignore the eerie feeling one gets when this mostly abandoned altar in the middle of the woods comes into view.
After hiking to see the Holy Holy Holy altar, take a short walk down to the Burlington County Prison Musem.
This family-friendly historic museum is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the Garden State.
You can take a self-guided tour, or plan to visit during their Paranormal tours in autumn.
Several prisoners died here, either at the yard's gallows, in escape attempts, or due to the poor conditions and lack of healthcare. You'll learn some of their stories on your guided tour.
It's easy to imagine how lonely a prisoner would get, locked up in these primitive cells for hours at a time...
... but it's less easy to understand why these spirits hang around the museum all these years later.
Why won't the ghosts of the prison find a more peaceful resting spot? That's a mystery -- a question we may never be able to answer.
You can learn all about the history of the Mount Holly Prison Museum on Facebook, or by visiting the Burlington County Prison Museum’s website, here .
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