There is something just so fascinating — and a bit spooky — about wandering through a ghost town. Seeing all the abandoned structures is like getting a glimpse back in time and seeing how people used to live in that spot. New Jersey is home to quite a few abandoned ghost towns; not all of them are recommended to the public to explore, but there is one that’s transformed from a ghost town into a living, breathing museum. Waterloo Village, a ghost town with roots in the 19th century, is a perfect autumn day trip in New Jersey.

In the 19th century, Waterloo Village was a prosperous, booming town in New Jersey.
Zeete/Wikimedia
It was a successful mill town and a popular stop along the way from New York to Pennsylvania.
Before then, it was a Lenape village. The area has over 400 years of history.
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It's long been a popular place to live — but eventually the area was abandoned.
After the end of the Civil War, traffic to the town waned and Waterloo eventually became a series of abandoned homes.
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The 1930s saw more foot traffic again, as people camped out in the ruins during the Great Depression.

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These days, this New Jersey ghost town has been transformed into a living, open-air museum.
Zeete/Wikimedia
Volunteers in the 1960s worked to restore the village and create an educational space.
You can wander around Waterloo Village and admire the restored ruins of homes that have stood for centuries.
Zeete/Wikimedia
It's like walking back in time!
The surrounding forests and lakes add to the peaceful aura of this quiet ghost town.
WallyFromColumbia/Wikimedia
Picnicking is encouraged!
People may not live in Waterloo Village anymore, but its history remains.
Detroit Publishing Co/Wikimieda

Schools and groups are encouraged to book educational tours here. Just call ahead! And make sure you check Waterloo Village’s hours before heading off for an impromptu trip.

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Waterloo Village Historic Site, Waterloo Rd, Stanhope, NJ 07874, USA