by: Kevin Timpson
I love the woods. The whispering serenity of nature is enough to tame even the most frayed of nerves. It’s a relaxing oasis of calm; the sound of a breeze rustling pine needles, animals scurrying through the brush, the tortured call of a disembodied spirit, screaming into the night.
What?! You’ve never been lost in a haunted forest before? It is decidedly not chill.
But if you ever want to take on the role of ghost hunter, I have you covered. Grab your spirit box, get ready for some ghost stories, and let’s talk about my favorite haunted forests.
1. Freetown State Forest, Massachusetts
You’ve heard of the Bermuda Triangle — that splash of ocean where all the ships and planes go missing — now meet the Bridgewater Triangle. This plot of land covers 200 square miles of Massachusetts. With all kinds of paranormal events, like UAP sightings, ghosts, bigfoots (bigfeet?), and more, it’s no wonder this place has drawn the eye of ghost hunters and alien fans alike. The southern border is also home to Freetown State Forest. These woods have seen some pretty grisly crimes and even a bit of Satanic cult activity.
Only camp in this forest if you’re feeling particularly brave … and you're armed with a backpack full of holy water balloons.
2. Island of the Dolls, Mexico City
Dolls are cute, right? They make a good present for a child or a gag gift for your friend’s birthday. Some people even collect them, like Don Julian Santana Berrera. Julian took it a little further than a shelf in his bedroom, though.
Take a trip south of Mexico City, into the Xochimico canals, and you might come across an “adorable” little island known as Isla de las Munecas. This is where Julian displayed his collection of dolls. In droves, these lifeless, plastic monstrosities line the trees and sparse structures that can be found on the island. Rotten, dirty, eyeless, and undoubtedly full of demons, these dolls are the constant watchers over the Island of the Dolls.
Legend says Julian gathered the dolls in tribute to a girl whose body washed up on the quiet shores one dreadful night. No confirmation was ever made as to the validity of his story. Whether the legend is true or not, it’s a hard pass from me on ever visiting the Island of the Dolls. I don’t even like going into that creepy room in my grandma’s basement where she keeps all her old dolls.
3. Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania
I did an image search for this forest when doing research for this blog post, and holy haunted hovel, this place is terrifying! Twisted, unnatural trees, dense shadows, murky fog, and probably more than a few lost souls can be found in these Romanian woods. But just looking ghostly isn’t enough to count a place as haunted.
So, what gives this place any right to be on our list? Deep in the center of these woods lies a portal, and locals claim most who venture through the portal never return. People report feeling sick, uneasy, and just downright freaked out when they enter these woods. Sounds like a bad time to me, so I’m going to steer clear if I’m ever in Romania.
4. Wychwood Forest, England
There is a shadowy legend that permeates the quiet depths of the Wychwood Forest. The story goes like this: Amy Robsart died of a broken neck (did you think I was going to say “heart”?), and after her death, her husband came across her ghostly apparition.
She told him in no uncertain terms that he would meet his doom in 10 days. And, well, he did. Or so the story goes. It’s worth noting that her husband, Robert Dudley, died decades after her, so I guess she was waiting patiently for the right time to say hello again.
People who visit Wychwood claim to hear sobbing ghosts and feel the disembodied touch only the dead can produce — well, the dead and a stiff breeze, errant branch, active imagination …
Side note: I stopped here to check my word count, and it was 666. I don’t know how I feel about this, given the forest I’m going to write about next. This is unsettling.
5. Devil’s Tramping Ground, North Carolina
Apparently, there’s a place in North Carolina where the Devil himself stomps around like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. Take a stroll into these woods in Bear Creek and you may come across a circle of ground where nothing grows. Not a sprig, sprout, or seed is viable in this section of dead earth. No one knows why this phenomenon exists, either. People have tested the soil and the conclusion is … inconclusive.
What’s even creepier is that this legend may even predate Columbus’ landing. So, if you were thinking it was the result of some rocket or chemical test, it’s centuries too early. Unless it wasn’t us, if you know what I mean (cue X-Files music).
People claim to see glowing red eyes in the dark and hear footsteps at night. If you were looking to challenge the Devil to a violin battle, this might be the place to go.
6. Elfin Forest, California
You’re probably thinking I got this from a fantasy book, but this is a real place. This wood was once home to a group of gypsies who were run out and subsequently killed by the townsfolk (please note this is a legend, and not necessarily fact). In the spirit of vengeance, the gypsies cursed the forest.
These days, if you were to take a moonlit hike under the hanging boughs, you might see the specter of a woman in white, or a witch riding a midnight stallion. Or you might just see shadows, owls, the occasional paranormal investigator, and not much else. Not every ghost hunt is successful, after all.
7. Black Hills Forest, Maryland (kind of)
The final haunted forest is the one that started it all for me. Before I learned about Black Hills Forest, you might have found me in any given wood, blissfully unaware of the deranged spirits that could be around any trunk or tree limb.
The, ahem, “history” of Black Hills Forest is an intriguing one. Elly Kedward was banished from Blair, Maryland for being a witch and trying to prey on children. Since her departure, children have gone missing in the nearby Black Hills Forest, and unwitting members of the town have done unspeakable things.
A documentary crew ventured into the woods to find proof of the witch, only to meet their own demise. Who knows what horrors befell those poor souls, and what dangers await anyone who enters the Black Hills Forest?
Okay, so maybe the forest in the Blair Witch movie isn’t real, but it sure inspired me to look at woods in a different light!
If you want to experience something just as creepy as that film, but much safer, I would highly recommend checking out the Escape Blair Witch escape room in Las Vegas, Nevada. This brand-new experience will give you all the chills you want. And the best part? There isn’t a (real) forest in sight.
If you want to take the Blair Witch game experience home, take a look at our Blair Witch board games! Both seasons bring the thrill of Blair Witch right to your door.