From the deep dark woods of the Black Forest to an island of dolls in Mexico, the world is full of eerie spots – even in the unlikeliest of places. Who knew that the same park where Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling danced in La La Land is also the recipient of an evil curse and site of satanic cult rituals? If you love a good ghost story or urban legend, read on for haunted forests and parks around the world – then visit if you dare.
Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California
Griffith Park is full of ghost stores – and recognizable from the film La La Land. The story goes that a wealthy bachelor named Don Antonio Feliz lived there with his niece in the mid-1800s. Feliz died of smallpox and left the ranch to a local politician … not his doting niece, Petranilla. Of course, she wasn’t thrilled with this arrangement is said to have cursed the park, declaring, “The wrath of heaven and the vengeance of hell shall fall upon this place.” Lo and behold, the next several decades saw mysterious deaths, crop fires and other unsettling events take place within the park. Even today, there have been numerous murders, as well as satanic cult rituals, taking place there. Enter at your own risk.
Highgate Cemetery, London, England
Fans of the occult can visit this lush north London Garden, seen in Bram Stoker’s Dracula as Kingstead Churchyard. Grave include those of Karl Marx and Douglas Adams. When the cemetery was left unattended at the end of World War II, it was overcome by vegetation and crumbling monuments, making for an eerie setting. It came into its own once again in the 1970s after appearing in several horror films – and is a favorite destination of vampire hunters. Many visitors have claimed to see a vampire (or other fanged creature) hovering over the graves with the intent to robe them.
The Black Forest, Germany
It’s even a bit hard to see within the deep, dense fir trees of the Black Forest. And when you add in scenes from a Brothers Grimm fairytale or two, the spooky factor creeps even higher. It’s hard not to startle as you mind wanders to werewolves, witches and sorcerers. One Black Forest myth has a headless horseman riding through the forest; another has a king who steals women and drags them off to his underwater lair.
The Island of the Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico
Xochimilco is so well known as an excellently preserved example of Aztec Life that it has been designated a World Heritage Site. It has also gained notoriety lately via the internet for its Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Munecas). The area has a maze of canals, along which you can find several hundred dolls scattered in the grass and hanging from trees. The artificial island was once the home of the late Julian Santa Barrera. After finding a dead girl’s body in one of the canals, he collected and displayed the dolls to hopefully ward off evil spirits. It is said that the ghost of the drowned girl still haunts the island and the dolls communicate with each other. No matter what the story, the effect is creepifying!
Aokigahara, Japan
The Sea of Trees, as it’s known, sits at the northwest base of Mount Fuji. Walkers often find themselves on wrong paths supposedly due to the large underground iron deposits that interfere with compasses. And, sadly, the forest has been the sites of more than 500 suicides.
Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire, England
Did you feel that? A hand on your shoulder? The sounds of sobbing children being carried away by horsedrawn cart? These are among the mysterious myths and legends that abound at Wychwood Forest. Amy Robsart, the wife of the Earl of Leicester, broke her neck and died here in 1560 – years later, her husband was out in the forest on a camping trip and is said to have seen her ghost. The spirit told the Earl that he would die just a few days later and, lo and behold, he grew sick and died shortly thereafter. Visitors today hope not to see the ghost of Amy as legend has it that you’ll face the same fate as the Earl.
Hoia-Baciu, Romania
Feel like getting out of town? Try walking to the circular clearing at the center of this Transylvania forest – said to be a portal – and see if you return. Local legend says you won’t, but most who visit simply complain of feeling sick to their stomach and anxious throughout their visit. Even the tree trunks are twisted in knots.
Freetown-Fall River State Park, Massachusetts
A 200-square-mile section of southeastern Massachusetts is known as the Bridgewater Triangle and is said to be the site of much paranormal activity. The Native Americans who occupied the land in the 1600s sold it against their will and left behind many burial grounds. Plus, in the 1970s and 1980s, the site is believed to have been used for satanic murders. And, to this day, local folks tell stories of UFO, poltergeist and fireball sightings.
Devil’s Tramping Ground, North Carolina
Absolutely nothing grows in the mysterious 40-foot ring in the woods near Harper’s Crossroads, North Carolina. It is said the devil himself stomps in circles here each night – obviously plotting the downfall of humankind, if you’re a glass-half-empty type of person. Agricultural experts and natural scientists have even studied the soil and cannot figure out why it isn’t fertile.
Pine Barrens, New Jersey
Spanning more than one million acres and seven New Jersey counties, Pine Barrens is densely forested and prone to ghost stories. During the colonial era of the east coast, the region was home to sawmills and papermills. These were largely abandoned when coal was discovered west in Pennsylvania, creating ghost towns seemingly overnight. Many believe to be a few supernatural beings left behind as well, including the Jersey Devil. It is said that the creature was born to Deborah Leeds in 1735 with wings, a goat’s head and hooves. It flew up the chimney and out of their house and started killing livestock – and ever since then, it’s been part of the lore of South Jersey.