An Abandoned Ancient Pool - New Jersey Whipporwill Valley and Cooper Roads

An abandoned old pool from approximately 100 years ago hidden off of horse trails along the Navesink River in New Jersey.
Haskill Estate - Whipporwill Valley and Cooper Roads
The 700-acre estate that has not been touched since the
1960s. The estate had been home to a prestigious family,
but fires destroyed several of the houses on their land
and it was eventually sold. The land - set between the
two most haunted roads in New Jersey - while having
the glamour of having hosted many society balls and
equestrian hunts, it also hides tales of witch hangings,
battle histories, ghost sightings, KKK meeting grounds,
and devil worshipers.

[@robinhetherington3769]

Hey I was just looking up Haskell's Pond to show my grandson where I played as a child with my friends and siblings. As kids we often walked or hiked in Middletown (no cell phones then!) and we literally stumbled on this site one day and spent many hours of many days (whenever we had time ) of adventuring through this area and imagined being rich and living there. We use to go ice skating at the pond which was at the end of road. We had decided one day to go through the "forbidden woods" (we were sternly warned to not go there) that were so inviting on the other side of the pond. Little did we know it lead to this majestic site. Back then, like 1970, there was not as much overgrowth of course and the pool was empty and glistened in the sun; I think it had polished marble overlay. The columns were not damaged (also snow white marble) and you could see out for miles while standing under them. I remember cabin houses along the road in the surrounding area as well as statues and a long driveway. I was awe stuck that this site is still there and at the pictures and video, thank you for recording a piece of my childhood!

[@freedomdove]

That pool was pristine back in its day, for sure.

[@539Productions]

Still quite a beautiful place, would have loved to visit during it's prime!

[@donnapowers88]

This is part of the old Haskell Estate in Middletown NJ. The property was owned by Armory Haskell and was the home of The Monmouth County Hunt for many years. The Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park is named for him. His only child passed away in 2006. The estate was called Woodland Farm and was built in 1925. The pool dates from that time.

[@Coplandcalm122]

Wow!!! I wonder how one could purchase this property. It is beautiful

[@razbo1963]

I remember the Hunt, I also remember deer hunting in the area and Mrs Haskell came out and asked us if we would clean the pool in exchange for cutting through her property, we probably kept walking toward Huber Woods. True story, this would probably been about 30 years ago or so.

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Oh wow, good information

[@dawnm7544]

It would be so neat to see how it look years ago.

[@robwasnj]

Definitely a well built pool, in fact that limestone cap could be removed, new skimmers and fittings installed and a liner put into it and it'd be usable once again. One has to wonder how this became abandoned, not many pools existed 100 years ago.

[@Coplandcalm122]

Right! I would love to see what it looked like at its peak!!! It was beautiful I am sure!

[@ThisIsNot22]

I remember finding that when I was younger. Me n my friends would go adventuring. Theres also a cabin and I'm pretty sure an water tower type container.

[@freedomdove]

That was very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@Tracks777]

I enjoyed your video :) Keep it up!

[@Tracks777]

Nice video! Keep it up!

[@yakk13]

I love it Patrick.

[@dianatodd2300]

Thank you so much! I looked it up and found out some information. The Haskell estate is formally known as the Middletown Woodland Farm. It was a colonial styled estate that was built in 1925 for the late Amory L. Haskell, the millionaire sportsman who each year used to invite the gentle folk of the area there for a day of horse racing and steeplechase events. They would have amazing parties with many celebrities and all the glitz and glamour that money can buy. Thank you for sharing this! Does anyone out there have any pics of the main house? Is it a ruin as well?

[@liamf8294]

diana todd the main house is unfortunately destroyed and there is no visible signs of the house other than the pool.

[@JB-ro3sz]

I lived on that estate when I was a kid in the 1970’s. It still looks pretty muck the same. The pool is lined with marble. The original house burned down. It was three stories tall. My dad worked for the estate and the manager knew the Haskell who originally built the house. A friend of mine did a school project on it and we got all kinds of details about the buildings and the history.

[@Frank-jx8zq]

JB, I've been on that property many times being from Middletown. What no one seems to mention is the many small wooden structures like a little church, schoolhouse a few others I couldn't quite figure their purpose. Maybe servant's quarters of some sort but thats pure speculation. There is or was a wooden water tower adjacent to one of the small buildings which seems to me that it accommodated that small town with potable water. If you or anyone has information relating to this I sure would appreciate some clarity. FZ

[@Katiekay.]

@@Frank-jx8zq have you uncovered anymore historical information?

[@Frank-jx8zq]

@@Katiekay. wow! It's been awhile. I tried doing some digging, even got in contact with Mark from Weird N.J. He's aware of only part of the property and it was featured in the magazine (sorry not sure of issue anymore) close to this time last year. I also found a story in the Asbury Park Press from the late 80's about devil worship at the site, which I remember reading when I was a kid. The article mentioned a "marble pool" which got my imagination working overtime and is what prompted me to venture out to the property a few years later. I wish I had more but unfortunately time takes it's toll and I've had less and less time to spend on the subject. I encourage you not to give up and to keep looking. If you come across anything kindly pass it along. Wishing you well. FZ

[@Katiekay.]

@@Frank-jx8zq I'm a digger too.... Did you happen to find some bottles or cool relics????

[@Katiekay.]

I'm always on the hunt for local historical information..... It's just an odd fascination I have from growing up in this area. I think the cool bottles and random treasures I've discovered in the woods have made me curious to find out how life used to be here (before it became so over developed) .. I don't know many people who share the same interest or care to hear about my research so I don't consistently investigate. Its an ebb and flow type thing. The Registrar is a great source but it's vague and doesn't provide much historical references or factual details to help determine the mystery of certain places or events. I suppose that's part of the mystique that captivates me. There are certainly very strange and dare I say spooky articles involving tragic accidents and strange occurrences in the vicinity of this location.... One in particular article is a tragic drowning in a swimming pool in the region of Cooper and Wipporwil Valley Rd. Curious if this might be the location? Also a house fire on Catherine Ave that killed 2 young girls.... Folklore of witchcraft and devil worship has always been a topic.

[@Contempl8Tech]

This one is cool, good video! ^_^

[@chevys1016]

cool love I this channel

[@kellyshumaker913]

The old Haskell Farm. I used to ride there back in the early 80s. I lived on Old Farm....its now a Doggy Day Care facility. Such a shame....all these things gone now.

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Very peaceful here, lots of history.

[@Katiekay.]

I'm from here too... Tragic how much has been changed

[@AlexGulinoHouli]

yay, another Patrick video!

[@synthman2000]

beautiful. really no big trees in the courtyard. tough to estimate when it was abondenec.

[@777Brad]

Love your videos! I was stationed at Ft Monmouth back in the mid 80's. I wish that I could have found this pool area when I was there. I found your videos when looking for videos about Sandy Hook. It was in those batteries that started my love of 'urban exploration'. Of course, it was just called 'trespassing' back then! Any chance you could get a video of the batteries that are across the street from the lighthouse on Sandy Hook? I loved that area!

[@tommcconville677]

Ft. Hancock batteries stored the ordnance for the guns that provided coastal defense from pre World War 1 and WW1, then the period up to and includingWW2. The 8in. and 10 in. guns were in the batteries here, for coastal defense if I'm correct. Battery Lewis in the Navesink Highlands contained the 16 in. guns that protected NY Harbor and the immediate Sandy Hook Bay and Atlantic Ocean in the nearby vicinity.

[@djtrishm]

thats cool!

[@tonydimaio1647]

More videos good stuff

[@dianatodd2300]

Fascinating place, Id love to know more, but it is not likely to be 100 years old. I would think it may date from the 20's or 30's, but that could be way off base. It was an expensive and beautiful thing tho. Its hard not to let your imagination run wild in a place like this, but why don't you do some research, and find out the facts and then share them with us? Ill bet the local historical society might be of help in that project. You may even find some pictures so we could see what it looked like way back when. Now that would be amazing!

[@pigoff123]

so beautiful. Such a shame that it wasn't restored

[@christineemond9035]

This morning I was reading a genealogical manuscript of one of my families, the Loofboro's. Part of the history included in the manuscript is about an old mill that was reconstructed after a fire in 1890. In a letter dated May 1930, the author of the letter states the millpond is now the filtering plant of J. Armory Haskell estate. Apparently Mr. Haskell purchased the property from the author's uncle, most likely a Mr. Lufburrow. The mill that is part of today's 170 Whipporwill Valley Rd. is most likely the reconstructed mill. I wonder if the half burned down house someone mentioned is the original mill? Does anyone know what the name of the mill was originally called?

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Oh wow interesting

[@liamf8294]

@Christine Emond do you know any information about where the mill and the water tower is. And do you know about anymore places near there that are abandoned.

[@evanfrisone1006]

Christine Emond Do you know where the mill or the water tower is?

[@Katiekay.]

There's a road called Luffburrow one road over

[@Katiekay.]

There's an article about a drowning in a home on that road from back in the 1940's. Curious if its that pool

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Oh my, could be

[@caroldipaola261]

Like what your doing! Too many times Jersey gets a bad rap! Keep up the nice work!

[@molymava]

Could it have been a large koi pond? It's in a bit of an odd place for a pool and there's no tiling or steps in or out. But it looks like it could have been a large pond for a big house in their garden. Super interesting regardless and would have been beautiful at the time.

[@yakk13]

Hannah Warren that does make more sense, but either pond or pool, without electric filter I would think it would need a drain off of some sort. Stagnant water is super gross. I would love to know how this looked back then.

[@donnapowers88]

@@yakk13 There is a drain but it looks clogged up. Definitely a pool though. The Haskell family was very wealthy. I had gone to the Fall Steeplechase for many years and it was a beautiful property.

[@dennishansbury6362]

You need to check out the abandoned pool of Taras Ave in Westville, NJ. I grew up on that street and we used to go to it all the time, but can't find ANY info about it. Rumor was it was an old pool club, possibly Polish?

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

I will add that to my list

[@nikolas1996]

there's also a half burned down house and a calling apart log cabin

[@chubrainbows]

I wish there was pictures of what it looked like before....

[@skittlemenow]

Voice sounds familiar. Is this the same guy who does Silver-stream RV Trailer videos for a dealership too?

[@richardbutterfoss2353]

Was there a foundation to a dwelling?

[@deadkemper]

Ancient is a bit rich ;) have you ever been to Greece?

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Not yet

[@markyork1]

someone have any info as to who or what this was? that's big big money

[@kellyshumaker913]

The old Haskell Farm

[@trinacrawford8150]

Looking at that stagnant water reminds me of Katharine Hepburn once said in an interview that she fell into some nasty water for a movie she was making and she was supposed to have a shocked look on her face as she went in. She said she managed to get her mouth shut, but not her eyes and got such a nasty infection in them that she still had problems with them even during that interview in the 70s. Stagnant water scares me.

[@donnapowers88]

That is when Katharine Hepburn made the movie Summertime (1955). She had to fall in the Venice canal and it was quite dirty!

[@colleb95]

There's no house. Most likely burned down. No reason to stay and abandoned the pool.

[@xocheerle6]

sounds like someone screaming at 4:53

[@robsonandamy9849]

I heard that.

[@John0000000420]

Ok I've seen several of your videos... Ever heard of a bike lock???? Or more protective clothes and gear??? Just sayin... Other than that great videos

[@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures]

Great point

[@danielyoung6630]

lots of NJ BUSH country an you have not found dead bodies yet? sure....

[@ObesePuppies]

DRANK

[@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717]

No graffiti there? Jersey's slippin', boy!