The Eerie Deserted Ghost Town of Walpack, NJ

[@B.Smiles89]

This place was cool when I went 2 years ago!

[@rob5763]

What a great old town. I can almost feel what life was like back then. I could live there now. thanks for sharing.

[@RayOutThere]

Thanks for watching!

[@Stevieknixxx]

This town is kept up very well. I'm from New Jersey born and raised and never heard of this town.

[@RayOutThere]

It's up in the Delaware water gap, and it feels like the middle of nowhere.

[@deborahwade2641]

Same here.

[@cookiemonster1638]

I'm also born and raised in New Jersey and never heard of the town. It looks like such a nice town.

[@karenlemoine2677]

Me too!

[@blessed7fold583]

Same here.

[@my2cents945]

Empty town perhaps, ghost town? I don't think so. This place is being maintained.

[@nola1439]

That’s still a ghost town. Semantics…

[@dk2853]

7 people live there.

[@joshuatorres9232]

Shut up

[@ScottyLo]

I’ve passed this little town a bunch of times while riding motorcycles and thankfully it always appears to be well maintained and frozen in time.

[@FakeF8X]

People have been going and burning the houses down, they say it’s pick up trucks that come late at night

[@emo_na_lisa]

Thats so fucked up why would anyone do that , i understand wanting to burn a building like billion dollar corporations and banks but why would anyone be okay destroying history like this :(

[@norandmurr1432]

Walpack went into the National Parks system when the dam project was abandoned. It still has an Inn and campground, and around 10 full time residents, including a mayor.

[@koekoi]

Wow Thanks

[@lindawitt3796]

I grew up in a town 10 miles away & made many trips past this town in my teenage years and till about 5 yrs ago! . Its beautiful. Not eerie or scary or Haloweenish! Sad how were programmed to think that way. There's an awesome restaurant close by called Walpack Inn that we'd go to at least once a year. There are water falls in the area & a lake. We'd go up there in the 70s & hang out w friends & party...fun days! So excited to see this video!

[@johnleo-yb1jv]

Hi friend linda

[@Astralalienvibes]

Do you know why it's abandoned and why it looks so good?

[@michaelselvereo4328]

@@Astralalienvibes An Abandoned Dam project that never came to be. The government took all the people out of the area by eminent domain and bought up all the houses. The plan I think was to have this whole area underwater. But the government found that the sediment or bedrock under where this area is wasn’t able to support the project. So it was scrapped, thus leaving these abandoned houses all over the area. There’s a restaurant called the Walpack Inn which is amazing. The owner Jim is the deputy mayor of Walpack. He can talk to you all about the history of this area.

[@cuppycakey5013]

@@michaelselvereo4328Wow, that’s crazy! I wonder why the people couldn’t go back to their homes once they realized the project wouldn’t work out. It’s sad because it looks like such a nice little town!

[@devilblueduke]

Good you keep the restaurant in business by going so many times in a year

[@dianadelahaye7660]

Wondering if you could get a good deal on the whole town!!

[@RayOutThere]

Haha maybe!

[@stanleyrinker6180]

That's a good question we will have to contact the the state I was thinking the same thing at least part of it bring it back to life

[@peteschmidt4642]

The federal Govt' owns the whole valley from rt.80 all the way to the NY border. NJ and Pa both sides.They bought out the valley for the Tocks Island dam project that actually failed. Displaced thousands of citizens..........

[@peteschmidt4642]

Also, sometime s the fed. govt', rents some of the homes in Millbrook, Peterstown and Walpack to the Federal Park Rangers......

[@eternalsun.3400]

Tax payers paid for all this with another government failure

[@williammartin430]

Interesting example of a well-preserved , yet abandoned 20th Century small town. Although it was purchased by the government in 1955, the satellite dish speaks to the fact that folks lived there for many years afterwards. Moreover, the condition of most of the buildings is much better than what 60+ years would do, especially on the Eastern Seaboard. Has a very pastoral feel. Thanks for the video.

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you for watching!

[@JGumaerTesta]

Excellent case in point for Eminent Domain. Too busy grabbing land to make sure the bedrock was solid.

[@Astralalienvibes]

I want to know why the government wanted this land

[@sunnypuri4933]

The grass looks somewhat maintained, and I see vehicles parked and a trailer. Hmm

[@chrisabreedapartnyhc5337]

I live about 25-30min from here and always driving around the area for work,there is a ton of history up here

[@ihatescammers6438]

When I taught in Middletown we did an overnight environmental trip and stayed at the buildings run by Eatontown Bd of Education. This was late 1970`s to early 1980`s. Charlie and Wayne ran the program and we stopped by while deer hunting. Park rangers had a big stone colonial building across the road from the center, which was less than 1/2 mile south of Walpack. Took the students to Tilman`s Ravine and the beaver pond. Kids had to do all the kitchen cleanup which was a big change for them.

[@lynnayamoon]

I went to school in Ocean Township, NJ. In 6th grade, must have been 1986 - we went for a weekend camping in Walpack - it was the most stars i had ever seen in my life, the entire milky way was on display. It is a fantastic memory! Was at what appeared to be a Summer Camp type place.

[@RayOutThere]

Its in a beautiful area, I hope to spend more time there soon.

[@deeammerman5959]

Would love to live in that town without a doubt

[@tonythetiga4697]

I bet

[@bit1733]

Looks cool from a distance but I would die of loneliness living there even if I manage to get all the supplies I need.

[@chrisd.6346]

Nah, you would die from paying taxes.

[@rosebud7722]

What a wonderful well kept town. It's heart breaking to see a lot of the houses starting to decay away. Hopefully someone will step in and fix it back up to the way it was in its early days..thanks for the share! Stay safe healthy and blessed on your next adventure! From Southern California ☀️

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@xiemangun6389]

I love ur video..😍😍😍..Thank u so much Ray Out There.. 🙏🙏🙏 ❤️❤️❤️ 💪💪💪

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@susanVFTA42]

wow we passed thru here for almost 30 yrs on our way to cross the dingman wooden bridge (lake adventure in the poconos ) not even realizing it was abandoned! It always looked like folks were living there lol Ty for this presentation:)

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you for watching!

[@crestwood2618]

This small town looks like it could be right out of the walking dead tv series! Pretty awesome actually.

[@anamariecameron7874]

💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@goodie7able]

Oh this was sweeet..very interesting..so glad its upkept...what a great day for it..love the way you let us peek into the houses!!!! Beautiful church!!kool old gas pump..another great video ray!!

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@ap70621]

The tower at 11:51 is a siren. Probably to call volunteer fireman to the station.

[@sasz2107]

We went here maybe 5 or so years ago. We just drove through though. It was interesting. I remember it was WAY off the main highway, it took a while to get there, and the road wasn't well maintained. So few people drove up that way that there were branches ad things lying in the road. It's sad these people had to move out over a project that never came to fruition. But what's cool about it is this town is frozen in time. There is nothing there that is newer than the 1960s - actually most buildings are much older than that. It shows how people used to live before lots the commercialization that's all over the place now. This place has to be maintained. The grass is mowed, some buildings had to have been painted. You'd expect this place to be in much worse shape than it is given that no one has lived here in 50 or so years.

[@cherbear1996]

Its nice n clean, homes look in great shape..I'd live there in a heartbeat!!

[@RayOutThere]

Its a beautiful place for sure

[@dane5896]

The Flatbrook-Roy trout stream is up the road. It's was Babe Ruth's favorite fishing spot.

[@RayOutThere]

Very interesting!

[@theterrestrial3267]

Since that trout stream is close these buildings could be renovated and some turned into rental cabins and turn the post office into a ranger station

[@Bzzzzzzzz535]

And my favorite place to rope swing into the river.

[@erocker78]

I love this video. I may have to make a trip to see this historic little town. It's beautiful.

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@Rogue849]

Looks like that church is ready to open its doors next Sunday. (I'm assuming Sunday, I don't know if they used another day).

[@zakeemsworld6619]

Been there. If you go past the garage and church if you go by the river there is good fishing.

[@landru303]

In the early 70's. I met most of the families living there at the time. I don't live too far away. Flatbrookville is nearby. Knew the 2 families there then. There were other manufactured homes nearby that were removed on flatbeds about 1973-74. The Layton post office I believe was open then and theres a graveyard at the end of the town. Flatbrookvilles gas station was open then too.

[@user-di2on5gl2d]

Those are beautiful homes that can probably be put to good use!

[@NhwNews]

Who cuts the grass?

[@davidbrawn2828]

The first house with all the curtains was spooky I expected something or someone looking back. It would make a good place to film movies.

[@tch247nyu]

Friday the 13th was filmed in blairstown , the next town over

[@bradwyatt6705]

The tower by the gas station with the yellow rocket looking thing in that tower, was an Air Raid Siren. All in all I don't blame you for the creepy vibe. Deserted houses that have nothing really wrong with them always make me feel a little uneasy.

[@aaron7189]

that tower makes it look more like a fire station and the gas pump may have been for the fire trucks to refuel🤷‍♂️

[@mmcgahn5948]

I think that “gas station” was actually a fire house. The “air raid” siren a fire siren to alert volunteer firemen. The gas pump on the side to refuel fire vehicles.

[@riproar11]

Definitely not a creepy vibe with these well-maintained homes with freshly-cut lawns. Looks like a museum town just like the 1800s cranberry farm Whitesbog Historic Village, also in New Jersey.

[@craigroaring]

It's great that the place is maintained well. The grass is cut, and buildings somewhat protected against vandals.

[@cherylm9770]

Beautiful Town

[@seviregis7441]

They need to fix up those other properties and use them so they don’t crumble and fall apart. Love the feeling there, like it’s back in time.

[@ericmoyher9625]

Thank you for the video, went and checked it out last weekend.. it was great . Although I was surprised by the number of bees ! Looks like some buildings must have huge nests

[@RayOutThere]

Be careful!

[@josephpuchel6497]

Hey how many total houses and buildings in this town. Very nice

[@bucolic_3526]

Awesome! Always meant to go here but keep forgetting.

[@papa606]

What a darling of a town can anyone live their. I grew up in a small town in new hampshire in the 60s and early 70s would love to in a charming town of yesterday again

[@kristianasumartini8404]

This place is being maintain. Nice place .. 😍

[@ArcaneShiftRegister]

That place is definitely creepy! Great video, as usual!

[@RayOutThere]

Thanks!

[@colechapman6976]

Northern Jerseyan here. It's hard to imagine a place this rural exists in my state. It's a stark contrast to the suburbs where I live.

[@PlumberWRX]

Yeah cause the north sucks

[@xiemangun6389]

My ooohhh my.. 😯😯😯 Where did they all go..??? It's too bad to leave that cool calm fresh town like that.. It's unbelievable.. 🤦🤦🤦

[@lauriehollister9428]

All those homes left to rot. What a shame

[@RayOutThere]

I believe they're being maintained and are in surprisingly good shape. They look much better than the ones in Feltville.

[@ontheroadwithyode390]

Its a tourist attraction and is maintained.

[@loganrussell7971]

I've been here many times its very eerie out there especially at night. Spent much time out there

[@RayOutThere]

Its a cool place, I have to go back soon.

[@MillerMeteor74]

I was there once, in the late 90s/early 2000s. What you called the gas station was the volunteer firehouse, I'm quite sure. The building behind it was the old schoolhouse, and the building attached to that, I'm guessing, was an anciliary garage building for the fire company. When I was there I walked down the street and took pictures, but never got as close to the buildings as you did. Thanks for this.

[@RayOutThere]

Thanks for watching

[@djpcan77]

Love the quality of your camera and your camera work . It really does look great and professional

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@TerrysOdyssey]

Nothing more creepy than an abandoned ghost town. Awesome man and good history and narration.that little shack reminds me of that little shack from Friday the 13th part 2.

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@norandmurr1432]

There are still people living full time in Walpack. Not many, but they're there.

[@shereengougher6479]

You should visit Eckley Miners Village near Hazleton, PA. Abandoned mining town that was restored. Has a museum, gift shop. A must see.

[@RayOutThere]

I will look into that, Thank you!

[@henrynevins]

At 12:10, notice the building it long, the tower next to it is a firehouse siren, the building was a small firehouse, gas pump for two fire trucks?

[@vesuviacorpseflower4828]

1:09 ...Were you pushed by a ghost? (haha)

[@RayOutThere]

Yes

[@jonisoma5726]

...very nice imagery, seemed like an orderly town.

[@ByGraceIGo]

The whole place looks clean and manicure like they could use it as a town again. I'm from New Jersey originally I never heard of this town.

[@blessed7fold583]

Surprising it isn't used for old movie story sets. Someone should make an old 1930's-1940's small town story movie NOW & use this as the setting. It'd definitely make a good backdrop setting for a creepy cult town story or an old Amish town story. 💗

[@roxannemccullough2624]

Beautiful town. Even creepier at night lol

[@Lise-ds1zb]

You know it's really deserted when you don't see any feral cats wandering around. New Jersey is interesting.

[@phedingsfield]

I would absolutely love to live in a small town like this

[@gideon2060]

The lawns are well manicured. That's a lot of work to keep the yards clean.

[@sarahbee3732]

Looks like the lawns are well maintained.

[@YondanDrill]

Those sounds are so nice

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you!

[@glennoster1358]

I remember fishing in the Walpack stream when I was young (long ago). So sad what the government did when they bought up everything, forced people out and then the whole project went bellyup - now it continues to sit there lost in time. But it is still maintained. Have been to the Walpack Inn down the road, hopefully still there!

[@brucelund5788]

Hey Ray, nice vid, thanks for sharing! I think the "Gas Station" was probably a Fire Station as the tower beside it appears to be the town alarm that would call the volunteers to the station, the white buildings behind may have been the city buildings with maintenance vehicles or more fire apparatus on the side, maybe, I think :{)

[@RayOutThere]

I think you're right about that.

[@madness0169]

1:08 be careful, Ray! 😂 Great video tho!

[@RayOutThere]

Lol Thank you!

[@heidip5042]

New fan here. Looked like it would have been a nice neighborhood to live in as a child. Love abandoned and ghost towns. Would love to see that place in person also but I live in Utah

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you for watching! I bet Utah has many hidden places to explore.

[@DanburyDK]

Cool video thanks for sharing. I wish they had more old phones 🙂

[@RayOutThere]

Thanks!

[@jimissler8170]

The dam was called the Tocks Island project proposed around 1950 I lot of families lost their homes throughout that valley I believe now that area is part of national parks Stokes' State Park Another point of interest going south east is Buttermilk Falls overlooking the area that the dam was to be placed I wonder if anyone remembers that the site was also going to be the next Woodstock the year after that event in New York State it was all rumors but cause the park service a lot of overtime

[@jaimedritt4622]

It's in the Delaware Water Gap National Area in Warren County, NJ. On the New Jersey side, it's also called Worthington State Forest. Stokes Forest State Park is further east in Sussex County. Both parks are beautiful areas to hike.

[@jimmartin7881]

Subbed! Cool vid, went there a few years ago when I visited my cousin in PA.

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you so much!

[@dragoncrackers7660]

That church would make a good wedding venue and the houses for BNBs, a caretakers house. Corporate retreat. There could be money there if they used it property. Its got "escape from the city" written all over it.

[@kathygross3412]

So sad, what a waste.

[@michelewalburn4376]

Yes it sure does.

[@krispedersen2335]

The building w the gas pump (was an Agway gas pump) was the town fire dept. and the thing up the pole was the fire siren.

[@nelieroman1373]

On google the population of this town was 12 people in 2021. There are still people who are there if anybody was still wondering. I love the documentation of this, amazing!

[@maryhageman6224]

I was at wall pack back in the day! Probably 30 years ago? It was and still is a ghostly tour then . They used to send our kids in school there? I defiantly wanted to go! So I did ?

[@RayOutThere]

Thats pretty cool! Thanks for watching!

[@saltyhumansWX]

Love the simple houses, now we have cheap prefabricated homes that will burn down in 30 mins compared to the real lumber used back then

[@lula4448]

Great video! You got a new subscriber!

[@pamelachristie5570]

The whole town is a living museum. 2000 years from now, it'll be known as 'The Pompeii of New Jersey.' Thanks, Ray. You did an awesome job with this. Now I'm going to research my family records, to see if I'm related to Hazel Christie...Maybe I can inherit that house! :-D

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you for watching!

[@pamelachristie5570]

@@RayOutThere Thank you for filming!

[@pattysuechandler-lindquist3159]

3/12/23: 🙏😥Love this little town, Terrible that they bought out and ran people out and DAM never took place. Too Cool. Lacey Robbins House. I love these Bldgs and area, someone is taking care of the Grounds Patty Sue in MARYLAND

[@OurHumbleLife]

Would LOVE to live in such a town!!

[@RayOutThere]

It's a really beautiful place!

[@AngelStar11113]

Is the water contaminated

[@richardduerr9983]

Nice that they are apparently preserving it, but what is with those satellite TV antennas? Those look modern. How long ago was that dam (or damned) project?

[@emokoala]

I read that many people were against the damn from day one, but it was ultimately voted against and shelved in 1975.

[@norandmurr1432]

There are still people living there. They even have a mayor and an operating Inn.

[@PabbyMan2000]

I've been there. Great restaurant just down the road a bit.

[@turtletruck1664]

great video !!

[@RayOutThere]

Thank you,!

[@XPFTP]

probley the old firehouse with the siren at the end

[@njlauren]

It was going to be flooded by a proposed damming of delaware river at the water gap..there were geologic reasons the dam site was unusable and they also found that the water if i remember correctly might have been unsuitable because of bacteria present in the river

[@jb6027]

Back in the 1980s - 1990s some of the houses were occupied by Park Rangers who worked in the park. The tower at 11:40 is an old air raid siren. Before the days of radios and beepers, they were used to summon volunteer firemen and ambulance workers.

[@Cape-Dweller]

Placement of that gas pump looks like that was the town garage where municipal vehicles were gassed up/ maintained.

[@catman58]

I got all most there and the last 4 miles of the road was closed. I might try coming from the other direction

[@RayOutThere]

Thats a bummer. It may be closed for the winter? I'm not entirely sure.

[@phoenixjnyc]

Awesome on the town. Walpack has about 6-7 people

[@dankoher4318]

With all the remote IT workers this town would be perfect. Like someone else stated such an incredible waste. Look at the cost of maintaining the lawns while allowing some structures to fall into disrepair. 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ Or as a retiree village, just so unbelievable.

[@billseren8391]

Not true. Make sure it has reliable Comcast service first for remote work 🤣

[@joeljungle]

Why is it abandoned

[@davidstelle8953]

Imlaystown NJ is the same way. Only a few residents left.

[@RayOutThere]

I'll have to check that out

[@joevanlear7566]

Movin to Walpac!😉🥃🙊

[@hauntedhose]

Walpack Twp….population 7 Lots of crazy shit out there on Rt 80 Sussex ish areas

[@aprillisa910]

I remember when Walpak was owned by the Eatontown Lions Club and there used be be a environmental center which was also a camp the the town used for their school district. I went every year until I was in 6th grade. It's a shame that they let it go to pot.

[@dwinchester3865]

That's a Nice clean looking place, why don't people come to live there...

[@catman58]

How would I get there from Clinton, NJ

[@RayOutThere]

Probably take 31 North all the way.

[@ssherrierable]

The fact that they have no squatters or vandals coming there and destroying the place is very rare and unique. In 250 more years this place will be a special site

[@RayOutThere]

Sadly, there has been some vandalism here. But I hope this place is still here in 250 years

[@pogo9876]

This place isn't exactly "abandoned". The county (Sussex county) uses it for various things. Obviously, storage. Historical society meetings. They've had "country festivals" there in the not so distant past. Look how well the lawn is maintained. The buildings are in fantastic condition (that's fairly recent). If anyone had tried to squat here, they'd be found out within a week. Parks and recreation visit daily.

[@coreturkoane5570]

@@pogo9876 how would you know that parks and recreation visit?

[@pogo9876]

@@coreturkoane5570 If you read and understood my first post, you should be able to deduce this. Smh.... I've seen them. They gotta big Sussex County logo on the side of their vehicles. You can't miss them. Lmfao. Also, the land it's on is a "nature reserve" and there's signs. As mentioned, I've been there many times. That's how I know....

[@DRamos-sz9pq]

I remember Camp Walpack in the 80's. It was like Job Corp.

[@Bzzzzzzzz535]

Been here a lot in the early to mid eighties and it is spooky.

[@kenweis2291]

Looks like a great place to film a new old friday 13th or horror

[@decadeoldgames1571]

I like small towns with less people. I don't why i like places where not much is going on

[@laurabergenstein9448]

i love theses kind of things 3/24/22

[@beyondthegrave4663]

Kinda remains me of swan island in Richmond Maine. It's a beautiful place

[@RayOutThere]

I will have to look into that place

[@a2roland]

Thank You!

[@sharrontaylor4744]

Population : what maybe 10 . Now thats my kind of town ! Ray Out There , someone must make it into town in order to do grounds keeping 🤗🤗

[@RayOutThere]

There is one occupied house and the town is a registered historic place. I'm not sure who exactly does the maintenance but its being cared for.

[@IVant2BAlone]

My kind of town , too, but I would prefer a population of one: me. The town looks so cute.

[@barryismygod]

The state maintains it I believe