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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cape May's Southern Mansion ranks #1 in New Jersey's haunted index

A new index ranks places by published accounts, not legend

September 30, 2026

With Halloween approaching, The Southern Mansion in Cape May ranks #1 in HauntBound's 2026 index of New Jersey's most haunted places. The index ranks 162 New Jersey sites by separate published accounts and how far back they go, not by fame or search popularity.

The Southern Mansion ranks #1. Philadelphia industrialist George Allen built the mansion as a seaside estate in 1863; his niece Esther married there in 1905. Four separate published accounts describe activity there, the earliest dated to 1876. Guests have described a floral perfume drifting through rooms, the rustling of a petticoat in the hallways, and glimpses of a well-dressed woman dancing in the parlor, attributed to Esther.

Also in the top ten: Clinton Road at #3 in West Milford, Drew University's Mead Hall at #4 in Madison and the Inn of the Hawke at #10 in Lambertville.

Leeds Point (Jersey Devil Birthplace) in Galloway, the state's most famous haunted site, ranks #2. The index's most commonly reported phenomenon is apparitions, on record at 80 New Jersey sites.

"We rank by evidence, not legend: independent published accounts, documented history, and how far back the reports go. We don't claim ghosts are real, or that they aren't. We document where the reports concentrate, and we show our work," said Ben Fineman, editor of HauntBound. The ranking shows each site's documented record.

Visiting:The Southern Mansion, 720 Washington St., Cape May, is a bed-and-breakfast open year-round, including October, for overnight guests and weddings.

For media:The full ranking: https://hauntbound.com/most-haunted/new-jersey/The fact sheet, with Cape May numbers and cleared images: https://hauntbound.com/press/fact-sheets/new-jersey/Photo: the Southern Mansion, on the fact sheet.Venue contact: southernmansion.comA short version follows.

HauntBound (hauntbound.com) is a family-friendly field guide to more than 6,000 documented haunted and historic places across the United States, ranked by published evidence rather than legend. No venue pays to be listed or ranked.

Media contact: Ben Fineman, Editor, HauntBound, editor@hauntbound.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cape May's Southern Mansion ranks #1 in New Jersey's haunted index
A new index ranks places by published accounts, not legend

September 30, 2026

With Halloween approaching, The Southern Mansion in Cape May ranks #1 in HauntBound's 2026 index of New Jersey's most haunted places. The index ranks 162 New Jersey sites by separate published accounts and how far back they go, not by fame or search popularity.

The Southern Mansion ranks #1. Philadelphia industrialist George Allen built the mansion as a seaside estate in 1863; his niece Esther married there in 1905. Four separate published accounts describe activity there, the earliest dated to 1876. Guests have described a floral perfume drifting through rooms, the rustling of a petticoat in the hallways, and glimpses of a well-dressed woman dancing in the parlor, attributed to Esther.

Also in the top ten: Clinton Road at #3 in West Milford, Drew University's Mead Hall at #4 in Madison and the Inn of the Hawke at #10 in Lambertville.

Leeds Point (Jersey Devil Birthplace) in Galloway, the state's most famous haunted site, ranks #2. The index's most commonly reported phenomenon is apparitions, on record at 80 New Jersey sites.

"We rank by evidence, not legend: independent published accounts, documented history, and how far back the reports go. We don't claim ghosts are real, or that they aren't. We document where the reports concentrate, and we show our work," said Ben Fineman, editor of HauntBound. The ranking shows each site's documented record.

Visiting:
The Southern Mansion, 720 Washington St., Cape May, is a bed-and-breakfast open year-round, including October, for overnight guests and weddings.

For media:
The full ranking: https://hauntbound.com/most-haunted/new-jersey/
The fact sheet, with Cape May numbers and cleared images: https://hauntbound.com/press/fact-sheets/new-jersey/
Photo: the Southern Mansion, on the fact sheet.
Venue contact: southernmansion.com
A short version follows.

About HauntBound: HauntBound (hauntbound.com) is a family-friendly field guide to more than 6,000 documented haunted and historic places across the United States, ranked by published evidence rather than legend. No venue pays to be listed or ranked.

Media contact: Ben Fineman, Editor, HauntBound, editor@hauntbound.com

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Short version

SHORT VERSION

Cape May's Southern Mansion ranks #1 in New Jersey's index

The Southern Mansion in Cape May ranks #1 among New Jersey's ten most haunted places in HauntBound's 2026 index, which ranks sites by separate published accounts rather than fame. Philadelphia industrialist George Allen built the mansion as a seaside estate in 1863; his niece Esther married there in 1905. Guests describe a floral perfume, a rustling petticoat and a well-dressed woman dancing in the parlor, attributed to Esther. The mansion is a bed-and-breakfast open year-round for overnight guests.

Full ranking: https://hauntbound.com/most-haunted/new-jersey/

SHORT VERSION
Cape May's Southern Mansion ranks #1 in New Jersey's index
The Southern Mansion in Cape May ranks #1 among New Jersey's ten most haunted places in HauntBound's 2026 index, which ranks sites by separate published accounts rather than fame. Philadelphia industrialist George Allen built the mansion as a seaside estate in 1863; his niece Esther married there in 1905. Guests describe a floral perfume, a rustling petticoat and a well-dressed woman dancing in the parlor, attributed to Esther. The mansion is a bed-and-breakfast open year-round for overnight guests.
Full ranking: https://hauntbound.com/most-haunted/new-jersey/