Overview
The mere mention of seaside boardwalks is likely to conjure up visions of the famed Jersey Shore along the New Jersey coastline. Everyone has heard about Atlantic City, but near the southernmost point of the state is Cape May. Famous for its sandy beaches, refreshing eats, sunshine, and historic charm, Cape May has been attracting vacationers for centuries. However, those looking for something a little quieter can venture to the shores of Higbee Beach, along Delaware Bay. Here, among the dunes, forests, and sandy shoreline, local legend says one former resident may still be taking his evening walks. Never heard of a haunted beach before? Your friends here at FrightFind have, and here’s the scoop on that.
Photo courtesy of Editorofthewiki on Wikimedia.
Higbee Beach sits along Delaware Bay at the southern end of the Cape May Peninsula. The surrounding Cape May area has long been famous as one of America’s oldest seaside resort destinations, with vacationers traveling to the region as far back as the 18th century. Higbee Beach itself has a long history as well. Historic farms and buildings once occupied the area, and industrial operations later appeared nearby. Today, much of the land is protected as the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, known especially for the enormous numbers of migratory birds that pass through Cape May each year.
But who exactly is the ghost said to wander Higbee Beach?
The Higbee name can be traced to Joseph S. Higbee, a Delaware Bay river pilot who began purchasing land in the area in 1823. Joseph eventually owned an inn known as the Hermitage Hotel along New England Road. After Joseph died in 1872, his brother Thomas Higbee became associated with the property. When Thomas died in 1879, he was buried on the Higbee property near the hotel according to his wishes.
Thomas remained there for decades, but he wouldn’t stay forever.
The property eventually passed to his niece, Etta Gregory. Following Etta’s death in 1937, Thomas’s remains were removed from their longtime resting place and reburied at Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery. According to local folklore, disturbing Thomas Higbee’s grave may have given the former landowner a reason to return to his old property.
Over the years, stories have circulated of a mysterious man dressed in old-fashioned dark clothing walking along Higbee Beach. He has reportedly been accompanied by an enormous black dog. Witnesses have reportedly tried to approach the strange pair, only to watch them mysteriously disappear before they can get close. The apparition has become associated with Thomas Higbee, although no one can say for certain that it’s him.
Other paranormal stories have become attached to Higbee Beach as its haunted reputation has grown. Visitors have reported unexplained sounds, strange figures, and the uncomfortable sensation that someone is nearby when the beach appears completely deserted. Whether these experiences are evidence of something supernatural or simply the result of an isolated beach and a very active imagination is another question entirely.
Today, Higbee Beach is part of a sprawling wildlife management area containing beaches, dunes, forests, fields, and wetlands. Its quiet Delaware Bay shoreline can feel far removed from the busy tourist areas normally associated with the Jersey Shore.
But if you’re walking Higbee Beach and notice an old-fashioned man with a large black dog wandering ahead of you, you might want to pay close attention.
If he suddenly disappears before you can catch up, you may very well have crossed paths with the legendary Higbee Beach Ghost.
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