The spooky season is upon us and there have been sightings of mysterious horns in various Burlington County Parks. Do the horns belong to the legendary Jersey Devil from Pinelands folklore?
Burlington County residents and visitors can see for themselves during the Burlington County Jersey Devil Watch, an interactive Burlington County Parks promotion for visitors of all ages.
Throughout the month of November, visitors to Burlington County parks should be on the lookout for these unusual horns. Those who spot one are encouraged to take a selfie and post photos with the tag #burlcojerseydevil to help Burlington County Parks staff track the possible whereabouts of the elusive creature.
Photos and clues about Jersey Devil horn sightings will be posted on the Burlington County Parks System’s Facebook and Instagram social media, so be sure to follow both.
“The Burlington County Parks System is among the best in the nation with more than 1,000 acres of scenic parkland and 50 miles of interior and regional trails to explore. Is it any wonder the elusive Jersey Devil is now rumored to be lurking about them?” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “Whether you believe the Jersey Devil is real, or not, there’s always something new and wonderful to discover when you visit a Burlington County park, and this promotion is a great opportunity for people to explore and visit County parks that may be new to them.”
Historical origins
The Jersey Devil is one of the Garden State’s most enduring legends, and many of the creature’s origin tales are rooted with the real-life family of Daniel Leeds, the Surveyor General of Burlington County during the late 1600s. Leeds was a man of science and politics who often clashed with the local Quakers. He was also a rival with Ben Franklin and an associate of the British Royal Governor of New Jersey, prompting some historians to speculate that tales of “Mother Leed’s” 13th child transforming into a winged creature with the face of a horse, the head of a dog, bat-like wings, horns and a tail, were fueled by these historical feuds.
For more than 250 years there have been reports of Jersey Devil sightings across the South Jersey region and even in Philadelphia, New York, and Delaware.
Other creatures
The Jersey Devil isn’t the only fantastical creature that can be found in Burlington County. Several of the trolls from the County’s Troll Trek exhibition also reside in select County parks.
The trolls were created in 2024 by regional artists for an exhibition organized by the Burlington County Commissioners and Burlington County Parks System and are placed in outdoor locations throughout the county. The exhibition was inspired by Big Rusty, a large troll created by world-renowned artist Thomas Dambo at the site of Hainesport’s future Creek Turn Park. Like Big Rusty, each troll is made from recycled or natural materials.
Several of the trolls are located in County parks, including Crystal Lake Park in Mansfield, Arney’s Mount Park in Springfield, Amico Island Park in Delran, and Pennington Park in Delanco.
The locations of all the trolls (including GPS coordinates) can be found on an online map posted on the Burlington County Troll Trek page: https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2076/Troll-Trek-2024.
Burlington County parks are also home to an abundance of wildlife, including dozens of species of butterflies and other insects, turtles, foxes, muskrats, river otter, and birds.
“The trolls have been fantastic additions to Burlington County parks and downtowns, attracting visitors from across New Jersey and beyond,” said Commissioner Eckel. “The Jersey Devil Watch is another fun attraction that encourages families to get outdoors and explore our County parks.”
Residents and visitors can check the Burlington County Parks System seasonal program guide for a full rundown of all the seasonal activities, classes, and events held each week in Burlington County parks and museums. It’s available online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/235/Parks.
