New Jersey is a wonderful state, but we pack in our fair share of weirdness. We’re home to a wide range of strange spots, though personally, we’re quite proud of it. Normal can be boring, embrace the quirky attractions and repeat after us: eccentricity makes the world go round! Take a look at ten awesomely weird New Jersey places to visit, you may never want to leave once you discover just how strange our state is!
- Luna Parc, Montague
Flickr/stephanierose1226 This weird and whimsical work of art is the private home and studio space of Ricky Boscarino. Generally closed to the public, Luna Parc occasionally available to tour. Luna Parc, 22 Degroat Rd, Sandyston, NJ 07827, USA
- Martian Landing Site, West Windsor Township
Wikipedia/ZeWrestler According to a 1938 radio broadcast, Martians landed in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. The Halloween broadcast was fictional, based on H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”. Many took it as fact, inciting panic. Now it makes for a fun story. Martian Landing Site Marker, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA
- Tripod Rock, Kinnelon
Flickr/Steven Reynolds This highly unusual glacial erratic on Pyramid Mountain lines up perfectly with the setting point of the sun on the summer solstice. The strange formation of Tripod Rock is believed to have occurred naturally. Tripod Rock, Kinnelon, NJ 07405, USA
- Insectropolis, Toms River
Facebook/Insectropolis Though this isn’t my favorite place, if you like bugs, you’ll love this unique museum! Exhibits at Insectropolis include Caterpillar Cafe, Bug University, The Mud Tube, and more! Suitable for all ages, kids tend to love it! Insectropolis, 1761 US-9, Toms River, NJ 08755, USA
- Lucy, Margate
Flickr/Amy Kearns A local favorite, Lucy the Elephant is a shore staple. Though a popular tourist attraction, a six-story elephant is a bit strange. We wouldn’t have it any other way! Lucy the Elephant, 9200 Atlantic Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402, USA
- Bunker on the Beach, Cape May
Flickr/Sahigg This abandoned WWII bunker is a strange sight to see on a sunny beach, but it sure is interesting. You can also see the wreckage of the SS Atlantus sticking out of the water. Cape May Point, NJ, USA
- Burial Site of “Elsie” the Cow, Plainsboro
Flickr/Jazz Guy A moo-morial to “the most famous cow that ever lived”, this is a loving tribute to Elsie, Borden Dairy’s mascot. A fictional character, beloved by fans, she was brought to life in the 1930s and 40s by a Jersey Cow named Lobelia. Heron Court, Heron Ct, Plainsboro Township, NJ 08536, USA
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, Atlantic City
Facebook/Ripleys This quirky museum celebrates all things strange and obscure. Best of all, it’s right by the beach. Enjoy the “odditorium” where you can find the world’s smallest production car and a table made entirely of jelly beans! Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 1441 Boardwalk Corner of Boardwalk and, N New York Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA
- The Chair House, West Creek
Flickr/LancerE When driving down Route 9, you’ll notice a uniquely shaped house. Look up to see what makes this home so strange! West Creek, New Jersey 08270, USA
- The Steampunk World’s Fair, Piscataway
Facebook/SteampunkWorldsFair Editor’s Note: The Steampunk World’s Fair has been canceled. Let your imagination run wild at this wacky event. Steampunk is all about the strange, but in the most magical of ways. It combines history, fantasy and the macabre, making for a mysterious festival that can’t be missed.
Are you getting ready to check out any of these weird places in New Jersey? You might be interested to know that We’re also home to the mysterious “blue hole” which, according to legend, is always cold, and the stone living room – a man-made rock formation. What other weird locations would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments.
Flickr/stephanierose1226
This weird and whimsical work of art is the private home and studio space of Ricky Boscarino. Generally closed to the public, Luna Parc occasionally available to tour.
Luna Parc, 22 Degroat Rd, Sandyston, NJ 07827, USA
Wikipedia/ZeWrestler
According to a 1938 radio broadcast, Martians landed in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. The Halloween broadcast was fictional, based on H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”. Many took it as fact, inciting panic. Now it makes for a fun story.
Martian Landing Site Marker, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA
Flickr/Steven Reynolds
This highly unusual glacial erratic on Pyramid Mountain lines up perfectly with the setting point of the sun on the summer solstice. The strange formation of Tripod Rock is believed to have occurred naturally.
Tripod Rock, Kinnelon, NJ 07405, USA
Facebook/Insectropolis
Though this isn’t my favorite place, if you like bugs, you’ll love this unique museum! Exhibits at Insectropolis include Caterpillar Cafe, Bug University, The Mud Tube, and more! Suitable for all ages, kids tend to love it!
Insectropolis, 1761 US-9, Toms River, NJ 08755, USA
Flickr/Amy Kearns
A local favorite, Lucy the Elephant is a shore staple. Though a popular tourist attraction, a six-story elephant is a bit strange. We wouldn’t have it any other way!
Lucy the Elephant, 9200 Atlantic Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402, USA
Flickr/Sahigg
This abandoned WWII bunker is a strange sight to see on a sunny beach, but it sure is interesting. You can also see the wreckage of the SS Atlantus sticking out of the water.
Cape May Point, NJ, USA
Flickr/Jazz Guy
A moo-morial to “the most famous cow that ever lived”, this is a loving tribute to Elsie, Borden Dairy’s mascot. A fictional character, beloved by fans, she was brought to life in the 1930s and 40s by a Jersey Cow named Lobelia.
Heron Court, Heron Ct, Plainsboro Township, NJ 08536, USA
Facebook/Ripleys
This quirky museum celebrates all things strange and obscure. Best of all, it’s right by the beach. Enjoy the “odditorium” where you can find the world’s smallest production car and a table made entirely of jelly beans!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 1441 Boardwalk Corner of Boardwalk and, N New York Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA
Flickr/LancerE
When driving down Route 9, you’ll notice a uniquely shaped house. Look up to see what makes this home so strange!
West Creek, New Jersey 08270, USA
Facebook/SteampunkWorldsFair
Editor’s Note: The Steampunk World’s Fair has been canceled. Let your imagination run wild at this wacky event. Steampunk is all about the strange, but in the most magical of ways. It combines history, fantasy and the macabre, making for a mysterious festival that can’t be missed.
If this article made you fall in love with New Jersey, you should read our list of the best New Jersey road trips. With haunted trips, tons of waterfalls, and many more weird New Jersey places to visit, you will definitely find a trip on this list to entertain (or a few!)
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird and Wacky New Jersey December 30, 2022 Sara Dager What weird museums in New Jersey should I visit? It’s almost hard to believe how many weird museums in New Jersey there are, there’s a spot for every type of enthusiast to get educated, such as:
The Lawrence Hutton Death Mask Collection at Princeton The USGA Museum in Far Hills Stone Museum in Monroe DooWop Experience Museum in Wildwood Northlandz in Flemington InfoAge Science History Learning Center & Museum in Wall
Are there any strange roadside attractions in New Jersey to check out? Some may refer to them as tourist traps, but we know that roadside attractions can be a great way to experience a state’s culture! Some of the wackiest roadside attractions in New Jersey are:
Lizard JFK IN Asbury Park The Bayville Dinosaur in Bayville Nitro Girl in Blackwood Worlds Largest Tooth in Trenton Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
Does New Jersey have any interesting accommodations to spend the night in? If you are looking for a good place to rest your head for a while, it might as well be a conversation starter! For unique accommodations in New Jersey take a look at:
Grand Cascades Lodge in Vernon Chelsea Pub and Inn in Atlantic City The Woolverton Inn Bed & Breakfast in Stockton Whistling Swan Inn in Stanhope Icona in Diamond Beach
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird and Wacky New Jersey
December 30, 2022
Sara Dager
What weird museums in New Jersey should I visit? It’s almost hard to believe how many weird museums in New Jersey there are, there’s a spot for every type of enthusiast to get educated, such as:
The Lawrence Hutton Death Mask Collection at Princeton The USGA Museum in Far Hills Stone Museum in Monroe DooWop Experience Museum in Wildwood Northlandz in Flemington InfoAge Science History Learning Center & Museum in Wall
Are there any strange roadside attractions in New Jersey to check out? Some may refer to them as tourist traps, but we know that roadside attractions can be a great way to experience a state’s culture! Some of the wackiest roadside attractions in New Jersey are:
Lizard JFK IN Asbury Park The Bayville Dinosaur in Bayville Nitro Girl in Blackwood Worlds Largest Tooth in Trenton Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
Does New Jersey have any interesting accommodations to spend the night in? If you are looking for a good place to rest your head for a while, it might as well be a conversation starter! For unique accommodations in New Jersey take a look at:
Grand Cascades Lodge in Vernon Chelsea Pub and Inn in Atlantic City The Woolverton Inn Bed & Breakfast in Stockton Whistling Swan Inn in Stanhope Icona in Diamond Beach
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
It’s almost hard to believe how many weird museums in New Jersey there are, there’s a spot for every type of enthusiast to get educated, such as:
- The Lawrence Hutton Death Mask Collection at Princeton
- The USGA Museum in Far Hills
- Stone Museum in Monroe
- DooWop Experience Museum in Wildwood
- Northlandz in Flemington
- InfoAge Science History Learning Center & Museum in Wall
Are there any strange roadside attractions in New Jersey to check out?
Some may refer to them as tourist traps, but we know that roadside attractions can be a great way to experience a state’s culture! Some of the wackiest roadside attractions in New Jersey are:
- Lizard JFK IN Asbury Park
- The Bayville Dinosaur in Bayville
- Nitro Girl in Blackwood
- Worlds Largest Tooth in Trenton
- Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
Does New Jersey have any interesting accommodations to spend the night in?
If you are looking for a good place to rest your head for a while, it might as well be a conversation starter! For unique accommodations in New Jersey take a look at:
- Grand Cascades Lodge in Vernon
- Chelsea Pub and Inn in Atlantic City
- The Woolverton Inn Bed & Breakfast in Stockton
- Whistling Swan Inn in Stanhope
- Icona in Diamond Beach
