The Red Mill Village transforms into a haunted nightmare you won’t soon forget.

Clinton is a charming little town on the Raritan River with a lovely shopping area, scenic views, a historic village, wonderful restaurants, and an art museum. It’s a fantastic place to visit, but once a year, it becomes a nightmare. Nowadays, Clinton is regarded as the best Halloween town in New Jersey, and it's a destination you have to see to believe. So save the date—this year's opening night is slated for October 3rd, 2025.

Home to just 2,700 residents, this picturesque town is perfect for a springtime stroll—but everything changes each autumn. Red Mill Village is the heart of the town, housing the Red Mill and several surrounding buildings, including a schoolhouse and carriage sheds.

A lovely place to learn about New Jersey's milling history, it's important to remember that milling was once very dangerous work. With that knowledge in mind, it is no surprise that the site is said to be haunted. With little to no safety measures in place, workers were often maimed or killed, and there are numerous stories of untimely deaths surrounding Clinton's Red Mill, built in 1810.

Stories tell of a mill worker who fell into the third-floor hopper and suffocated to death. Others mention a young boy who lived on the property who was cleaning a revolver when it discharged. Still more say the spirit of a young girl whose father worked at the mill often comes to visit. Though the spirits slumber much of the year, they come out in full force throughout the month of October.

The Red Mill Village transforms into the Haunted Village, where you'll find floor after floor of twists, turns, ghouls, and zombies.

The dead are rising, and you'll need to run for your life. But the real scare starts to set in when you learn that visitors report appreciating the period actor on the mill's third floor, who brings the 1800s to life. The mill does not employ costumed actors.

After making it out of the Red Mill Museum alive, you’ll adore embarking on a hayride deep into the woods. While the event can be a bit too spooky for little ones, there are kid-friendly "happy haunts." Lights are left on, and kids can enjoy additional attractions like face painting.

Haunted Red Mill Village takes place on Fridays and Saturdays starting October 3rd. You can find more information on the Red Mill Museum Village website. And don't forget to get your tickets!

Have you ever visited this spooky site? If not, it may be time to embark on a thrilling—and quite possibly, very horrifying—adventure. Looking for more spooky fun in New Jersey? Check out this haunted hike.