Mount Misery: Long Island’s Spookiest Spot

When it comes to frightful locales on Long Island, forget about traffic jams. Instead, there are about 70 eerie spots in Nassau and Suffolk County that attract the attention of local ghost researchers. Yet, one spot particularly stands out: Mount Misery in Melville.

“The full moon on an autumn equinox? It’s like opening the gates of hell. You’re bound to encounter something,” shared Mike Caldinuto, the founder of Long Island Paranormal Investigators (LIPI).

“This is probably one of the most haunted locations on the island,” Caldinuto remarked. The area, which includes extensive hiking and horseback riding trails at West Hills County Park, has been under scrutiny by LIPI for 15 years. They’ve even divided the forest into sections for detailed research.

According to Caldinuto, he’s experienced some chilling moments, including picking up a voice on a walkie-talkie near one research site, saying, “They’re here. Please help me. Please, let me out.” He has also noted strange shifts in temperature and pressure while exploring the area.

More than 30 volunteer investigators claim to have encountered various phenomena, like eerie shadows and an unexplained scent reminiscent of rotten eggs. They’ve described witnessing a strange green aura and experiencing sudden equipment malfunctions.

Not far from Mount Misery, local hiker Stacey Brogie has noticed odd behavior from her dogs while walking the trails. “One day, she just panicked in the same spot,” Brogie recalled, adding that she also saw unusual white flashes during her walks.

The tales surrounding Mount Misery are a mixture of legend and lore. Its ominous name ironically stems from the challenging terrain, not necessarily from any ghostly activities.

For high schoolers, an intriguing rite of passage involves leaving their cars in neutral under the Northern State Parkway overpass at Sweet Hollow Road, in the belief that spirits of children killed in past bus accidents will push them forward.

Despite its spooky reputation, Caldinuto claims many unexplained events happen throughout the year, not just during Halloween. His team once had a chilling experience at the 19th-century Rogers House in Southampton, when a light bulb shattered right after they asked if any spirits wanted to communicate.

They’ve also claimed to interact with otherworldly presences at notable sites like Sagticos Manor and the eerily silent Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

Interestingly, not all spirits are hostile. Caldinuto emphasizes that the right questions can sometimes coax a response. During a winter stakeout in 2025, the eerie silence of the AM radio vacuum cleaner was broken by a voice responding to a question about hunger, leaving the ghost-hunting team—and even the skeptics—impressed.