Haunting Secrets and Mysteries Lurk in New York's Central Park

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Central Park, one of the most visited parks in the world, is also one of the most haunted. With a history of crime, murder, and tragedy, the park is home to numerous ghost stories and unsolved mysteries, from the spirits of two Victorian-era sisters to a designer's secret that may be hidden somewhere within the grounds.

Why it matters

Central Park's haunting history sheds light on the darker side of New York City's past, challenging the park's idyllic image and raising questions about the secrets that may still lie buried within its grounds.

The details

The park's first recorded murder occurred in 1870, the same year it was completed. In the 1980s, it gained a reputation for high crime rates, with over 1,000 incidents reported annually. Legends abound, such as the spirits of the Van Der Voort sisters, who are said to still glide across the ice where they were once confined by their overprotective father. The park's co-designer, Calvert Vaux, claimed to have hidden a major historical secret in the park before his mysterious drowning in 1895. Nearby, the Dakota apartment building has its own dark history, including the 1980 murder of Beatle John Lennon and its use in the filming of the horror classic "Rosemary's Baby."

• The first recorded murder in Central Park occurred in 1870, the same year the park was completed.
• In the early 1980s, the park had gained a reputation for high crime rates, with over 1,000 incidents reported annually.
• In 1895, Calvert Vaux, the park's co-designer, claimed to have hidden a major historical secret in the park before his mysterious drowning in Gravesend Bay two months later.

What’s next

Paranormal investigators continue to explore Central Park, searching for clues about the park's haunted history and the secrets that may still lie buried within its grounds.