The Hudson Valley is one of the most haunted places in America. The Valley is  known to be me to several Indian ghosts who died at Spook Rock in Rockland  County. Several points along the Valley have become known as Spook Rock.

One story behind a ghost at Spook Rock stems from the story of a Dutch woman who regularly met her Indian lover. Distraught by this mixed-race courtship, story has it that Dutch settlers climbed up the rock by moonlight and murdered the young lovers. The legend has it that moonlight still casts the shadows of the murdered lovers, and people can hear their screams in the woods along Spook Rock Road.
Halloween Pumpkins and Ghost story’s

The story has become well-known because it demonstrates the tensions that existed between the settlers and Indians. The settlers’ punishment for mixed-race courtship is death. Shadows of the murdered young lovers along with echoing screams show how cruel and unjust this retribution was.Spook Rock Rockland County

In another Spook Rock legend, and Indian daughter was kidnapped when a Dutch farmer cheated some Indians while trading with them. The daughter was put on a sacrificial rock and killed. Immediately following, her spirit rose up and shocked the tribe.

Today, small groups of young people gather late at night near Spook Rock. Teenagers say that if you put your car in neutral at the bottom of the hill on Spook Rock Road, it will go backwards up the hill.

For a real spook on Spook Rock Road, check out the Historical County of Rockland County’s spooky story-telling on Wednesday, October 29, at 4 and 5 pm. Storyteller Colette Guibert, portraying Naut Kaniff, the legendary witch of West Nyack, will be whispering the stories of those who never left the historical haunted houses and places of Rockland. Reservations are recommended, fee is $5 per person.

www.rocklanhistory.org

Karen Toner for ExplorerPod.com