Ong's Hat
The Hat in the Tree
State: New Jersey
County: Burlington County
Founded: 1700s
Abandoned: 1900s
Peak Population: Unknown
Ong's Hat was a real hamlet in the Pine Barrens, named (by legend) after a hat thrown into a tree by a rejected suitor named Jacob Ong. In the 1990s, it became the subject of one of the first internet conspiracy theories, claiming it was a portal to another dimension. Nothing remains.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Year-round
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 5 mins
Quick Facts
- First viral internet conspiracy theory
- Named after a hat in a tree
- Only a road sign remains
Location
Address: Ong's Hat, NJ
Coordinates: 39.8333, -74.6833