Did you know? New Jersey is Home to Friday the 13th!

It’s just a stone’s throw away – this upcoming Friday happens to be none other than Friday the 13th! And what could be a more fitting way to celebrate this eerie date than by being in New Jersey?

Fun fact: The iconic original Friday the 13th movie was actually filmed in various locations across the Garden State, including Blairstown, NJ, Hope, NJ, and Camp NoBeBoSco in Hardwick Township, NJ.

Blairstown fully embraces its connection to the iconic film. Every time Friday the 13th rolls around, Roy’s Hall on Main Street treats horror enthusiasts to a screening of the movie. I attended a few years back and had an absolutely fantastic experience. Keep an eye out for their upcoming screening events. For more details, you can find information by clicking HERE.

For those who may not be familiar, the original Friday the 13th film from 1980 is a classic slasher flick that follows a group of teenagers meeting gruesome fates as they attempt to reopen the long-abandoned Camp Crystal Lake. Notably, a young Kevin Bacon graced the screen in this film. This installment laid the foundation for a sprawling film franchise, introducing the menacing and mask-wearing figure, Jason Voorhees (although initially, it’s his mother who does the killing), instilling fear in teens and making them think twice about any physical activities, as they might just end up as victims.

Nestled in Warren County, New Jersey, Blairstown is a charming historic district boasting a vibrant downtown area. Its idyllic small-town ambiance served as the ideal backdrop for the unfolding events in the film. The movie opens with a memorable scene where the main character, Annie, crosses a quaint little bridge as she strolls into town.

While some aspects of the town, including the bridge, have undergone changes over the past 36 years, Blairstown remains remarkably familiar to fans of the film.

If you’re in search of a meal, don’t miss the Blairstown Diner! Situated along Route 94, this is the very diner where Steve whiles away the evening while his friends meet their unfortunate fates at the hands of a murderer. (PS. The Diner is currently for sale if anyone wants to co-own a diner with me.)

Camp NoBeBoSco, also known as Camp Crystal Lake, served as the primary filming location, and numerous structures remain unchanged to this day. The camp successfully hosts the official Friday the 13th tour, delighting fans with its rich cinematic history.

The camp has operated continuously since the summer of 1927. For tours of the camp, information can be found HERE , but they sell out way in advance. Tour experiences vary with every season.

Past examples include:

• Full-length walking tours that visit all of the filming locations in the camp and shorter lakefront tours that take you directly to the center of the movie set.
• Morning, afternoon, evening, and flashlight tour sessions.
• Special activities such as canoeing, archery, Q&A sessions, etc.
• Exclusive gift souvenirs and apparel.
• Meals in the historic dining hall.
• Celebrity guests and movie artifact appearances.
• …and other extraordinary experiences that you won’t find anywhere else!

Be sure to sign up on their mailing list since generally, tours sell out very quickly, and if you can’t make the tour they also sell souvenirs on their website.

I for one am proud to have this movie as part of New Jersey’s pop culture history.

Enjoy your Friday the 13th, New Jersey! If you’re a fan of the original movie, then a trip to Blairstown, NJ should definitely be on your bucket list!