How the Bizarre Story of the Jersey Devil Began in the Pine Barrens

Straight out of the Pine Barrens of Jackson New Jersey, “The Jersey Devil” debuts this weekend. It’s the new roller coaster that thrill-seekers will be dying to experience at Great Adventure starting this Sunday. I can’t wait to ride it!

Actually, I can’t think of a better name for a new thrill ride in the state of New Jersey, given the history of the legend or as the case may be, the folklore.

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The story or the legend of the Jersey Devil has been around since the beginning of the 20th century.  Centered around the Leeds family in the Pine Barrens.   The story as it is told starts with the mother of a Pine Barrens resident, Jane Leeds.  Mother Leads as she became known, who reluctantly gave birth to her 13th child thinking it would be cursed.  The story continues, born as a child it quickly changed into a monster with a long tail that it used beat everyone down with before flying into the woods of Jersey.

Every kid from Jersey who spent the night camping listened to the story of the Jersey Devil.  Maybe it was as they sat around the campfire roasting marshmallows or singing songs.  Every one of those kids also had nightmares either while at camp or later when they returned home.  I admit I was one of those kids.