Image by RD Law from Pixabay

Located within the West Hills County Park, Mount Misery is the highest peak of Long Island at 400 feet.  It can be accessed by taking the Walt Whitman Trail, named for the famous poet who was born nearby and spent many years wandering in the area. Of the five original Native American tribes that settled in the area some had believed negative forces took over the land.  Not many explored the area but the ones who did often found dead and mutilated animals.  Because of its location the land was unsuccessful at growing any kind of crops.  This resulted in many people settling in the surrounding areas sparing the Mount the human contact that could have given it life.  When the land was purchased from the Indians they warned the settlers about the evil spirits that called Mount Misery home.  There were also stories of strange lights seen in the sky and a creature that roamed the hills.  The Indians asked that the new owners of the land stay away.

Despite the fact that Mount Misery is a rocky area which early colonists found near impossible to farm and Native claimed to be cursed a small mental hospital is said to have been built on the grounds in the early 1900s, but after a patient named Mary escaped she set the building on fire; there was no effort to rebuild, and Mary is alleged to be buried somewhere on the grounds.

A great deal of paranormal activity has been reported at Mount Misery. Visitors have reported visions of ghastly children and of a woman calling for help. Others have smelled foul odors or blood and heard growling when no animals were in sight, and some say they have seen a strange beast with glowing red eyes. Glowing orbs and shadow people have been seen as well, and voices crying out or saying that they are burning have been heard.

There are also a few stories about Sweet Hollow Road that coincide with the Mount Misery tales.  Sweet Hollow Road runs parallel to Mount Misery and is located within West Hills Park.  Supposedly a couple of people died along this road and they are said to haunt the area.  One man, a police officer, was killed by a gunshot to the head.  You may find him still pulling cars over.  Another death was a woman who got hit by a car while changing her flat tire.  This was said to happen by the underpass.  It seems as if she is friendly considering she will push your car passed the bridge if you turn it off and put it in neutral.  I assume she doesn't want anyone to suffer like she did.  I also heard of some young boys who hung themselves on the bridge and you can sometimes see them still hanging.  All these stories are haunting and if you believe in ghosts like I do, you will be more aware when you are traveling in that area next time.

Resources:
https://patch.com/new-york/huntington/a-new-view-mount-misery

https://www.lihauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/mount-misery.html