Where Is The Real Crystal Lake Located?
Was Camp Crystal Lake a Real Place?
Almost every horror fan has known some experience in their life that somewhat resembles a “Camp Crystal Lake.” Some have gone to actual summer camp. Others have stayed at a cabin with their family or friends. A day at the lake or camping in the woods is frequently considered a relaxing way to spend time over the summer…unless of course someone invited Jason Voorhees! So, is there a real Camp Crystal Lake out there? Where is it located if so?
Horror Enthusiast went on a search to find the real Camp Crystal Lake
The Real Life Camp Crystal Lake
The truth is, there is no “real” Camp Crystal Lake, however, there is a filming location in the woods. And the filming location for the real Camp Crystal Lake, is an ACTUAL camp! The real location for the Friday the 13th movies is Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco. Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco is actually owned by the Boy Scouts of America. In northwestern New Jersey.
Interestingly, despite the location being used for the original Friday the 13th movie (1980), it was not until recent years (2011), that the camp decided to open up to provide public tours. Horror fans around the world were enthused when they realized they could actually visit the filming location of the original Friday the 13th movie. So far, they have had 4 tours spread across 4 years, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Each tour has been more successful and sold more tickets out faster than each previous tour.
The park itself is beautiful and what you would expect to find at a thriving Boy Scouts of America camp. Spanning almost 400 acres wide, and being surrounded by more recreation and land preservation areas, Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco was the perfect filming location for the horror movie that has since been loved for decades by infinite fans.
Several sources claim that it is “Tomahawk Lake” in Sussex County, New Jersey. This is incorrect. The Lake used in the Friday the 13th film is on site at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, and is actually called “Sand Pond.” This can be further confirmed by checking out the awesome store offered by the Boy Scouts of America on their Nobebosco.com storefront. They sell some key evidence such as: “Angry Mother Lake” T-Shirts, “Angry Mother Lake” Tour Souvenirs, and even bottled sawmill shavings and lake water by the “Angry Mother Bottling Co.”. Obviously, this is a reference to the original movie, which features Jason’s ‘angry mother’ as the killer. It is even possible top buy pieces of the log cabins used in the movie itself!
Final Words About Friday the 13th and Camp Crystal Lake
Jason Voorhees is one of the most famous and deadliest of all horror movie slashers. However, it is almost impossible to imagine Jason Voorhees anywhere besides his Camp Crystal Lake (with the exception of Jason X, aka ‘Jason in Space’). And while “Camp Crystal Lake” is technically a fictional location, the camp rented to produce the first Friday the 13th film is most certainly real. That all said, the horror fan tours that are always sold out at the REAL Camp Crystal Lake show a strong demand by the fan base to explore the lake property that created Jason Voorhees. These tours of Jason’s tomb will make it nearly impossible for him to rest in peace…thus, Horror Enthusiast can only assume Jason will be back!
Disclaimer: Do not show up at the Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco unless you have purchased tour tickets, as it is private property and they do not typically allow public access!
Do you love Camp Crystal Lake and Friday the 13th like we do? There are tons of fan materials made every year. Check Horror Hub Marketplace for the latest Friday the 13th fan merchandise.
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.