Is Crystal Lake From Friday the 13th Real?

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Lifestyle Scary Movies and Series

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.

Camp No Be Bo Sco sign the real location of Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th

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.

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Is Jason Voorhees Immortal?

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Lifestyle Scary Movies and Series

Can Jason Voorhees Be Killed? [Friday the 13th Trivia]

Is the Friday the 13th Slasher an Immortal Killer?

Jason Voorhees is a sincerely strong horror movie slasher. Fans have watched him sustain unbelievable blows and violent damage to literally stand motionless.  He has even been lit on fire (Freddy vs Jason, for example), to simply walk forward with his blade as though it were not happening at all! Friday the 13th fans have been debating Jason’s mortality and when exactly he became the impenetrable monster that he is today.  Horror Enthusiast thumbs through the volumes of the Friday the 13th franchise to discover whether Jason Voorhees is immortal…or not!

Ways Jason Voorhees Has ‘Died’ (Ways They Tried to Kill Jason)

Can the hockey mask-wearing Friday the 13th slasher be killed? Following all of the ways people have tried to kill Jason Voorhees throughout his movies makes the answer clear!

Drowning

Although it is later explained that Jason Voorhees survived the childhood tragedy, most fans believed and still believe he died in Crystal Lake.  Technically, he survived the drowning…and although it is not clear if he was immortal at the time of the near-drowning, it has been speculated he was born immortal.

Dismembered

Many people, including Tommy Jarvis (a character in some of the movies), thought that dismembering Jason Voorhees would kill him.  Unfortunately, Jason is immortal and he survived dismemberment.

Explosive Firing Squad

Jason Voorhees suffers some pretty extreme gunfire and literally blows up as a result. The FBI unloads a ton of fire power on this horror movie slasher.  None of the agents who fired at Jason that day would ever suspect he would be back yet again!

Swallowed By Hell

Jessica Kimble (a character in one of the movies) uses a magical dagger to strike Jason, sending him straight to hell. Still, hell would eventually spit him back out to slash again!

Atmospheric Disintegration

Of the many insane ways horror movie slashers meet their “demise,” being burned up alive in Earth’s atmosphere HAS TO BE THE CRAZIEST!  Jason still returns after his outrageous death in Jason X (2001).

jason voorhees drawing from Friday the 13th holding a machete.

Jason Has the Last Laugh

Although many sources claim that Jason Voorhees is definitely dead…his constant re-emergence at Camp Crystal Lake has been evidence that he is here to stay.  Jason has literally come back from hell itself in order to torment again.  One time, another killer (Freddy Krueger), even had the power to bring him back.  No matter how many times fans may think he is dead for good, he seems to return! Jason Voorhees also maintains the title ‘deadliest horror movie slasher’ (highest body count)!

This horror movie slasher may live on forever through his glorious on-screen kills…however, he has also become a cultural horror icon, as each year, millions around the world enjoy a hockey mask costume for Halloween. One thing is definitely certain, Jason Voorhees is immortal one way or another!

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Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th and the Worship of the Female Goddess Named Mom?

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Featured Scary Movies and Series

Soon we celebrate Friday the 13th … again, or specifically, Friday November 13th which is our second this year! For horror fans Friday the 13th dates on the calendar mark the greatest excuse to Netflix and chill, while rewinding some of the greatest slasher movies of all time. 

When you think of the evil villain serial killer who stalks morally bankrupt camp counselors, it’s hard to believe that Jason Voorhees kept us captivated for 12 movies.  We still think that there is one more epic 13th movie left in the franchise, because that number would make sense, right? 

If you are a fan of the Friday the 13th movie franchise, and you are planning on ordering some pizza and binge watching as many movies as possible this evening, we’ve got some fun facts and lore about the storyline that you may find pretty cool. 

The Reverence of Friday the 13th in Homage to the Female Goddess (And How That Got Changed)

Throughout ancient history, both the day ‘Friday’ and the number ‘13’ were held in sacred esteem and were strongly associated with the Great Goddesses, and with the power of the feminine energy.  There are roughly 13 menstrual cycles in a year for women, and it is the number of lunar potencies (told you about the moon tonight) blood and fertility.

The number 13 was always a lucky number.  Sanctified in Ancient Israel, and the number of spiritual strength and renewal for Pre-Columbian Mayans. In the Wiccan faith, a powerful gathering of a coven is 13 members and for the ancient Egyptians, the very last phase or cycle of life on this planet ended at 12, and the afterlife began on the 13th.  The number was also representative of the Goddess Shekinah, the yin to the yang of the duality of the supreme God.  In the Islamic faith, Friday is the Sabbath.

The attribution of both Friday and the 13th day were so tied to mystical strengths and powers, that when matriarchal societies were suppressed by patriarchal morals and laws, they flipped the switch.  The day became “evil” or a day of activity but unrest, and less spiritual significance.  And the number 13? It became a superstitious magnet for misfortune and bad luck.

Was the movie Friday the 13th written to acknowledge the power and significance of the feminine Goddess, rage, and retribution? More specifically, was it a nod to Jason’s mother (who dies at the end of the first film?)

When we consider the epic history and characterization of Jason Voorhees, he ends up being a rather complex villain (for a guy who never spoke a word). One thing is clear; that big guy loved his Mom, because witnessing her death spurred another 11 movies about vengeance to restore the only woman that actually meant anything to Jason at all.  Talk about a “Mommy Dearest” complex tantamount to Norman Bates. 

https://youtu.be/G4t4g8T422g

Was the first movie ever supposed to be about Jason?  Or was it ‘taking Friday the 13th back’ for the Goddess? It’s a head scratcher… you tell us what you think. Betsy Palmer was pretty darned terrifying with her mom hair helmet, fisherman’s sweater, and incredible machete skills.  You could definitely tell she worked in the camp kitchen.

13 Fun Facts About The Friday the 13th Original Film You May Not Know

For diehard Jason Voorhees fans, we’ve dug deep and hard for some interesting facts (that everyone else isn’t sharing a blog post to celebrate today).   If you have something to add to our list, don’t forget to leave us a comment below.

  1. Frank Mancuso Jr. was the producer of the original 1978 version of ‘Halloween’ and its success was the inspiration to write and produce Friday the 13th. Both franchises grossed over $529 million dollars in box-office receipts by 2018.
  2. The highest grossing single film in the Friday the 13th series had a co-star.  A five-razor fingered co-star and an epic duel to the death (again) for both Jason Voorhees and Freddy Kreuger. Released in 2003, Freddy vs. Jason grossed $114.9 million dollars. 
  3. The 2009 remake of the original Friday the 13th was the second highest grossing film in the series, with earnings of $92.67 million dollars.
  4.  The original mask for Jason was supposed to be an umpire’s mask.  Totally less scary than a white hockey mask.  We’re glad they made the switch.
  5. The famous “ki ki ki… ma ma ma” sound effect that accompanied Jason, was composed by Harry Manfredini, to imitate a young Jason encouraging his mother to “kill kill kill, ma ma ma”.
  6. Jason racked a body count of 167 victims over the course of 12 movies. Which didn’t include Freddy Kreuger because Freddy is no one’s victim.
  7. Its cheaper budget wise if the masked killer doesn’t return for the next movie.  It’s all about keeping production costs low, so Jason Voorhees has actually been played by 13 different actors.
  8. Camp Crystal Lake was actually New Jersey Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco.  It used to sell memorabilia from the original movie, but now the most exciting thing on the website are Boy Scout Badges.  They do sell special Halloween event tours for fans and camp fundraising.
  9. The ‘Goody Two Shoes’ guy next door character Bill? He was the real-life son of Hollywood legend Bing Cosby.
  10. Filming for the movie lasted only 28 days.  Victor Miller wrote the script in two weeks.
  11. Kevin Bacon agreed to shave his armpits for the bunk murder scene.
  12. The full body count in the original movie was 11.  Including the unlucky snake.
  13. Gene Siskel (yep, Siskel and Ebert) gave Friday the 13th zero stars. Not only that, but he was a Broadway fan of Betsy Palmer, and gave the audience her personal address, and told them to write her letters in protest for the exploitation of her theater talent in the movie.

Happy Friday the 13th from all of us at Puzzle Box Horror.  If you have some fun fan facts to share, hit us up in the comment section or on social. We love it when you banter with us on horror and paranormal movie fandom.

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Remembering the iconic Friday the 13th series

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Featured Scary Movies and Series

Of all the terrifying creatures in the world of horror, there are few as famous as Jason Voorhees. His hockey goalie mask and machete has graced the bedroom walls of horror enthusiasts for decades, and you can’t go a single Halloween night without seeing at least 10 Jasons. But his real legacy lies with the Friday the 13th franchise – a series of 12 slasher films, comic books, video games and more based on Jason’s killing sprees. These follow Jason’s journey from a kid who “drowned” in Crystal Camp Lake to one of the greatest horror villains of all time.

There’s no denying the legacy of the Friday the 13th franchise, and Jason Voorhees, in popular culture… but did you know that most of the films received negative reviews from critics? If it’s not a Rotten Tomatoes score that makes a film memorable, then what is? Many say that it’s Jason’s terrifying appearance that has spawned merchandise, Halloween costumes, and killer tattoos for nearly 40 years. Others say it’s the sex and violence that make for a scary good (even if not sophisticated) time. Or perhaps you’d like to decide for yourself? Watch these top five films from the Friday the 13th lineup to determine why the franchise is so iconic. 

Interested in the real history of Friday the 13th, well we’ve got that too!

Friday the 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th original movie poster

The film that started it all – and funny enough, doesn’t even include Jason in his trademark hockey mask. What it does have, however, is young Kevin Bacon, lots of blood, and a sweet tale of vengeance. Friday the 13th follows a tale of teenagers who are trying to refurbish an abandoned summer camp, which has been vacant since a young boy drowned at Camp Crystal Lake many years prior. But things take a violent turn when they start getting murdered one-by-one, and you’ll never guess who’s doing it. This is the first movie in a decades-long tale of torment and fear, and who doesn’t love a good 1980’s slasher flick? Stream on Amazon here.

Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Friday the 13th part 3D movie poster

This is the film where Jason gets his iconic hockey mask and finds his identity as a killer, and it’s a lot of fun along the way. It was released in 3D, which was a huge deal back in 1982, and therefore gave you a lot of grotesque images of body parts coming at you through the screen. But that’s just horror, right? This is one of the best films that lays the foundation for the rest of the franchise, and you’ll really connect with Jason! Stream on Amazon here.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Friday the 13th Final Chapter Movie poster

For the record, this film is definitely not the final chapter in the franchise. Not even close. However, it’s still one of the best Friday the 13th movies that introduces you to Tommy Jarvis, the brave kid with an affinity for masks who comes face-to-face with Jason. Portrayed by a young Corey Feldman, this film marks Tommy’s first appearance in the franchise… but definitely not his last. You’ll see him hack away at Jason with a machete and kill him, and the terrifying results will unfold over the next few films! Stream on Amazon here.

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Freddy Vs Jason Movie Poster

If you asked somebody on the street which Friday the 13th film was their favorite, it would likely be Freddy vs. Jason. It’s one of the best and most popular features, likely due to the face-off between two of the biggest villains in horror. There’s just as much blood as you would expect, as Freddy raises Jason from the dead (once again) to get back into the killing spirit. While the clawed villain from your nightmares was expecting the hockey-masked murderer to help him, things get a little twisted as they start battling each other and fighting over who gets to kill whom! Stream on Amazon here.

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

Friday the 13th part vii movie poster

Sure, the title is kind of a spoiler… but if you’ve watched any of the movies, you already know that Jason lives. Again, and again, and again. While Tommy Jarvis murdered Jason years ago, things take a dramatic turn after the former is released from the mental hospital and returns to Crystal Lake to confront his fears. A bolt of lightning and some seriously bad luck ressurects Jason from the dead, and the killings start once again as Tommy tries to stop the hockey masked murderer once and for all. This movie is less scary, and more funny… and one of the best parts of what makes Friday the 13th so iconic? It doesn’t take itself too seriously! Stream on Amazon here.

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Similarities and Differences Between Friday the 13th and Halloween Movies

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Scary Movies and Series

Comparing the Halloween and Friday the 13th Movies

The Halloween and Friday the 13th killers and franchises are far too similar to be a coincidence. Thus, it is only logical that one copied the other. However, in the grand scheme of things…it is also reasonable to assume a range of characteristics found in both movies and killers would be considered a generalized public domain-type of fear. In other words: it is kind of hard to get an intellectual property patent for something like “a killer that stalks you” or “a killer that wears a mask”

How Are Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees Different?

Reason for Killing

Michael Myers is haunted by visions, nightmares and voices which tell him to kill in the time of Samhain (Halloween). He specifically typically hunts down his family members.  Jason Voorhees was a critical victim of childhood bullying and succumbed to a cruel drowning by unsupervised kids while camping. Although he too has heard his mothers voice, he is primarily killing for revenge.

Movie Setting

Halloween is set in the town of Haddonfield, where Michael can kill in a suburban setting…including roads, houses and stores.  Friday the 13th is set in Camp Crystal Lake, where Jason gains killing access to the woods, cabins and lake itself.

When the Killer Officially First Died

Michael Myers claims his first kill from a very early age, then returning as an adult to hunt the rest of his family. Jason Voorhees supposedly dies before he makes his first kill, being drown at a very young age.  He does not claim his first kill, in fact, until some 20 years later.

Mobility of the Killer

Michael Myers is able to travel great distances to get to his desired destination.  He can even hijack and drive automobiles. Jason Voorhees generally remains trapped in the Crystal Lake area, and is not seen traveling great distances (especially not by car).

How Are Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees Similar?

Both Feature a Masked Killer

Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers are notorious for their creepy appearances…most of which revolves around the center focus of their mask.

Both Feature a Weapon of Choice

Out of dozens of ways each slasher has creatively slain their victims, each has exhibited a supreme preference.  Jason Voorhees typically prefers his giant machete, while Michael Myers seems to enjoy knifing people to death.

Family Drama

Friday the 13th’s Jason has some seriously ‘effed up’ drama going on with his mother. She is very frequently seen egging him on, and even kills on his behalf in the first movie.  Similarly, Halloween’s Michael Myers is always chasing down and trying to hunt his family…most notably Laurie Strode.

Both Killers Are Mute

Interestingly, both franchises take advantage of a “silent but deadly” strategy. Neither Jason Voorhees nor Michael Myers will ever be caught speaking…yet they are both terrifying and everyone runs!

Supernatural Powers

No matter how victims fight back, they are never able to overcome the slasher.  Michael and Jason both manhandle their victims although they were nothing more than a sack of potatoes!

Brought Back from the Dead

michael myers listening to a phone

Despite being largely indestructible, both slashers have been beaten in a number of their movies, only to be brought back from the dead. Michael has been shot in both eyes and lit on fire, Jason blown up and dismembered, but both have survived to kill again!

Fun Fact: In Halloween Part 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Michael Myers can be seen 21:10 seconds into the film seemingly wearing Jason’s hockey mask.

Final Words: Halloween vs Friday the 13th

Both, Friday the 13th and Halloween, are fantastic horror franchises. Each movie features a number of gory, glorious kills which will grace the history book of slashers forever.  And while both slashers may be exploiting a similar genre niche and real-life fear of a masked, deranged psychopath killer, both contribute a steady stream of creativity in kill style.  Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees always offer an entertaining show that is undeniably exhilarating and always keeps viewers on the edge of their seats!

Check out our other article…Did Friday the 13th copy Halloween, to learn a little more about this horror franchise rivalry!

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