The Town of Hancock, MA originated from a 1762 King’s grant that established a territory then known as the “Plantation of Jericho.” Asa Douglas of Canaan City, New York purchased the biggest piece of the territory – a huge 1,000 acre parcel. Other settlers that purchased property were Samuel Hand, Captain Caleb Gardner, Deacon Samuel Brown, and the Goodrich brothers, David and Charles. These ambitious farmers settled in the Jericho Valley with hopes of fertile land and prosperity. Most of these men also fought in key battles during the Revolutionary War in the late 18th Century, led by none other than Major Douglas. The garret of Asa Douglas’s home was actually used as a jail during the Revolutionary War. Shumway Farm as it is known can still be seen today, just a short walk from where we are right now. The Jericho Valley was quickly clear cut in the late 1760’s, from its lowest elevation along Post Road up to the 1200’ mark around the entire valley. A furniture factory was built to accommodate the thousands of trees, while sheep began to replace them, grazing on the grasses of Hancock’s rich soil.

In the early stages of Jericho Valley’s development, it was believed that a devastating disease was seeping through the entire valley floor, pushing the farmers higher into the hills to escape the potential for disaster. Homes were razed, and re-built in the surrounding mountains. Their livelihoods were at stake, and a move to the hills seemed much more plausible than relocation at the time. Many sheep were abandoned by their owners, left to try and survive the almost certain death that the valley floor held for them. As the farmers began the next chapter of their lives, the forgotten sheep flourished, and cast some doubt as to whether or not any disease existed at all on the bottom of Jericho Valley. Subsequently, some farmers began to creep back to the lower elevations while others held their ground in the surrounding hills. As years went on and debate sprouted amongst the town folk, something very strange began to happen… Each fall, on thirteen different nights, the sheep would disappear into the hills at dusk, leaving behind the land which gave them so much. They would always return the next morning, seemingly unscathed from the previous night’s journey. Even more debate started, but the biggest questions remained unanswered: Were they running away from something, or towards something else? Were they lured into the hills, or scared away by something from the depths of the Jericho Valley?

This very strange nocturnal behavior slowly vanished from the fabric of what is now Hancock, as farmers began new farming endeavors, and the population of sheep quickly diminished to almost nothing. But even as the numbers of sheep decreased, they still made the yearly migration into the hills each year…on those 13 Nights. Do you have what it takes to explore the innards of the Jericho Hills?

This Fall as the moon rises above the Berkshires, the mountain will descend into the depths of its past as a haunted holdout, where Villagers from the Plantation of Jericho lived in dread of disfiguring diseases, deranged creatures, and impending doom. It’s a haunt that ranges all over the mountain, and it promises to reach new heights of terror and fall fun.

Activities

Haunted Mountain Coaster Ride

Experience the twisting, turning fun of the Mountain Coaster like never before. Are you brave enough to head into the haunted woods of the Jericho Valley in the dark? You control your speed so you may take a leisurely ride or get your thrills and speed away from the ghosts and ghouls at speeds up to 23 mph.

Haunted Soaring Eagle Zipline Ride

Soar through the air on the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride. The Soaring Eagle will pull you 800 feet up the haunted mountain, as fast backwards as you will go forwards, and then release you to zip back to the base. But what will await you at the bottom?

Scare & Scream Haunt Package

1 trip through 13 Nights and 2 rides in the Park on the Mountain Coaster and/or Soaring Eagle Zip Ride.

Christiansen’s Tavern

Head into the Tavern for a snack, dinner or just a drink while you are here.

Mountain Adventure

Mountain Adventure is open weekends and Columbus Day during the autumn season, 10 am – 6 pm. Featuring 2 Parks in location, Mountain Adventure Park and Aerial Adventure Park as well as the Soaring Eagle Zipline Ride and Mountain Segway Tours.

Directions

13 Nights Haunted House events are located at Jiminy Peak Mountain.  Jiminy Peak is under three hours from New York City, and Boston, and just about an hour from Albany, NY, and Springfield, MA. These directions will help you find your way from all points.

From the New York Metro Area:

Taconic Parkway North to Route 295 East, to Route 22 North to Route 43 East*. Four miles on Route 43 to Brodie Mountain Road. Turn right. Watch for 13 Nights at Jiminy Peak on your right hand side.

Alternate Route (also from New Jersey)

:
NYS Thruway North to Exit 17 to I-84 East to Taconic Parkway, then proceed as above.

From the Albany Area:

I-90 East to Exit 8 (DeFreestville, just outside Albany) to Route 43 East*. Continue about 25 miles to our sign at Brodie Mountain Road. Turn right. Watch for 13 Nights at Jiminy Peak on your right hand side.

Alternate Route:
NYS Thruway to I-90 East (Berkshire Spur section) to Exit B-3. See Connecticut directions below.

From Boston and Eastern Massachusetts:

Mass Pike West (I-90) to Exit B-3 (Berkshire Spur section). See Connecticut directions below.

From Western Connecticut:

I-91 North to Mass Pike West (I-90) to Exit B-3 (Berkshire Spur section). Route 22 North to Route 43 East*. Four miles on Route 43 to Brodie Mountain Road. Turn Right. Watch for 13 Nights at Jiminy Peak on your right hand side.
* Route 43 East becomes Route 43 North in Massachusetts.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort · 37 Corey Rd Hancock, MA · 413-738-5500