A quiet, wooded road in Cumberland, Rhode Island, has become the subject of eerie local legends involving mysterious figures, unexplained lights and a creature said to resemble Bigfoot. As Halloween approaches, those stories are attracting fresh attention after a new study placed the road among the world’s supposedly most haunted routes.
But behind the ranking lies a fascinating distinction: the road’s reputation is built on years of reported encounters and paranormal folklore, while the study itself measures online interest rather than proving that supernatural activity exists.
Tower Hill Road Ranks No. 9 in SIXT’s 2026 Haunted Roads Study
Tower Hill Road has secured the ninth position in rental-car company SIXT’s 2026 ranking of the world’s most haunted roads. The list features 30 roads associated with ghost stories, unexplained encounters and longstanding supernatural legends.
The ranking puts the Cumberland road among locations worldwide that have attracted public attention for their allegedly eerie histories. However, its position should not be mistaken for scientific confirmation that the road is haunted.
SIXT’s study combines online search activity with existing rankings of supposedly haunted roads. Its methodology considers Google and TikTok search trends connected to individual roads and the terms “ghost” and “haunted,” alongside comparisons with previous haunted-road rankings.
According to the company, ghost- and haunted-related searches accounted for 50% of its ranking methodology. Searches for the individual roads on Google and TikTok were also considered, while SIXT compared the results with its rankings from 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The company stated that the data used for the 2026 study was accurate as of July 30, 2026.
This means Tower Hill Road’s ninth-place finish reflects its online reputation and the attention surrounding its stories, rather than a scientific assessment of paranormal activity.
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The 10 Highest-Ranked Roads in SIXT’s 2026 List
SIXT’s ranking includes roads across the United States, each associated with its own collection of unusual stories and local legends.
| Rank | Road | Location |
| 1 | Clinton Road | New Jersey |
| 2 | Kancamagus Highway | New Hampshire |
| 3 | Route 66 | California |
| 4 | Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway | Nevada |
| 5 | Bray Road | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Highway 666 | New Mexico |
| 7 | Frontage Road | Montana |
| 8 | Highway 200 | North Dakota |
| 9 | Tower Hill Road | Rhode Island |
Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey, takes the top position, while Tower Hill Road appears ninth. Clinton Road is associated with stories surrounding Dead Man’s Curve and the Jersey Devil.
The list illustrates how established folklore and online interest contribute to the reputation of supposedly haunted locations. It does not establish that Tower Hill Road is the ninth most haunted road in any scientifically measurable sense.
What Is Supposedly Seen on Tower Hill Road?
Tower Hill Road’s reputation comes from several local legends rather than a single haunting story. Some accounts describe mysterious figures appearing along the route, while others involve unusual sounds, unexplained lights and unsettling experiences reported by people visiting the area.
SIXT specifically highlights three recurring elements of the road’s folklore: children on tricycles, a mysterious Lady in White and a Bigfoot-like creature known as the “man monkey.”
Other stories associated with Tower Hill Road describe strange shadows and footsteps. Although these accounts have contributed to the road’s eerie reputation, they remain reports and legends rather than verified paranormal events.
There is no scientific evidence establishing that ghosts inhabit the road or that a creature resembling Bigfoot lives in the surrounding woodland.
Nevertheless, the stories have continued to appear in coverage of supposedly haunted places in Rhode Island and the wider Northeast.
AAA Northeast previously included Tower Hill Road in its list of supposedly haunted roads in the region. Its description highlighted the road’s narrow, winding layout and heavily wooded surroundings, alongside reports of a Bigfoot-like figure called “Man Monkey.”
In its 2025 account, AAA also recorded stories involving child apparitions, unexplained lights and alleged zombie sightings.
Another local legend claims that the area is haunted by Native Americans killed during conflicts in the 1600s. According to this folklore, people have reported hearing drums and seeing apparitions moving across the hills.
These stories should be understood as elements of local tradition, not established historical or paranormal facts.
The “Man Monkey” Legend That Keeps Tower Hill Road in the Spotlight
Among the road’s various legends, the “Man Monkey” is one of its most distinctive.
Described as a Bigfoot-like or apelike creature, the figure has become part of Cumberland’s local folklore. Accounts referenced by AAA Northeast indicate that residents have claimed for decades to see the creature among the trees along Tower Hill Road.
The legend has also received attention from Rhode Island PBS.
In a segment about Cumberland’s Catamint Brook Preserve, the broadcaster discussed local stories involving children, ghosts and a creature called “Monkey Man.” The report noted that the people conducting the programme had never seen the creature and described the story as something that had become part of the local imagination.
That distinction matters. Reports of sightings help explain how the legend developed, but they do not establish the existence of an unidentified animal or supernatural being.
The “Man Monkey” remains a folklore figure associated with reported encounters, not a scientifically documented creature.
Children, Unexplained Lights and Other Tower Hill Road Ghost Stories
The Man Monkey is not the only figure associated with Tower Hill Road. Over time, the area has accumulated different stories involving apparitions, mysterious lights and encounters that visitors have described as unusual.
Some accounts refer to children appearing along the road, while other versions of the folklore describe spirits connected to historical conflicts in the region.
A 2011 report published by Patch under the title Hometown Hauntings: Tower Hill Road documented accounts from people who believed they had experienced unusual phenomena in the area.
One local paranormal enthusiast described feeling an intense sense of fear while visiting the road. Another person recalled seeing unusual fog and claimed that people accompanying her had seen a figure near a vehicle.
These accounts offer insight into the experiences and beliefs that have contributed to Tower Hill Road’s reputation. However, they remain personal recollections rather than independently verified evidence of paranormal activity.
More recent coverage suggests that the legends remain part of the area’s cultural identity. Rhode Island PBS has discussed the Monkey Man stories, while AAA Northeast’s 2025 feature continued to include Tower Hill Road among allegedly haunted locations in the Northeast.
The continuing attention helps explain why the road remains a subject of interest for people fascinated by ghost stories and regional folklore.
How Tower Hill Road’s Wooded Setting Adds to Its Reputation
Beyond the legends, Tower Hill Road has a physical setting that helps explain why it has become associated with mysterious encounters.
The Town of Cumberland describes the road as narrow, undulating and winding, with much of its route surrounded by heavily wooded landscape and stone walls.
The town’s historic-properties guidebook also identifies open-space land along portions of the road. Cumberland owns 200 acres on the south side, while another 80 acres of woodland lie to the north.
These are documented features of the area, separate from the supernatural claims attached to it.
The combination of winding sections, trees and a rural setting forms part of the road’s identity in local stories about unusual sightings. Such surroundings can contribute to the atmosphere associated with ghost stories, particularly when the road is discussed in the context of unexplained encounters.
However, the presence of woodland, darkness or limited visibility does not demonstrate that paranormal activity occurs there.
The landscape provides context for the legends, but it cannot confirm their supernatural claims.
Why SIXT Included Tower Hill Road in Its 2026 Ranking
The key to understanding Tower Hill Road’s ninth-place finish lies in SIXT’s methodology.
Rather than conducting a scientific investigation into reported hauntings, the company examined search activity and compared its findings with previous rankings of allegedly haunted roads.
Google and TikTok search trends helped measure public interest in individual roads and their connections to ghost-related terminology. The comparison with rankings from 2023, 2024 and 2025 also incorporated the roads’ existing reputations into the study.
As a result, a road can rank highly because its legends attract attention and people repeatedly search for information about them.
Tower Hill Road’s position therefore reflects its place among the 30 locations selected by SIXT, not a verified measurement of supernatural activity.
The timing also gives the ranking added relevance. With Halloween approaching, supposedly haunted roads and stories about unexplained encounters are likely to attract interest from readers curious about paranormal folklore.
The study brings renewed attention to Tower Hill Road’s established stories, including the Man Monkey legend, reports of child apparitions and tales of unexplained lights.
What the 2026 Haunted Roads Ranking Actually Proves
It is important to separate the documented facts about Tower Hill Road from the claims associated with its folklore.
The road exists in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and its narrow, winding layout and surrounding woodland are described in the Town of Cumberland’s historic-properties guidebook. Its legends have also appeared in reporting from AAA Northeast, Rhode Island PBS and local media.
However, there is no verified scientific evidence establishing that Tower Hill Road is haunted, that ghosts inhabit the area or that a Bigfoot-like creature lives in the surrounding woods.
The reported children on tricycles, Lady in White, Man Monkey, unexplained lights and other encounters should therefore be presented as legends, personal accounts or folklore.
That does not mean the stories lack cultural significance. Their continued appearance in regional coverage demonstrates that Tower Hill Road has developed a recognisable place in Rhode Island and New England’s supernatural storytelling traditions.
SIXT’s 2026 study adds another layer of attention by placing the road ninth among its 30 supposedly haunted roads worldwide.
Conclusion
Tower Hill Road’s reputation rests on a combination of local folklore, reported encounters and a distinctive wooded setting. From the mysterious Lady in White to the enduring Man Monkey legend, its stories have continued to attract attention in Rhode Island and beyond.
Its ninth-place position in SIXT’s 2026 haunted-road ranking highlights that ongoing interest, but it does not prove that the road is genuinely haunted. Based on the company’s methodology, the result reflects online search activity and the established reputation of supposedly haunted roads.
For readers intrigued by the paranormal, Tower Hill Road offers a compelling example of how local legends endure. The stories remain part of the area’s folklore, while the question of supernatural activity remains unproven.
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Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared using research based on the sources listed below, including SIXT, AAA Northeast, Rhode Island PBS, the Town of Cumberland, WPRI 12 and Patch. It reflects the information available in those sources and preserves the distinction between documented details, reported experiences and local legends. Paranormal claims are not presented as scientifically verified events, and the article does not imply independent confirmation beyond what the cited material supports.
Sources
- SIXT — The Most Haunted Roads
- AAA Northeast — The Most Haunted Roads in the Northeast
- Rhode Island PBS — The Right Path
- Town of Cumberland — Historic Properties Guidebook
- WPRI 12 — RI Has One of the Most Haunted Roads in the World
- Patch — Hometown Hauntings: Tower Hill Road
Featured Image Credit: Yura Forrat / Pexels
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