Wharton State Forest December Happenings!
Winter In the Pines – December 8th
You’re invited to Batsto Village on December 8 for an all-ages afternoon of winter fun! Activities include a meeting with Santa, wagon rides through the historic village, and live music. Warm refreshments will be available on the first floor of the Batsto General Store.
While you’re in the village, stop by Batsto Mansion from 12 – 3 p.m. for free self-guided entry to the first and second floors of the impressive Victorian home. The Batsto Post Office will also be open from 12 – 3 p.m., and staff will be on hand to help you send your holiday mail! Bring in your stamped postcards and letters to be hand-cancelled with the unique Batsto cancellation (no ZIP code!) in the 1852 post office.
Visitors are also welcome to take their holiday photos in the village! Commercial photographers should obtain the necessary permit before taking pictures.
Horse-drawn wagon rides through the village are approximately 20 minutes; $10 per adult, $5 per child.
Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
Winter Inside / Outside Tours of Batsto
Enjoy all that winter has to offer at Wharton State Forest with a tour of historic Batsto Village and its Victorian mansion! Tours meet at the Batsto Visitor Center and begin with a walk through the village, stopping at notable buildings and locations along the way. Tours then move inside the mansion, where visitors are invited to explore the nineteenth century home (with twenty-first century heating!).
Tours begin promptly at 2 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center and are approximately 90-120 minutes. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and warm layers for the outdoor portion of the tour!
Inside/Outside Tours are $5 per person. In the event of inclement weather, the outside portion of the tour may be subject to change.
Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
For more information or to make Inside/Outside Tour reservations, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024.
Holiday Evening Tours of Batsto Mansion – December 18 – 22
The Batsto Mansion will again be open for evening tours this December! See the historic house decorated for nineteenth-century Christmas and learn about various holiday traditions of the past. The tour includes a guided walk through the home, a few peeks into rarely seen areas, and stories from the Richards and Wharton eras.
Tours are approximately 60-75 minutes and promptly begin on the Batsto Mansion porch at 6:30 and 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 18th through Sunday, December 22nd.
Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center or over the phone and are $10 per visitor. Space is limited, and visitors are encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot.
Batsto Village is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
For more information or to confirm Holiday Evening Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
Send Your Holiday Mail from the Batsto Post Office
Did you know that you can still send real mail from the Batsto Post Office? First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, the Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the United States!
The Batsto Post Office will be open 12 – 3 p.m. on the following dates in December:
- Saturday, December 7
- Sunday, December 8
- Wednesday, December 11
- Saturday, December 14
- Wednesday, December 18
- Thursday, December 19
- Friday, December 20
- Saturday, December 21
- Sunday, December 22
Bring your postcards and letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation. Add a piece of local history to your holiday cards this year!
Batsto Post Office is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
For more information or to confirm that the Post Office is open before you visit, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
Batsto Mansion Tours
Experience winter in the village from inside historic Batsto Mansion! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper class.
Tours are approximately 45-60 minutes and are available throughout December, Wednesday through Friday at 1 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.
Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.
For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
Book Signing
On December 8, the Batsto Museum Shop will also host a book signing of Colonial Taverns of New Jersey with author Michael Gabriele from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Atsion General Store
The Atsion General Store will be open Wednesday through Sunday all winter, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. There are new items arriving weekly.
Camping & Cabins
Camping is available at Wharton State Forest year around. Spend your fall camping in the unique environment of the New Jersey Pine Barrens!
Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond, Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.
Atsion Cabins are now closed for the season and will reopen in May 2025. It’s now time to plan a 2025 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.
Make your camping or cabin reservations here.
