March means the start of spring in Wharton State Forest!

March 1: Maple Sugaring Day at Batsto Village

It’s still maple syrup season at Batsto Village Historic Site! Start your March enjoying the warm fire, views of picturesque maple trees, and the delicious scent of fresh maple syrup.

Join us as Wharton State Forest partners with Stockton University to produce genuine Pine Barrens maple syrup right here at Batsto! Watch as the sap collected throughout the village gets turned into maple syrup, with samples available throughout the day and bottles available for purchase in the Visitor Center.

Maple Sugaring Day is open to all ages, and registration is not required. The event is held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

March 15: Spring Open Tower Day at Apple Pie Hill

The Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower will be open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for visitors to climb and take a spectacular view of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens!

• Fire tower maximum capacity by order of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is six (6) persons. If you are coming in a group of more than six people, only six will be allowed on the fire tower at a time.
• To access the top of the Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower, you will need to independently ascend and descend 9 flights of steps (60 vertical feet each way) with see-through metal grate landings and stair treads and see through waist-high metal railings and banisters (see picture above).
• The tower climb is subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather, safety concerns, or other determinations made by Wharton State Forest staff. The climb will be cancelled if there are thunderstorms in the area or if rain/snow is falling.

When planning for your visit for the Tower Climb, please allow an hour or more for your time at Apple Pie Hill.

Apple Pie Hill is located within Wharton State Forest at the following coordinates: 39.807222, -74.589444

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024, or the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

March 22: Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours

Star Watch

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 p.m. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies.

The Star Watch Begins at 7:30 p.m. At 7:45 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 8:45 p.m. there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field.

For this month’s star watch, Jupiter, Mars and Uranus will be visible. Even though the vernal equinox was March 20 the Winter Hexagon asterism connected by the stars Procyon, Pollux, Castor, Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel and Sirius can be seen in the southwest portion of the sky. The related constellations include Canis Major, Gemini, Auriga, Taurus, Orion, and Canis Major. The Orion Nebula also known as M42 is a jewel of the sky that can be observed tonight. Galaxies abound in Virgo and Leo.

Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours

Historic Interpreters will also be on hand to lead evening walking tours through the village. Tours are open to all ages and are free of charge. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes and are offered at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For more information on both these events, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

Batsto Post Office Open Each Wednesday

Did you know that the Batsto Post Office can send mail? 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 each Wednesday afternoon (12 to 3 p.m.) in March. Bring your pre-stamped postcards and letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation. Stamped postcards are also available for purchase. While you are in the Post Office, be sure to stop in the recently opened Glass Museum! Containing examples of nineteenth and twentieth-century glass, as well as historic artifacts found throughout Batsto, the Glass Museum is the perfect complement to a mansion tour and stroll through the village.

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

Batsto Mansion Tours

Whether it’s your first visit or you are a frequent guest, March is the perfect time to step inside the 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 March, Wednesday through Friday at 1 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 and 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.

For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

Stop by the Batsto Museum Shop during the month of March and vote for your favorite Jersey Devil shirt design! If you think you know what the Jersey Devil looks like, you can also submit your own design for voting. When the month is over, we will pick the most popular design and use it on a new Jersey Devil shirt to sell this summer in the Batsto Museum Shop!

In addition to new merchandise, we have restocked our State Shirts and our recently added Saw Mill shirts. These are popular designs that go fast. If you can not get into the shop right away, give us a call (609) 561-0024 and we can put your size on hold. We just ask that you pick your shirt up within two weeks.

We will continue to develop new merchandise that reflects the history of Batsto Village and natural history of Wharton State Forest. In the meantime, we have plenty of your regular favorites including shirts, hats, stickers, patches, and many locally sourced products!

The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088.

Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024.

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round. Winter in the New Jersey Pine Barrens offers a unique experience for new and seasoned campers alike!

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.