September 20: Public 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 PM. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies.

Photo Caption: The Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. Image credit: WAS member, John McDaniel.

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

For this month’s star watch, Saturn can be seen with the unaided eye and Neptune with a telescope. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31), 2.5 million light years from Earth, is found in the constellation Andromeda and can be seen in dark skies with the unaided eye. A view through the telescope also reveals the satellite galaxies M32 and M110

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 PM and 8 PM.

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.

September 27: National Public Lands Day - Open Tower Day at Apple Pie Hill  

The Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower will be open 11 AM to 6 PM 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 five (5) persons. If you are coming in a group of more than five people, only five 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.

September 28: Fall Antique, Glass & Bottle Show at Batsto

Visit Batsto Village Historic Site on September 28 and join us for our annual Fall Antique, Glass and Bottle Show presented by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. View Pine Barrens treasures, search for that rare find to add to your own collection, or simply take a stroll through historic Batsto Village!

The Fall Antique, Glass and Bottle Show takes place from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, rain or shine.

While in the village, be sure to stop by Batsto Mansion for “open house” entry to the home. The first and second floors will be open to the public from 10 AM to 3 PM. Wharton State Forest staff will be on hand to answer questions and guide visitors through the history of the house. The Batsto Post Office will also be open from 10 AM to 3 PM to send post cards and letters, hand canceled in the historic building!

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

Happening Throughout September

Batsto Post Office Open Every Sunday in September

Did you know that  the Batsto Post Office can still 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 Sunday afternoon (11 AM to 3 PM) in September. 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 spend some time in the attached 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

Atsion Mansion Tours

You’re invited to explore one of the most notable examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey! Guided tours of Atsion Mansion are available each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afteroon throughout September. Inside, visitors can see the house largely as it was in 1826. Built by Atsion’s Ironmaster, Samuel Richards, nearly 200 years ago, the building has never been “modernized” with plumbing or electricity! 

Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning at 1 PM and 2 PM. Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office. 

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years old. 

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. 

For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

 

Batsto Mansion Tours

Fall is the perfect time for a stroll through Batsto Village and a tour of its impressive 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 of Batsto Mansion are offered at the following times throughout September:

• Wednesday through Friday: 11 AM, 1 and 2 PM

• Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 AM; 1, 2 and 3 PM

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

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

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

The Batsto Museum Shop is preparing for autumn! A large supply of fruit jams and pickles are ready to add a special flavor to any of your meals. Our pickles and peppers are from the first crop of the season. Honey is also in stock in several new and unusual flavors. Our honey is from local hives and has a unique flavor influenced by our native plants.

On September 28th during the Fall Antique, Glass and Bottle Show, Michael C. Gabriele, author of “Colonial Taverns of New Jersey” will be speaking about his book and signing copies in the Batsto Visitor Center. Stop by to hear some interesting facts about the taverns of the revolution!

 

Visit the Batsto General Store!

Throughout September, the general store located in Batsto Village will be open weekly on Fridays and Saturdays. The general store will be selling snacks and our iconic Batsto Soda! We are also adding ice cream to our menu! So on those warm fall afternoons, be sure to stop by the general store for a cold sweet treat.

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

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

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!  

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 open! It’s time to plan a 2025 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.  

Make your camping or cabin reservations here. 

 

About Wharton State Forest

Located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state forest. It encompasses approximately 125,000 acres covering parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden

counties providing a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding. It is home to historic Batsto Village, Batsto and Atsion Mansions, and the Atsion Recreation Area.

You can find more information about Wharton State Forest and other New Jersey state parks on our website at https://dep.nj.gov/wharton.

Wharton State Forest Office Locations

Atsion Office
744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088, (609) 268-0444

Batsto Office, Museum and Store
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ  08037, (609) 561-0024

Ambas oficinas están abiertas los 7 días de la semana (excepto días festivos principales) de 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Both offices are open 7 days a week (except major holidays) 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.