Wharton Monthly – November 2025
News and Events from Wharton State Forest
Enjoy the smaller crowds and crisp air this fall on a walk through historic Batsto Village or along one of our many trails in Wharton State Forest.
November 8 & 9: Fall Inside/Outside Tours of Batsto Mansion and Village
Enjoy the changing leaves and crisp autumn air at Wharton State Forest with a tour of Batsto Village and its impressive Italianate mansion!
Tours meet in the Batsto Visitor Center and begin with a walk through the village, stopping at notable buildings and locations along the way. They then move inside the mansion, where visitors are invited to explore the nineteenth century home. Both first-time visitors to Batsto and returning guests will find plenty to enjoy and learn about Pine Barrens history!
Tours are approximately two hours and are available Saturday, November 8th and Sunday, November 9th. Tours begin at 10 AM and 2 PM inside the Batsto Visitor Center and are $5 per person. Visitors are strongly encouraged to dress in layers and with comfortable footwear for the outside portion of the tour. Tours may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
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.
November 22: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours
This is the last star watch at Batsto for 2025! If you haven’t attended a star watch at Batsto yet, this is your last chance for the year!
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The Star Watch begins at 5:30 PM. At 5:45 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 6:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. Photo Caption: Easily observed with binoculars and small telescopes, the gravitationally interacting Galaxies M81 & M82 are favorite targets for amateur astronomers. They are found in the constellation Ursa Major. Photo Credit: John McDaniel, WAS Member. For this month’s star watch, three Gas Giants Saturn, Neptune and Uranus can all be seen! The Zodiac constellations Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and Taurus can be found found along the ecliptic (Sun’s path). The Pleiades (M45), a lovely open cluster, can be found in Taurus the Bull. 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 5:30 PM and 6:30 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.
Happening Throughout NovemberGuided Tours of Atsion Mansion
Tours of Atsion Mansion are usually offered at the following times throughout November:
Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Atsion Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability. 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. Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion
Tours of Batsto Mansion are usually offered at the following times throughout November:
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
Ms. Geiger produces stained glass pieces influenced by the light and colors of the Pinelands and New Jersey shore. Her technical skills were developed through coursework at the Liberty Belle Glassworks, Marcie Glass, Rainbow Art Glass and the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Her birds reflect some of the species that can be found in the Pine Barrens. In addition to the beautiful birds, she also makes other glass ornaments. Good news for all the Smokey Bear collectors! The Museum Shop has just received a new shipment of patches. In addition to the standard patches, we have a limited number of vintage patches and several new patches that were just released. Come in and check them out. Are you a fan of our goat soaps? Goat soap and lotions are now back in stock! New winter scents are available and ready to take home. 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 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
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 LocationsAtsion Office Batsto Office, Museum and Store
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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 (
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 Saturday and Sunday afternoon throughout November. 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!
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.
Join us at the Batsto Museum Shop in the Batsto Visitor Center on November 15 from 10 AM – 2 PM to meet local artist Deb Geiger as she demonstrates her unusual style of glass making. You will also explore the world of glass art and learn a little bit about the birds that live in New Jersey. 
Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round! 
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
