News and Events from Wharton State Forest

It’s April at Atsion! Check out the great events happening at historic Atsion Mansion like evening mansion tours or a public star watch! Around Batsto, we have walking tours, partner programs with Burlington County Parks, a beginner bird watching walk, and so much more! Welcome spring with a program in Wharton State Forest.  

April 4, 11, 18 & 25: Free "Revolutionary Batsto” Walking Tours of Batsto Village  

Celebrate 2026 and start your spring by exploring Batsto Village and learning about its 18th and 19th century history! These all-ages tours begin behind

the Batsto Visitor Center, with planned stops throughout the village. Sharing stories from Batsto’s iron era to the present, interpreters will lead visitors through

the various ways in which Batsto  participated in the American Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and more.

Tours are approximately 75-90 minutes and begin behind the Visitor Center promptly at 2 p.m. each Saturday in April. Reservations are not required, and

tours are free and open to the public.  

April 4, 11, 18 & 25: "April at Atsion" Evening Mansion Tours 

Did you know that 2026 is Atsion Mansion’s 200th birthday? Help us celebrate by kicking off our tour season this month! 

Atsion Mansion will be open each Saturday evening in April for guided tours. Led by one of Wharton State Forest’s historic interpreters, visitors are invited to experience the 1826 home as it stood two centuries ago. Guests are encouraged to bring their own flashlights, and jackets are recommended.    

Tours are approximately 75-90 minutes and promptly begin outside the Atsion Mansion at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased over the phone or at the Atsion Office and are $5 per person. Space is limited and visitors are encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot.   

For more information about evening tours of Atsion Mansion, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. Atsion Mansion and Office are located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. 

April 5: Batsto Mansion “Open House”  

Batsto Mansion will be open for a special holiday “open house,” Sunday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Historians will be inside to answer questions, tell stories

about the village’s history, and to show off the first two floors of the home. Entry is free, and tickets are not required.  

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor

Center at 609-561-0024. 

April 11: "What's Living in Batsto Lake?" Macroinvertebrate Sampling Station 

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., stop by Batsto Lake, across from the Sawmill to learn what’s living in Batsto Lake!  A local AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador will have a water

sample station set up for visitors to look through Batsto Lake water samples try to identify what is living in Batsto Lake and what it means for water quality. This is a free

tabling event that is open to all ages.  

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor

Center at 609-561-0024. 

April 15 & 19: Bays, Glaciers, and Bog Iron in the Pines 

Wharton State Forest is hosting a special event and partnering with Burlington County Parks to educate participants on the geologic history of the area around Batsto Village. The about 1.5-mile walk will include a discussion of the geology of the ore deposits used for iron smelting and glass manufacturing. We will cover geologic features including former barrier islands, back bays, glacial era landforms, and stream characteristics.

Participants will learn how such past geologic events created today's uplands, wetlands, vernal ponds, and streams. This walk will be led by Pierre Lacombe, retired USGS geologist. It begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center. 

This is a free event, but registration is required and opens April 1. Register by calling the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024. This program is recommended for adults and children age 12 and older. 

April 17: The Mysterious American Eel Talk 

Join Wharton’s nature interpretive staff on a short, 20-minute walk and talk about American eels! We’ll begin behind the Batsto Visitor Center before taking a short, easy walk to the fish ladder

in Batsto Village. We’ll cover the natural history of the American eel, its life cycle and the journey the eels took before crossing the Batsto dam.  

Talks will be held at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This event is free and registration is not required. The event is canceled if there are storms nearby, heavy rain or high winds.  

April 18: Public Star Watch at Atsion

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 in the Atsion Field at 7:30 p.m. 

For this month’s star watch, the Zodiacal constellations found along the ecliptic from east to west are Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus and Aries. Venus is found in Aries, Uranus in Taurus and Jupiter in Gemini. Enjoy a view of the Beehive Cluster in the constellation Cancer found east of Jupiter. Also known as M44, this Open Cluster of stars can be seen as a fuzzy patch of light with the unaided eye in dark sky locations such as Wharton State Forest. Another Open Cluster M35 can be found at the foot of Gemini. A young waxing crescent Moon is low along the horizon in the west northwest. 

For more information about the Public Star Watch, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. Atsion Mansion and Office are located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. 

April 24: Beginner Bird Watching Walk 

Do you want to start birding? Join Wharton’s nature interpretive staff for a slow-paced, laid-back walk through Batsto Village to observe the birds in Wharton

State Forest. This walk begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes. It is free and no registration is required. We will

simply walk and observe the birds we see. Walks in this NEW series are geared toward beginners. Attendees can borrow binoculars, as supplies last, but are

encouraged to bring their own if they have them. This month’s walk will cover Batsto’s “upper” Village.   

Happening Throughout April

Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in April!   

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including

preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts

at our study station.  

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.   

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the

sawmill. For more information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024.  

Guided Tours of Atsion Mansion 

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in April! Come see one of the most significant examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey. Never “modernized” with plumbing or electricity, the house stands largely as it did when it was constructed in 1826.   Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered at the following times throughout April: 

• Saturday and Sunday: 1 and 2 p.m.

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and general store (now Atsion 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.

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

Enjoy the cool spring breeze this April on Batsto Mansion’s porch and then step inside for a guided tour! 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 April:

• Wednesday through Friday: 3 p.m.  

• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m, 1 and 2 p.m.     

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

When you stop by Atsion this month for a mansion tour, be sure to check out the Atsion General Store! The Atsion General Store, also the site of the Atsion Forest Office, is in front of the Atsion Mansion and features everything Atsion. Pick up a souvenir to remember your visit or to celebrate Atsion Mansion’s 200th anniversary. New for sale this month are Atsion Mansion 200th Anniversary shirts, reflecting the colors of the interior walls of the mansion, and new buttons and magnets. A full line of patches, stickers, and Jersey Devil items are also for sale. If the Mullica River Trail is one of your favorites, be sure to check-out our new Mullica River Trail patch and sticker featuring a native Pine Barrens plant found along the trail!  

Over at the Batsto Museum Shop, we’re getting ready for spring! Check out our recently released paddling and hiking themed shirts as well as our full line of trail stickers. We still have some favorites including Jersey Devil shirts and hats, and recently released merchandise featuring the new Wharton State Forest and New Jersey Park Service logos. Start this spring in style and represent your favorite forest or historic site!  

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! Spring camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens offers cool nights with interesting evening sounds as the forest begins to wake up!

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 spring 2026. It’s now time to plan a 2026 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited

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

News and Events from Wharton State Forest

Welcome spring this month by attending a program in Wharton State Forest! Tour the Batsto Mansion, practice nature journaling, or attend the first start watch in Wharton for 2026. 

March 18: Wednesday Walkers Take Wharton State Forest Hike

Get some miles in with a moderate paced, 5.5-mile hike along the 1808 Trail led by members of the NJ State Park Service! This hike is free, but attendees must register through email below. The hike begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 9 a.m. before heading out onto the 1808 Trail. Participants should expect to hike over small bridges and shallow roots. Please dress for the weather and bring plenty of water. This hike is not ADA accessible.  

This hike is a part of a “Wednesday Walkers” series of hikes and walks led by NJ State Park staff outside of Wharton State Forest. If you are interested in other Wednesday Walker hikes, please reach out to kgnaturalist@comcast.net.  

To register for this Wharton State Forest hike, please email Alexandria.horan@dep.nj.gov or kgnaturalist1@comcast.net/ 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

March 21: "What's Living in Batsto Lake?" Macroinvertebrate Sampling Station 

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., stop by Batsto Lake, across from the Sawmill and dig through water samples to learn what’s living in Batsto Lake! A local AmeriCorps Watershed

Ambassador will have a sampling station set up for visitors to search through water samples and try to identify what is living in Batsto Lake and what it means for water quality.  

This is a free tabling event that is open to all ages but recommended for ages 8 and up. 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

March 21: Nature Journaling Workshop & Batsto BioBlitz

Join Watershed Ambassador Jamie Lubov for a guided nature journaling experience at Batsto Village! Artists of all levels are welcome to learn how to hone their observational skills and document their surroundings through journaling and photography. Any photographs or detailed illustrations taken are encouraged to be added to an accompanying BioBlitz project on citizen science platform iNaturalist!  

This is a free program, but attendees must register through Eventbrite here! Space is limited. This program begins in front of the Annie Carter Nature Center in Batsto Village at 2 p.m. and is about 90 minutes long. Dress appropriately for a walk down Tom's Pond trail! Participants are encouraged to bring their own journals and pencils, but some journals will be available on a first come first serve basis.  

The rain date for this program is Sunday, March 22. 

NOTE: The Annie Carter Nature Center is about a 5-minute walk from where attendees should park (in the Batsto Visitor Center parking lot). 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

March 21: 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 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 8:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

For this tonight’s star watch, Venus, Uranus, and Jupiter will be visible along the ecliptic (the Sun’s apparent path across the sky). Venus and Jupiter can be seen with the unaided eye. Observing Uranus requires binoculars or a telescope. The vernal equinox takes place on March 20th at 10:46 am local time. Even though it is spring 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 (M42) a star forming region, is a jewel of the sky that can be observed tonight. Galaxies abound in Virgo and Leo and can be viewed with a telescope. 

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 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 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. 

Happening Throughout March

Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 p.m. on the following Sundays in March:

• Sunday, March 8
• Sunday, March 15
• Sunday, March 22
• Sunday, March 29

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the sawmill. For more information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024. 

Batsto Post Office Open for Business

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 from 12 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday afternoon 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 Glass Museum, located on the second floor of the General Store! 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. 

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. 

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion

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 of Batsto Mansion are usually offered at the following times throughout March:

• Wednesday through Friday: 1 p.m.

• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.

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

Kick off the spring season with a new shirt to commemorate some of your favorite outdoor activities: paddling on the rivers and starwatching! This new design also has

a hidden local legend. The back of the shirt features a design with the rivers and waterways in Wharton State Forest.  

With the syrup season almost at an end, stop in the store on Saturday the 28th to get authentic, Batsto Maple Syrup! Our supply will go fast, so come in early to get

your own!

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! Spring camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens offers cool nights with interesting evening sounds as the forest begins to wake up! 

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 spring 2026. It’s now time to plan a 2026 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.

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

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

News and Events from Wharton State Forest

It’s maple sugaring time in Batsto Village! Join in on the fun by attending any one of our “sweet” programs. Help with sap collection, take a deeper dive into maple sugaring in New Jersey during one of our maple sugaring talks, or attend the boil and see how sap is turned into maple sugar! 

Feb. 5 & 12: Maple Sap Collection Walk 

Have you ever wanted to collect sap from a maple tree? Join Wharton State Forest staff at 2:30 p.m. in front of the Batsto Visitor Center on Thursday, February 5 or

Thursday, February 12 as they empty some of the drip buckets collecting maple sap in Batsto Village. We expect this program to take no more than 30 minutes and

participants are not required to stay the whole time (unless you’re carrying a sap bucket!).  

We will simply walk to each drip bucket, empty the sap, and store it to be boiled during our maple sugaring day on Saturday, February 21. (See program details

below for this widely attended event). This is a free event, for all ages, and no registration is required. Heavy rain, snow, or daytime temperatures below 40 degrees

may disrupt collection and result in a cancellation of the program. Please call the Batsto Visitor Center the morning of to confirm if these conditions are expected.  

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. 

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

Feb. 7 & 14: Tapping an Untapped Resource: Maple Sugaring in New Jersey 

Want to take a deeper dive into maple sugaring in New Jersey? Join Wharton State Forest staff on a short, 20 minute walk and talk. Learn how to install a

traditional drip bucket and the science behind maple

sugaring. This program is recurring and will be held at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 and 14. We will begin in front of the Batsto Visitor Center and

walk less than a half a mile to the maple sugaring vacuum system in the village.  

This is a free event, for all ages, and no registration is required. The program will be cancelled with heavy rain or snow. Please call the Batsto Visitor Center

the morning of to confirm if these conditions are expected.  

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. 

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

Feb. 14 & 15: Free "Revolutionary Batsto” Walking Tours of Batsto Village 

Spend your Presidents’ Day Weekend exploring Batsto Village and learning about its 18th and 19th century history! These all-ages tours begin behind the

Batsto Visitor Center, with planned stops throughout

the village. Sharing stories from Batsto’s iron era to the present, interpreters will lead visitors through the various ways in which Batsto participated in the

American Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and more.

Tours are approximately 75-90 minutes and begin behind the Visitor Center promptly at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations are not required, and tours are free

and open to the public. 

While at Batsto, be sure to stop in the Post Office to mail a letter or postcard. Bring your pre-stamped postcards or envelopes to receive a special “Batsto, NJ”

postmark and watch as mail is hand-cancelled,

just as it was in 1852! Postcards and postage are also available for purchase. The Batsto Post Office will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Finally, Batsto Mansion will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Historians will be on hand to answer questions and show off the first two floors of the home. Tickets are not required for entry. 

Batsto Village 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. 

Feb. 21: Maple Sugaring Day at Batsto Village

It’s maple syrup season again at Batsto Village Historic Site! 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 runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to all ages. Registration is not required. Sap will be boiled in Batsto Village, across from the

Batsto Mansion. 

The first two floors of Batsto Mansion will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wharton State Forest’s historians will be available to answer any

questions and highlight the history of the home and its notable residents. 

The rain date for this event is Saturday, February 28.  

Happening Throughout February

Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 p.m. on the following Sundays in February:   

• Sunday, February 1

• Sunday, February 8

• Sunday, February 15

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a

closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.

This month, we will also have a simple, maple themed craft available. Stop by during open hours and color your own maple leaf!

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.

Batsto Post Office Open for Business

Send a New Year’s greeting from Batsto’s historic post office! Bring your letters and post cards (with appropriate postage!) to Batsto Post Office to receive a

unique postal cancellation and see how mail was sent over a century ago. Pre-stamped envelopes and post cards are also available to purchase and send.  

Batsto Post Office will be open from 12 to 3 p.m. each Saturday in February. 

First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the United States. It was never assigned

a zip code, and stamps are still hand-cancelled at the counter! 

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. 

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion

Experience winter in the village from inside historic Batsto Mansion, complete with modern heating! 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 usually offered at the following times throughout February:

• Wednesday through Friday: 1 p.m.

• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.

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.  

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

New patches and stickers are in! Celebrate some of your favorite hiking trails in Wharton State Forest with a patch or sticker. In addition to the 1808 Trail, we

now have patches and stickers for Tom’s Pond Trail and the Mullica River Trail featuring some native Pine Barrens species. If you like to hike but

patches aren’t your thing, check out our new “hiker’s corner” in the gift shop where we’ll be adding new hiking related items throughout the year. 

Would you rather wait out the winter indoors and with a good book? Stop in and see our selection of books including some nature themed children’s books and

local author Rich Romano’s newest book, “Ocean Access Vol II”. We carry numerous books related to New Jersey and the Pine Barrens. See what's new on

your next visit to Batsto Village!  

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. 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 spring 2026. It’s now time to plan a 2026 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.

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

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

The view from the web cameras was a bit darker but today is a bright one!

Take a look....

Look for the camera icon on the Home Page to get to the live webcams...some great views

News and Events from Wharton State Forest

Bundle up and visit Wharton State Forest this month! Jump on a Batsto Mansion tour, visit the Post Office in Batsto Village or check out the Annie Carter Nature Center. 

Jan. 17, 18 & 25: Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 p.m. on the following dates in January:

Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18  

Sunday, January 25 

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the sawmill. 

For more information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024. 

Happening Throughout January

Batsto Post Office

Send a New Year’s greeting from Batsto’s historic Post Office! Bring your letters and post cards (with appropriate postage!) to Batsto Post Office to receive a unique postal cancellation and see how mail was sent over a century ago. Pre-stamped envelopes and post cards are also available to purchase and send.

Batsto Post Office will be open from 12 to 3 p.m. each Friday and Saturday in January.

First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the United States. It was never assigned a zip code, and stamps are still hand-cancelled at the counter!

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 please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion

Experience winter in the village from inside historic Batsto Mansion, complete with modern heating! 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 usually offered at the following times throughout January:

• Wednesday and Thursday: 1 p.m.
• Friday: 3 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.  

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

Winter is the perfect time to take a step back, find a good book, and relax! The Batsto Museum Shop has an assortment of books about New Jersey history and nature

including many written by local authors.

New this month, we are featuring books from New Jersey author, Rich Romano. Rich was born in Belleville and now resides in Wayne, New Jersey. He has had a

lifelong interest in the history of New Jersey.

In addition to being an accomplished author, Rich is an exceptional photographer and includes his own photographs in his books. We currently have three of Rich’s

books in stock and we are eagerly awaiting his next one to be released at the end of this month.

Book Signings Throughout the Spring

Once you’ve gotten through your winter reading, stop by the Batsto Museum Shop throughout the spring and meet some of your favorite local authors.

Every month, we will host a book signing for different authors including Rich Romano and his newest book! Be on the look-out for those announcements this year. 

Don’t miss the chance to meet the authors and talk about some of the books and places you love.

Batsto Visitor Center Store (Batsto Museum Shop) is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

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

For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Visitor Center Store 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 spring 2026. It’s now time to plan a 2026 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.

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

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

News and Events from Wharton State Forest

Enjoy a quiet walk this winter through historic Batsto Village or along one of our many trails in Wharton State Forest. Consider stopping by our family friendly “Winter in the Pines” event or taking a holiday evening tour of Batsto Mansion.  

December 7: Winter in the Pines

You’re invited to Batsto Village on December 7 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 PM 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 PM, 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, children are free! 

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. 

December 17-21: Holiday Evening Tours of Batsto Mansion

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 90 minutes and promptly begin on the Batsto Mansion porch at 6 and 8 PM, Wednesday, December 17 through Sunday, December 21. 

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. 

Happening Throughout December

Annie M. Carter Nature Center 

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 PM on the following dates in December:

• Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7

• Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the sawmill

For more information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024.

Send Your Holiday Mail From the Batsto Post Office! 

Looking for something special to add to your holiday mail this year? Bring your postcards and letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation and add a piece of local history to your holiday greetings!

The Batsto Post Office will be open from 12 to 3 PM on the following dates in December: 

• Wednesday, December 3
• Friday, December 5
  • Saturday, December 6
  • Sunday, December 7
  • Wednesday, December 10
  • Friday, December 12
  • Saturday, December 13
  • Wednesday, December 17
  • Friday, December 19
  • Saturday, December 20
  • Sunday, December 21

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! 

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion 

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 of Batsto Mansion are usually offered at the following times throughout December:

• Wednesday through Friday: 1 PM

• Saturday and Sunday: 11 AM, 1 and 2 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

Get your holiday shopping done at the Batsto Museum Shop! We carry many products from local businesses and artists including a new line of mugs and

prints featuring native Pine Barrens wildlife from local artist Allen Crawford. If you are entertaining for the holidays, we have a complete line of Lisa Dealy

baskets as well as cutting boards by local wood crafter David Williams. Complement any meal with jams, jellies and pickles by Jims Jams and Lena Mills and

lighten your table with bayberry candles from Pine Barrens Post. Local artist Deb Geiger’s glass hanging art featuring native New Jersey bird species would

make a great gift for the window or a tree.  

Support your favorite South Jersey legend with Jersey Devil scarves and zip up sweatshirts or check out our new Pine Barrens shirt that features a whimsical

take on a forest creature. There are many other items to choose from in the shop. Stop in and take a look! 

A Note from the Batsto Visitor Center Staff... 

As winter sets in, if cold weather and early sunsets start to make you feel the winter blues, remember that there is plenty to do and explore here in Batsto

Village. The Visitor Center and Batsto Village are open from 9 AM – 4 PM every day except holidays. You can explore the village on your own, join a mansion

tour, watch a 10-minute movie about the history of Batsto Village, learn the natural and cultural history of Batsto Village while exploring the museum, and enjoy

the globally rare Pine Barrens habitat on any one of our trails.  

And thank you! To all the people who stopped by the Batsto Visitor Center and the Museum Shop this year. We are happy to have supported the community

through the store and our visitors as they explored Batsto Village and Wharton State Forest. We hope you have a safe and happy new year!  

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 now closed for the season. It’s time to plan a 2026 trip and reserve your cabin today!

Make your camping or cabin reservations here. 

About Wharton State Forest

One vibrant Maple tree!

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

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

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! 

October 1: World Postcard Day at Batsto

Postcard printed by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. The reverse reads “The Jersey Devil—Legendary figure of the New Jersey Pine Barrens reputed to roam The Cedar Swamps.

Help us celebrate World Postcard Day on October 1st! World Postcard Day was established in 2020 to commemorate the first modern postcard, sent through the Austrian Post on October 1, 1869. Stop by the Batsto Post Office to learn more about the history of postcards, mail service in the United States, and how Batsto stayed connected to the rest of the world.

Postcards with postage will be available for purchase in the Batsto Post Office. Visitors are also encouraged to bring their own pre-stamped postcards and letters, which can be mailed from Batsto’s historic Post Office.

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

October 4: Parlor Concert and Open House at Atsion Mansion

Start your fall at Wharton State Forest with an afternoon of music at Atsion Mansion! The historic house will be open and free to explore from 10 AM to 4 PM. The lively Libby Prison Minstrels will perform an acoustic selection of historical and Civil War-era music from 12 to 3 PM.

While at Atsion, be sure to check out the selection of nineteenth-century games for all ages, historic artifacts, and a selection of locally made goods and souveniers in the Atsion Office Store.

For more information, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444.

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

October 19: Country Living Fair

Batsto’s annual Country Living Fair has all the best South Jersey has to offer and something for everyone to enjoy! Spend the day exploring the historic village,

take a fall hike through the Pine Barrens, and

browse the vendor booths and exhibitions located throughout the site. Featuring locally-made crafts, historical exhibits, live music, old-time engines and cars,

food, antiques, pony rides, farm equipment, and

more; the Country Living Fair is a celebration of South Jersey! 

This year please stop by the Annie Carter Nature Center in Batsto Village! Visitors of all ages are invited in to learn more about the plants, animals, and natural

environments of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.  

The Country Living Fair takes place, rain or shine, on October 19 from 10 AM to 4 PM.  

Traffic Note: The Country Living Fair is Wharton State Forest’s biggest event of the year. Expect traffic delays as you approach Batsto. Please consider car-pooling! 

October 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 & 31: Folklore Lantern Tours at Batsto

Evening Folklore Lantern Tours return to Batsto this fall! Join Wharton State Forest’s natural and historic interpreters on an evening walk through the village,

illuminated by lantern light. The tour includes stops at points of interest throughout the village, accompanied by stories from Batsto’s unique history, as well as

the legends and folklore of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Warm clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended! Lanterns will be provided. 

Tours are approximately 75 minutes and promptly begin on the Batsto Mansion porch at 6:30 and 8:00 PM. Folklore Lantern Tours tickets can be purchased

over the phone or in person at the Batsto Visitor Center. Tickets are $10 per person. Space is limited, and tours fill very quickly! Interested visitors are strongly

encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot. 

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

October 24 & 25: Moonlight Wagon Rides at Batsto

Ride through Batsto this fall and explore the village in a horse-drawn wagon! Evening wagon rides will coincide with the first two nights of Folklore Lantern Tours. If you’re planning on attending both in the same night, be sure to schedule your wagon ride before or after your Lantern Tour. Wagon Rides are weather-permitting and tickets are non-refundable.

Wagon Rides are approximately 20 minutes and promptly begin behind the Visitor Center each half-hour, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wagon Ride tickets can be purchased over the phone or at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $25 per person. Space is limited and fills quickly! Visitors are highly encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot.

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

October 25: Public Star Watch at Batsto

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.

The Star Watch begins at 6:30 PM. At 6:45 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 7:45 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field.

Photo Caption: The Moon, with darker grey patches know as the Lunar Maria (singular mare). In this image we can see the Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, Mare Nectaris, Mare Tranquillitatis and the Mare Serenitatis. Below the seas we see a vast region of craters. Photo Credit: WAS Member, John McDaniel.

For this month’s star watch, Saturn and Neptune can be observed! The nearly 4-day old waxing crescent Moon can be seen in the southwest. In the telescope, Mare Crisium (Sea of Crisis) can be seen between the lunar limb (edge) and the terminator (line dividing lunar day and night).

October 26: Haunting in the Pines

The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. invites you to this year’s Haunting in the Pines at Batsto Village on Sunday, October 26 from 12 to 3 PM! There will be plenty for the whole family to enjoy including Halloween treats, games, and pony rides. This event is free and intended for families and children under 12. Guests are encouraged to wear their costumes while attending!

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 October

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 October. 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 and 2 PM. Each tour is 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.

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 usually offered at the following times throughout October:

• 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.

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

We’ve been busy in the Batsto Museum Shop! We have new merchandise, and we are working on bringing in more great products that showcase the history and natural resources in Wharton State Forest. This month, stop by and check out...

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.  

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.

"Trails & Tales of Wharton" is a monthly publication of nature and history related articles written by Wharton State Forest's nature and history interpretive staff.

A Nature Note: Out of this World Earthstar (and Another Fun Guy)

Late summer and into the fall, is a great time to see many different species of fungi. Temperatures are still high and added moisture makes for ideal growing conditions. While walking along our trails, our naturalist found a large earthstar fungi ! Fitting name for the way it looks above, but they start out very round before the outer layer splits to form this star shape. Earthstars are common in the Pine Barrens and are often found growing out of the sand.  

This fall, you might also come across a fly mushroom which are often found growing underneath our pines. Their color can range from yellowish to red, but they all have whitish warts on their caps. Fly mushrooms are quite large. When people all over the world think of mushrooms, they often think of this species without even realizing it.

If you see any of our fungi, please leave them be. It is illegal to collect mushrooms in New Jersey State Parks. Not to mention, fungi are an important food source for some of our native species and maybe be harmful to humans. If you’d like to learn more about fungi, check out the only mushroom club association in New Jersey – the New Jersey Mycological Association!

A History Highlight: Atsion's Post Office

If you are a regular visitor to Wharton State Forest, you may have looked inside the Batsto Post Office or even sent a postcard from the historic building! You

may not know, though, that Atsion also had a post office and also played an important role in connecting South Jersey communities! 

Atsion was home to one of the first post offices in Burlington County. On August 18, 1797, post offices were established in Atsion and Tuckerton, which was a major port of entry in the early United States. 

For nearly two decades, the post office at Atsion helped support its booming iron industry and growing population. After the ironworks closed in 1815, however, the post office was relocated to nearby Sooy’s Inn. In the 1820s, Samuel Richards purchased Atsion and quickly brought life back to the furnace and town. He built the mansion, still standing today, in 1826. One year later, in 1827, he built the general store. The very next year, in 1828, the post office was re-established at Atsion.  

From the 1830s to the 1860s, Atsion’s post office opened and closed numerous times as the surrounding town’s population grew and declined. Like many other South Jersey iron towns, competition from cheaper, more efficient furnaces in Pennsylvania forced Atsion’s owners to pursue other industries and endeavors. Colonel William Patterson purchased the land and reimagined it as an agricultural community called the Fruitland Improvement Company. In 1866, Patterson renamed the Atsion Post Office to the Fruitland Post Office. Though Patterson’s venture was ultimately unsuccessful, the Fruitland Post Office continued to operate here until 1871. 

Maurice Raleigh purchased Fruitland and changed the town’s name back to Atsion. For the next decade, the Astion Post Office again served the surrounding community. Industry also returned to Atsion, as Raleigh converted the town’s paper mill to a cotton mill. In 1882, however, the post office was moved to Atlantic County, where it could be closer to the New Jersey Southern Railroad’s station house. The relocation only lasted for a little over a year, and the Atsion Post Office was returned to this spot in 1883.  

In 1892, Joseph Wharton purchased Atsion, and it became part of his 96,000-acre tract in South Jersey. Initially interested in selling the fresh, clean water of the Pine Barrens, Wharton ultimately pursued agricultural endeavors. Atsion became an important part of Wharton’s cranberry business and served as a center for experimentation with peanut crops. The post office remained at Astion until 1930, when its service was discontinued and replaced with the Vincentown Post Office. 

From the Archives: Back to School 

For many of us, September means “back to school.” This month, we are going all the way back to school in 1909! 

The postcard pictured above features students attending the Pleasant Mills School, dated April 28, 1909. Cross-referencing the names written on the back with the 1910 federal census gives us a window into the lives of these students and their teacher.

Everyone in the photograph, except for the Coleman sisters and Lilla Ford, lived in Mullica Township. The 1910 federal census was enumerated in Mullica Township in mid-April, just shy of one year from the postcard’s date. From the census, we discover:

• Tillie Grams was 20 years old and born in Pennsylvania. She was single, living at home with her parents, and her occupation was listed, appropriately, as a teacher in a public school.
• Mary Ella Jervis was 18 years old and was a “cutter” in a paper mill. She lived at home with her parents in Pleasant Mills.

• Lilla Ford was 19 years old and had moved to Philadelphia by 1910. She is listed as a “boarder,” single, and was a laundry “sorter.”

• Helen Leek was 9 years old. She lived with her parents, George and Isabella, and she had a little sister named Laura.

• Lillian Ford was listed as a “housekeeper” at just 14 years old, living with her father.

• Olive Miller was only 8 years old and was the only surviving child of three born to Elmer and Effie Miller. Her father, Elmer, was a fruit farmer.

• Florence Ford, 12 years old, was Lillian Ford’s younger sister.

• Eugene Reynolds (Walter E. Reynolds on the census) was 13 years old and was listed as a “laborer” at home.

• Jesse Reynolds, Eugene’s brother, was also a “laborer” on their family farm.

• Russell Ford was 13 years old and Lila and Austin Ford’s brother.

• Austin Ford was 10 years old and was still attending school with his brother Russell.

• Ada Coleman was 19 years old, single, and living in Batsto with her parents.

• Emma Coleman was 16 years old and also lived with her parents at Batsto.

• Maggie Coleman, the postcard’s addressee, was Ada and Emma Colman’s mother. She was also the older sister of Augustus Miller, who was featured in the May edition of Trails and Tales!

Next, we have Emma V. Morasco’s notebook, shown above complete with her spelling words and plenty of creative doodling on the inside cover. On the back cover,

Emma notes that she was 11 years at the time and lived in and/or attended school in Atsion.   

Emma was born in August 1893 (1905 NJ State Census), dating her notebook to the 1904-1905 school year. The same census shows us that Emma had a younger sister, Sadie, and they lived with their

grandparents and widowed mother, Annabel, in DeCosta. Emma’s father, Robert, died in 1903 (NJ Death Index). In 1913, Annabel married William Bozarth (NJ Marriage Index), who was listed as the

caretaker of the Wharton Estate on the 1930 United States Census. 

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

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