Author Archives: Wes Hughes

Spend your evening in the Atsion Mansion this August!

Every Friday in August.

Guided Tours are 45-55 minutes and promptly begin outside the mansion at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Tickets can be purchased at the Atsion office and are $5 per visitor.

Space is limited and visitors are encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot at (609) 268-0444. Office opens seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 4 PM.

Tickets can be purchased 15 minutes prior of starting time of the tour.

What a combination!

The annual Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle show is upon us again!

 Sunday May 19th from 9AM - 3PM, come stroll the rows of vendors selling a variety of interesting items.

And....from noon until 3PM, wagon rides will be available (for a small fee) to take you on a trip through both the upper & lower village of Batsto!

A very knowledgeable BCCI member will ride along to provide some interesting information about what you see on this fun ride.

Bring the little ones too!

May 4: Volunteer Recruitment Day

Would you like to learn more about how you can help us care for the natural and historic resources of Wharton State Forest? Join us on May 4th from 12 - 3 p.m. for our Volunteer Recruitment Day at Batsto Village Historic Site!

Meet our staff and volunteers, explore the various jobs and duties that both perform, and find out how you can be part of our team! Demonstrations and information sessions include historic woodworking and blacksmithing, leading tours of the mansion and village, trail maintenance, and more.

Wagon rides through the historic village will also be available 12 - 3 p.m. for a small fee.

Batsto is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.

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

May 11: Public Star Watch at Atsion Office Field

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch, 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 8 p.m.

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

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

May 10, 11 & 12: Mother’s Day Weekend Tours of Batsto Mansion

This Mother’s Day weekend, enjoy spring at Wharton State Forest with a tour of Batsto Village and its 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. Tours then move inside the mansion, where visitors are invited to explore the nineteenth century home.

Tours are approximately 90-120 minutes long and begin at 2 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes for the outdoor portion of the tour. Tour tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $5 per person.

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

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

May 19: Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show at Batsto

Join us for our annual Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show, presented by the Batsto Citizen’s Committee, Inc. Come to Batsto Village on May 19th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. to view Pine Barrens treasures, search for that rare find to add to your antique collection, or to take a scenic stroll through the historic iron town.

While in the village, stop by the Batsto Mansion for a special Antique, Glass and Bottle Show tour! Tours will cover the first and second floors of the house and will be available throughout the day. Special artifacts will also be on view. Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center (cash and credit) or on the Batsto Mansion Porch (cash only) and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

As a special addition to our Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show, local author Barbara Solem will be in the Batsto Visitor Center signing books! Copies of her Ghost Towns and Other Quirky Places in the New Jersey Pine Barrens and Batsto Village: Jewel of the Pines will be available for purchase.

Batsto is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.

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

May 25, 26 & 27: Memorial Day Weekend Walking Tours

Historic Interpreters will be on hand to lead walking tours through the Batsto Village this Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). 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 long and are offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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

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

Atsion Mansion Tours

The Atsion Mansion is open for tours this May! 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 are Saturdays and Sundays at 1 and 2 p.m., 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

Mansion tours continue this spring at Batsto Village! 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 Wednesdays through Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m., 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. 

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.

Batsto Visitor Center Store

May 12th is Mother’s Day, and the Batsto Visitor Center Store is having a Plant Sale to celebrate! Featuring native Pine Barrens plants in decorative containers, they are a great gift for anyone who loves the forest.

There are only a few bottles of maple syrup left from this year’s harvest. Stop in and get some now before they are sold out! For all the Smokey Bear fans visiting Batsto, the Visitor Center Store has new patches in stock—drop by to see what’s new! The store also features healthy snacks to keep you energized as you hike through the Pine Barrens. Additional Batsto Mansion and Jersey Devil shirts are available for purchase as well. No matter how you enjoy Wharton State Forest, there is something for you at the Batsto Visitor Center Store!

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://www.njparksandforests.org.

Wharton State Forest Office Locations

Atsion Office and Store
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.

April 5, 12, 19 & 26: Friday Evenings at Atsion

The Atsion Mansion will be open for evening tours each Friday in April!

Spend your spring exploring one of Wharton State Forest’s architectural treasures. Constructed in 1826 as a summer home for Atsion’s ironmaster, Samuel Richards, the house is now preserved as an important example of nineteenth-century domestic architecture in South Jersey. Evening tours are conducted by lantern light, as the building was never electrified.

Tours start at 6 and 7 p.m., are 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office.

Tour tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the Atsion Office. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone to reserve your spot!

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

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

April 6: Star Watch & Evening Walking Tours at Batsto

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch, 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.

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 long and are offered at 7 and 8 p.m. 

Reservations are not needed, but comfortable shoes are recommended.

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.

April 7, 14, 21 & 28: Inside/Outside Tours of Batsto

Sunday afternoons in April, enjoy spring at Wharton State Forest with a tour of Batsto Village and its Italianate mansion! Tours meet on the mansion porch and begin with a walk through the village, stopping at notable buildings and locations along the way. Tours then move inside the mansion, where visitors are invited to explore the nineteenth century home.

Tours are approximately 90 minutes long and begin at 2 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes for the outdoor portion of the tour.

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $5 per person.

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

April 8: Solar Eclipse Wharton State Forest is the ideal location to view the solar eclipse this April! Watch as the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking our view of the Sun and temporarily darkening the sky. The eclipse will be visible, weather permitting, from Batsto and Atsion from roughly 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Be sure to bring eclipse glasses to view the event safely. Eclipse glasses are also available for purchase in the Basto Visitor Center Store. Batsto Village Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Atsion Mansion Tours

The Atsion Mansion reopens for weekend tours this 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 are Saturdays and Sundays at 1 and 2 p.m., 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

Mansion tours continue this spring at Batsto Village! 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 Wednesdays through Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m., 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch.

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.

Batsto Visitor Center Store

The Batsto Visitor Center Store has everything you need to enjoy the warmer weather and long days of Spring!

Want the most popular shirt in the Pine Barrens? Our glow-in-the-dark t-shirts featuring both the Batsto Mansion and the Jersey Devil will be restocked soon. Call the Batsto Visitor Center Store for updates!

Planning on viewing the April 8th solar eclipse at Batsto? Stop in the store to pick up the special glasses needed to safely view the spectacular event.

If you would rather avoid the sun and stay in the shade, check out one of Wharton State Forest’s new hats—perfect for enjoying the outdoors this Spring.

Batsto Visitor Center, Store and Museum are located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

Want to join the Wharton State Forest team?

Looking for a part-time or summer job? Wharton State Forest is now hiring seasonal lifeguards, maintenance, office, and visitor service assistant positions.  Apply here https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/jobs.html and check the drop-down box for Wharton State Forest or Atsion Recreation Area.

Keep an eye on me.

I even change colors.

Could it be Sunday?

March 2: Star Watch at Atsion

The first Star Watch of 2024 is almost here! Join us for a free evening of night sky observation in Atsion Office Field on Saturday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.
No telescope? No problem! Members of West Jersey Astronomical Society will have their telescopes set up for all to view.

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

For more information, please call the Atsion Office at 609-298-0444.

March 3: Joseph Wharton's Birthday

Help us celebrate the birthday of the namesake of Wharton State Forest, Joseph Wharton! Born on March 3, 1826, Wharton would become one of the country’s wealthiest citizens, and owner of Batsto from 1876 to 1909. Stop
by the mansion for a special tour of the house and grounds focusing on the personal life of Joseph Wharton or mail a post card from the Batsto Post Office while you explore the village!

Tours are 75-90 minutes and begin on the mansion porch. Tickets include a brief walking tour of the village and a guided tour of the Batsto Mansion.

• 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $5 per person.

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.

March 9 & 10: Pinelands Short Course and Lines on the Pines

Wharton State Forest staff will be present at the Pinelands Short Course and Lines on the Pines, both on the campus of Stockton University. On Saturday, Wharton’s historian will be delivering a program titled “The Richards Era at Batsto.”

This program will focus on the story of the Richards Family’s period of ownership at Batsto (1784-1876). Detailing the nearly century-long transition from ironworks to glass factory to potential Pine Barrens ghost town, the presenter will highlight the challenges and changes to Batsto during the line-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Topics include the height and decline of New Jersey’s iron industry, the use of South Jersey’s abundant natural resources, and the continuing legacy of Batsto’s past as a company town.

Then, on Sunday, you can find the Wharton State Forest table at Lines on the Pines. A gathering of Pine Barrens authors, craftspeople, scholars and enthusiasts, there is something there for everyone to enjoy!

March 1, 8, 15 & 22: Batsto Mansion Sunset Tours

Sunset tours of the Batsto Mansion return this March! See the historic house after hours with a guided tour of the impressive Italianate home. Get a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived, worked, and vacationed at Batsto more than a century ago.

Tours are 75-90 minutes and begin on the mansion porch.

Tickets include a brief walking tour of the village and a guided tour of the Batsto Mansion at 10 a.m., 12 p.m.& 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $5 per person.

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.

March 9 & 10: Pinelands Short Course and Lines on the Pines

Wharton State Forest staff will be present at the Pinelands Short Course and Lines on the Pines, both on the campus of Stockton University. On Saturday, Wharton’s historian will be delivering a program titled “The Richards Era at Batsto.”

This program will focus on the story of the Richards Family’s period of ownership at Batsto (1784-1876). Detailing the nearly century-long transition from ironworks to glass factory to potential Pine Barrens ghost town, the presenter will highlight the challenges and changes to Batsto during the line-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Topics include the height and decline of New Jersey’s iron industry, the use of South Jersey’s abundant natural resources, and the continuing legacy of Batsto’s past as a company town.

Then, on Sunday, you can find the Wharton State Forest table at Lines on the Pines. A gathering of Pine Barrens authors, craftspeople, scholars and enthusiasts, there is something there for everyone to enjoy!

Lines on the Pines!

BCCI will be at Lines on the Pines at Stockton University Campus Center...

Sunday March 10th from 11AM - 4PM.

Stop by and visit!

February 10th -  Maple Sugaring Day at Batsto Village

Saturday, February 10th is maple sugaring day at Batsto Village Historic Site!

Join us, along with partners from Stockton University, in boiling this year’s batch of Wharton State Forest maple syrup.

The festivities begin at Batsto at 10 a.m., and boiling will continue until 2 p.m.

No registration is required, and the maple sugaring event is open to all ages. Free and open to the public.

Batsto's Historic Post Office is Open February 10th 

Visitors are invited to send a Wharton State Forest post card from Batsto’s post office! Opened in 1852, mail is still hand-canceled in the same historic building that once served Batsto’s villagers over a century ago.

Stamped post cards can be purchased from the Batsto Visitor Center. Visitors may also bring other pre-stamped post cards and letters to mail from Batsto's historic post office.

The Batsto Post Office will be open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Feb. 17-19

Presidents' Day Weekend at Batsto Village

There’s plenty to do at Batsto this Presidents’ Day Weekend! Explore the village, take a tour, or send mail from our 1852 historic post office. Weekend events include guided tours of the Batsto Mansion, walking tours of the village, and more!

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

Stay warm this February 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 45-55 minutes and begin on the mansion porch:

• Wednesdays through Sundays
  11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

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

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

Camping & Cabins

Winter camping is available at Wharton State Forest! There is nothing like waking up on a winter’s morning, looking out of your tent and seeing a fresh coat of snow on the ground.  Or before turning in for the night, star gazing in Wharton State Forest’s dark skies with the sound of an owl calling off in the distance.

All our campgrounds are open year around.  

Atsion Cabins are closed for the season and will reopen again in late winter, but you can still make a reservation now.

Make your camping or cabin reservations here

Free Gifts with Purchases at Batsto and Atsion Stores

Discover the history of Atsion and its Vernacular Greek Revival mansion! Visitors will receive a free copy of Atsion: A Town of Four Faces with the purchase of an Atsion magnet.

Take the story of Batsto home with you after exploring the historic village! Visitors will receive a free copy of Of Batsto and Bog Iron with the purchase of a Batsto trivet.

Wharton State Forest Career Opportunities

Want to join the Wharton State Forest team?

Now through February 19, 2024 we’re accepting applications for a full-time year-round Maintenance Worker 1 position in Wharton State Forest! Find the job details and application instructions here: https://www.nj.gov/dep/jobs/spfhs-2024-3mw1.pdf

Looking for a part-time or summer job? Wharton State Forest will soon be hiring seasonal lifeguards, maintenance, office, and visitor service assistant positions. Apply here https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/jobs.html and check the drop-down box for Wharton State Forest or Atsion Recreation Area

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://www.njparksandforests.org.

Wharton State Forest Office Locations

Atsion Office and Store
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.

No clouds today!

Great day for a walk at Batsto!