Here's What Happening in Wharton Sate Forest in July!

July 12: 98th Annual Captain Emilio Carranza Memorial Service

Join us Saturday, July 12th at 1 PM. as Wharton State Forest honors and celebrates the legacy of Captain Emilio Carranza, a storied aviator and enduring symbol of cooperation between Mexico and the United States. 

In 1928, Captain Carranza was chosen to undertake a goodwill flight from Mexico City to New York. Mirroring Charles Lindburgh’s 1927 flight from New York City to Mexico City, Carranza’s journey was meant to represent the strong, friendly relationship between the neighboring nations. When he successfully arrived in New York, Carranza was welcomed as an international hero. Tragedy struck on July 12, 1928, however, shortly after embarking on the return flight home. While passing over the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a lightning storm damaged Carranza’s plane, The Mexico-Excelsior. Sadly, the famed aviator did not survive the resulting crash, and his body was recovered the next day by members of the American Legion Mount Holly Post 11. 

Located in the northeast section of Wharton State Forest, the Carranza Memorial now marks the site of the crash and stands as a testament to Carranza’s legacy of goodwill between the United States and Mexico. The stone monument depicts a falling eagle, inspired by Aztec and indigenous Mexican art. Each year, members of the American Legion Mount Holly Post 11, representatives from the Mexican government and military, Carranza’s descendants, and people from across New Jersey gather to remember and commemorate the heroic aviator and his mission of international friendship. 

Carranza Memorial is located at 39°46'40.0"N 74°37'59.0"W on Carranza Road in Tabernacle, NJ 08088.  

For more information on the Carranza Memorial, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/carranzamemorial.html 

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

 

July 19: The Second Pennsylvania Regiment Visits Batsto! 

The rattle of musketry and thunder of cannon will mix with the sounds of fife and drum as The Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line opens a window to the past and presents a vivid and exciting look at the soldier of the American Revolution at Batsto Village Historic Site on Saturday, July 19 from 11 AM. to 4 PM.

The Second Pennsylvania Regiment is a colorful and authentic recreation of an actual patriot military unit that fought in the War for Independence.  Founded in 1966, the organization is made up of history buffs from six states who have dedicated themselves to show the true appearance and tactics of the 18th Century soldier.

This respected living history group will provide a lively and accurate look at the typical infantry company of the period as the men perform the drill taught by Baron Von Steuben to Washington's troops at Valley Forge as they stand and fire smoky volleys from their flintlock muskets. At the end of the demonstration, which includes an enthusiastic bayonet charge, the audience will be invited onto the field to talk with the members and see their uniforms and gear firsthand. Several demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day.

Adding a touch of music to the event, the popular Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society will be playing period music on the Batsto Mansion porch from Noon to 3:30 PM.

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

July 27: Dog days of Summer at Batsto Village

Join the Pinelands Retriever Club and the Seashore Dog Training Club of South Jersey for entertaining demonstrations of retrieving skills and some schooling of man's best friend!

Come join us down by the sawmill from 10 AM - 2 PM.....and 

Our popular wagon rides will be operating from 12 noon - 3 PM for a very small fee

( children under 12 ride free ).

Rides start behind the Batsto Visitor Center.

 

July 19: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

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

Photo Caption: The Dumbbell Nebula is a Planetary Nebula found in the constellation Vulpecula which resides in the Summer Triangle asterism. Photo Credit: Howard Schneck.

The Star Watch Begins at 8:00 PM. At 8:30 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

For this month’s star watch, the galactic Center of the Milky Way is visible at the southern horizon. This area of the night sky is packed with star clusters and nebulae including the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae. Also the Summer Triangle asterism is high in the sky bounded by the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair. The smoke ring appearance of the Ring Nebula (M57) makes for an intriguing view in the eyepiece. The Great Hercules Cluster in the constellation Hercules is a splendid Globular Cluster containing several hundred thousand stars and can been seen with the unaided eye under dark skies.

 

Happening throughout July

Swimming at Atsion Recreation Area

Dip in the fresh, cool cedar water of Atsion Lake this summer. Lifeguarded swimming is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM, until Labor Day. Atsion Recreation Area is open 9 AM to 8 PM., 7 days per week. 

Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty; parents must supervise children in the water at all times.

Plan Ahead 

Arrive early, arrive together! If arriving before the park opens at 9 AM, park at Atsion Office located across the street at 744 Route 206, Shamong, NJ. 

During periods of high visitation, when a park's capacity is reached, the park will be closed and traffic will be turned away from the park entrance. When that occurs, NO additional vehicles/visitors will be allowed to enter the park, including those with members of their party who may already be in the park. If you are not traveling in the same vehicle with others in your party, we suggest that you all arrive at the same time. 

Call the Atsion Office 609-268-0444 or check the NJ State Park Status Map at https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parkstatus/ to see if park is “Open” or “Filled to Capacity”. 

If you would like to receive a text message or e-mail when Atsion Recreation Area closes/reopens, please follow this link and complete the form: https://forms.office.com/g/qq3xyZE3QW 

Atsion Recreation Area is located at 715 Route 206, Shamong, NJ.  

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

 

Batsto Post Office Open Wednesdays and Sundays in July

Did you know that the Batsto Post Office can still send mail? First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, the Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the United States!

The Batsto Post Office will be open each Wednesday and Sunday afternoon (10 to 2 PM) in July. Bring your pre-stamped postcards and letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation. Stamped postcards are also available for purchase. While you are in the Post Office, be sure to spend some time in the attached Glass Museum! Containing examples of nineteenth and twentieth-century glass, as well as historic artifacts found throughout Batsto, the Glass Museum is the perfect complement to a mansion tour and stroll through the village.

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

Atsion Mansion Tours

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in July! 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 on 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. 

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

Enjoy the summer breeze this July 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 July:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

Summer brings a new flock of Audubon Birds to the Batsto Museum Shop. Just landing are the purple martins and barn swallows. The house finch and the piping plover chick will make a great addition to your collection of these colorful and realistic birds. Each bird has authentic sounds as recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The wild turkey is just waiting to be taken home!

Bird lovers can also find stickers and notecards in the shop that feature not only birds native to New Jersey, but also native to the Pine Barrens. If you’re an aspiring birder, several books are available to help identify the species of birds and even other animals that live in the forest around Batsto.

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

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

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

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round!  

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond, Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.  

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