Wharton Monthly – July 2026
News and Events from Wharton State Forest
This month marks 250 years of American independence and there are many events to attend in Wharton State Forest. Celebrate the 250th in historic Batsto Village with Wednesday walks, mansion and village tours, a visit to the Batsto Post Office, and so much more! Consider joining us in remembering Captain Emilio Carranza at the 99th annual memorial service at the Carranza Monument.
ATTENTION: Entrance fees to Batsto Village will be charged weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: Wednesday Walks Through Batsto Village and Mansion
July is the perfect time to explore the history of Batsto Village! Spend a warm summer afternoon touring the preserved industrial town before stepping inside and cooling off in its impressive Victorian vacation home.
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 house. 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 each Wednesday in July. Tours begin at 2 p.m. 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 or altered due to inclement weather.
Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Wharton State Forest. For more information or to confirm that walking tours are running on the day of your visit, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
July 3, 4, & 5: Independence Day Weekend at Batsto Village
Celebrate 250 years of American independence this July 4th at Wharton State Forest!
There is plenty to do and to see this Independence Day Weekend at Batsto Village. Batsto Mansion, initially a small ironmaster’s residence before Joseph Wharton expanded it to serve as one of his vacation estates, will be open for guide
d tours on Friday (7/3), Saturday (7/4), and Sunday (7/5) at 10 and 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Tours are approximately 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.
Free guided walking tours of the historic village will also be offered all weekend! Tours meet in the Batsto Visitor Center before walking through the village, stopping at notable buildings and locations along the way—including the site of the eighteenth-century iron furnace that once supplied munitions to General Washington’s Continental Army.
Tours are approximately 60-90 minutes long and begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen is recommended!
Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Wharton State Forest. For more information or to confirm that specific programming is available on the day of your visit, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
July 10: Monthly Beginner Bird Watching Walk
Do you want to start birding? Join Wharton State Forest’s nature interpretive staff for a slow-paced, laid-back walk in lower 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 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 upper Batsto Village. This program will be cancelled with heavy rain, high winds, extreme heat or thunderstorms. Please wear sneakers and insect repellent, bring lots of water, and dress for the outdoors!
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.
11 de julio: 99º Servicio Conmemorativo Anual del Capitán Emilio Carranza
Únete a nosotros este sábado 11 de julio a la 1 PM. mientras el Bosque Estatal Wharton honra y celebra el legado del Capitán Emilio Carranza, un aviador legendario y símbolo perdurable de la cooperación entre México y Estados Unidos.
En 1928, el Capitán Carranza fue elegido para realizar un vuelo de buena voluntad desde la Ciudad de México hasta Nueva York. Reflejando el vuelo de Charles Lindbergh en 1927 desde Nueva York hasta la Ciudad de México, el viaje de Carranza tenía como objetivo representar la sólida y amistosa relación entre las naciones vecinas. Cuando llegó con éxito a Nueva York, Carranza fue recibido como un héroe internacional. Sin embargo, la tragedia golpeó el 12 de julio de 1928, poco después de emprender el vuelo de regreso a casa. Mientras pasaba sobre los Pine Barrens de Nueva Jersey, una tormenta eléctrica dañó el avión de Carranza, el México-Excelsior. Tristemente, el famoso aviador no sobrevivió al consiguiente accidente, y su cuerpo fue recuperado al día siguiente por miembros del American Legion Mount Holly Post 11.
Ubicado en la sección noreste del Bosque Estatal Wharton, el Monumento a Carranza ahora marca el sitio del accidente y se erige como un testimonio del legado de Carranza de buena voluntad entre Estados Unidos y México. El monumento de piedra representa un águila en caída, inspirada en el arte azteca e indígena mexicano. Cada año, miembros del American Legion Mount Holly Post 11, representantes del gobierno y militar mexicano, descendientes de Carranza y personas de todo Nueva Jersey se reúnen para recordar y conmemorar al heroico aviador y su misión de amistad internacional.
El Memorial a Carranza está localizado en el 39°46'40.0"N 74°37'59.0"W en la calle Carranza en Tabernacle, NJ 08088. Para más información, por favor comuníquese con el Centro de Visitantes Batsto al 609-561-0024.
July 11: 99th Annual Captain Emilio Carranza Memorial Service
Join us Saturday, July 11th at 1 p.m. 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, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.
July 11: 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 8 p.m. At 8:15 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9:30 p.m. 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. The Summer Triangle asterism is also high in the sky bounded by the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair. The smoke ring appearance of the Ring Nebula (M57), found in the constellation Lyra, makes for an intriguing view in the telescope eyepiece. The Great Hercules Cluster (M13) 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.
Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours
Historic Interpreters will also be on hand to lead evening walking tours through the village. Tours are free and open to all ages. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes and are offered at 7 p.m. and 8 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.
July 24: Storytime in the Pines
Wharton State Forest staff invite you to Storytime in the Pines, a free monthly story time and craft program. Join us once a month from June through October under the trees beside the Annie Carter Nature Center in historic Batsto Village.
Storytime begins at 10 a.m. outside the Nature Center and lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a craft indoors. Children may sit on our outdoor rug or caregivers are welcome to bring their own seating. Please wear insect repellent and sunscreen, bring water, and dress for the outdoors.
This program is free, but you must register. Registration opens on July 10th. When you register, you are only registering for this month's program.
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.
July 24: Red, White and Blue Hike
Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary (the nature way) with a hike on portions of Batsto’s Red, White and Blue Trails! Join Wharton State Forest staff on a moderately paced, approximately four mile hike. This hike will be offered once a month this summer. Join us each time to see what new red, white or blue parts of the Pine Barrens will be mentioned!
You can use this hike in your progress of any of the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge. You can read more about the challenge and how to participate here!
This hike is free, no registration is required, and it begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 10 a.m. before traveling on mostly the Batsto White Trail. We will travel over shallow roots and some bridges. The route is mostly sandy forest. This hike is not ADA accessible. This program is free and open to all ages but recommended for adults and children age 12 and older. This program will be cancelled with heavy rain, high winds, extreme heat, or thunderstorms. Please wear sneakers and insect repellent, bring lots of water, and dress for the outdoors!
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.
Happening Throughout July
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 July, except for Saturday, July 11th (closed during the Carranza Memorial Ceremony).
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
Send summer greetings from historic Batsto this July! 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 and Sunday in July, except for Saturday, July 11 (closed during the Carranza Memorial Ceremony).
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 Atsion Mansion
Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 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 usually offered at the following times throughout July:
- Friday: 1 and 2 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.
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.
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.
Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion
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 usually offered at the following times throughout July:
- Wednesday through Friday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 a.m.; 1, 2 and 3 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
As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s a great time to explore New Jersey’s historic sites. Wharton State Forest offers many unique places to visit and while you’re walking through Batsto Village or finishing a hike, stop by the General Store for a refreshing break.
The Batsto snack stand reopened last year after more than forty years and is now open every weekend and holiday this year. Enjoy ice‑cold drinks, snacks, and ice cream or relax on the shaded porch with a peaceful view of the village.
During your visit to Batsto, stop by the Batsto Museum Shop in the Batsto Visitor Center and check out a new line of colorful buttons, pins, and magnets, including 250th anniversary designs, Wharton State Forest and New Jersey themed items. They are a fun way to show your love for the area.
Over at the Atsion General Store, we’ve added several new souvenirs as well. After touring the mansion, stop in to pick up a button or another keepsake!
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! Summer camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens is filled with interesting evening sounds!
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 for the season. It’s now time to plan a trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.
Make your camping or cabin reservations here.
About Wharton State Forest
Located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state forest. It encompasses approximately 125,000 acres covering parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties providing a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding. It is home to historic Batsto Village, Batsto and Atsion Mansions, and the Atsion Recreation Area. You can find more information about Wharton State Forest and other New Jersey state parks on our website at https://dep.nj.gov/wharton.
Wharton State Forest Office Locations
Atsion Office
744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088, (609) 268-0444
Batsto Office, Museum and Store
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, (609) 561-0024
Ambas oficinas están abiertas los 7 días de la semana (excepto días festivos principales) de 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Both offices are open 7 days a week (except major holidays) 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
