A Drone Flew High Above An Uninhabited Island In New Jersey And Caught The Most Incredible Footage
There are dozens of small islands located in and around New Jersey. Many are simply stretches of land teeming with wildlife, birds specifically; others offer a little more. Burlington Island was once home to an incredible amusement park (keep an eye out for a future article on this!), Shooter’s Island has a rich shipbuilding history, and Petty Island… Well, let me tell you about Petty Island.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Petty Island, also known as Petty's Island, is located between Camden and Philadelphia. It is officially part of Pennsauken Township.
William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania) once owned the island, and John Petty purchased it in 1732. By the late 1700s and into the 1800s, it was a hotbed for crime including illegal gambling.
In the 1930s, the island was purchased for fuel storage. Who bought it? CITGO Petroleum Corporation (formerly Cities Service), whose majority shareholder is the Venezuelan Government.
In an unprecedented move, CITGO handed control of the island to the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust. They also donated millions of dollars to fund the trust and build a visitor's center.
The island is still undergoing remediation efforts, which are set to be completed by 2021. In just a few years, the island will be an urban oasis with a spectacular view of the Philadelphia skyline. There are plans for environmental programs in the works, when the park is open to the public. For now, the island is only accessible through scheduled programs which sell out quickly. For information on tours, visit the New Jersey Audobon website. There was a tour scheduled for next week but it has been postponed due to social distancing guidelines. While we wait for this gem to be restored, we can enjoy the spectacular drone footage below, captured by YouTube user TedTenPADrones:
Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
Love New Jersey?
Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!
