This Historic Park Is One Of New Jersey's Best Kept Secrets
By Kim Magaraci|Published September 01, 2022
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
Most of New Jersey’s 19th-century iron works, glass works, and other mill works were built in and around the Pinelands. The sandy soil, pristine aquifer, tremendous forests, and proximity to waterways made the Pine Barrens ideal for industry. That doesn’t mean, though, that the rest of the state was left out! One of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets, Long Pond Ironworks, sits way up north near the NJ-NY border and has been turned into a state park that’s perfect for a day trip.
Long Pond began operations in 1766 - ten full years before the American Revolution! It ran as an ironworks for over 100 years, until it shuttered in 1882 due to a lack of demand and a rapidly changing industry.
Many of the buildings that made up this historic community are still standing, including the Old Country Store pictured above.
Three Iron furnaces still stand in this spot, and they date back over 100 years. Long Pond was an important part of American military history, and it produced iron for George Washington's Continental Army as well as forces in 1812 and for the Union Army during the American Civil War.
You'll find gorgeous scenery in any season, so pick a nice day and get out here to explore!
Views of the Wanaque River, the historic remnants of the crucial industrial site, and carefully maintained and planned paths make this a great spot to spend the day.
