THE PINE BARRENS

Welcome to the mysterious region called the Pine Barrens. Even its name is unusual!

This huge area is known for its large expanse of pines, white cedars, and scrub oaks; slow-moving red and coffee-colored streams; wild flowers, orchids, and carnivorous plants; ghost towns and....
the Jersey Devil!

There is still more mystery in this wooded region:
The ruins of ghost towns are all around. These towns were busy villages at one time. Many iron and glass factories were located there.

In one town, Batsto, the factory workers lived in small wooden houses near the factory and the company store. The Batsto Iron Works was constructed on the banks of the Batsto River. (The name comes from a Swedish word, "Batstu," which means bathing place. The bathers were probably the Lenni-Lenape Indians.) Workers were not paid with regular money but with credit they could only use at the company store. People lived, worked, and died in this town, never knowing the world outside of the forest.

The factory closed in the 1800's when the iron industry starting falling apart. A better type of iron was found elsewhere, and Batsto became a ghost town. The Pineys, the insulting (derogatory) name for the people who lived there, became very poor.

Visitors can tour Batsto for a look into the 19th century. More than 40 sites and structures remain to tell their story, including Batsto Mansion, which can be seen by Guided Tour throughout the year.

THE NAME, "PINE BARRENS"....
The early settlers thought the sandy soil of this area was not good for growing fruits and vegetables. They said the soil was barren, or not fertile. It was very sandy. And of course, it was covered with pine trees. However, this area attracts botanists (people who study plants) from all over the world. They study the strange, beautiful, and unusual plants that do grow here. Look at the pictures below. Why do you think the water is red in the picture at the top of this page?

New Jersey Pinelands Commission