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Manahawkin Today
By the People, for the People
Exploring New Jersey's Forgotten Ghost Towns
From abandoned villages to haunting industrial ruins, a guide to the state's hidden history.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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A childhood spent exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens sparked a love of history for the author, leading to discoveries of long-forgotten ghost towns and abandoned communities across the state. The article provides a guide to some of the most compelling of these sites, including Batsto Village, Feltville/Deserted Village, Allaire Village, Waterloo Village, Weymouth Furnace, Whitesbog, and the mysterious Ong's Hat, along with coordinates to help readers find them.
Why it matters
New Jersey is often overlooked for its rich history and unique cultural heritage, with many of the state's most fascinating stories hidden away in remote, abandoned settlements. Exploring these ghost towns provides a window into the state's past, revealing the stories of the industries, communities, and people who once thrived in these now-forgotten places.
The details
The author's father, a genealogist, sparked his interest in New Jersey's history by taking him on "graveyard picnics" to visit old cemeteries and abandoned villages in the Pine Barrens. These forgotten towns were often built around industries like ironworks, glassmaking, and sawmills, but when those industries declined, the communities were abandoned and slowly reclaimed by nature. The article highlights several of the most compelling ghost town sites, including Batsto Village, a former ironworks and glassmaking community; Feltville/Deserted Village, a 19th-century paper mill town; Allaire Village, a 19th-century iron-making community; Waterloo Village, a Revolutionary War-era canal town; Weymouth Furnace, the ruins of an iron works and paper mill; Whitesbog, a former cranberry and blueberry farming village; and the mysterious Ong's Hat, a site shrouded in legend.
- The author grew up in the 1970s during the nation's Bicentennial celebration, sparking his lifelong interest in history.
- Many of the ghost towns highlighted in the article were founded in the 18th and 19th centuries, before being abandoned in the late 19th or early 20th centuries as their industries declined.
The players
The author's father
A genealogist who sparked the author's interest in New Jersey's history by taking him on "graveyard picnics" to visit old cemeteries and abandoned villages in the Pine Barrens.
David Felt
The papermaker who founded Feltville/Deserted Village in 1845 and ran it like a personal kingdom, earning him the nickname "King David".
What they’re saying
“King David is dead and the village will go to hell.”
— David Felt, Founder of Feltville/Deserted Village (nj1015.com)
The takeaway
Exploring New Jersey's forgotten ghost towns provides a fascinating glimpse into the state's rich history and cultural heritage, revealing the stories of the industries, communities, and people who once thrived in these now-abandoned places. These sites offer a window into a past that is often overlooked, inviting visitors to uncover the hidden stories that lie beneath the state's modern landscape.
