Lost Industries in the Pines
Explore abandoned ironworks, forgotten cranberry bogs, and historic Piney culture on a guided adventure through the hidden heart of the Pine Barrens.
Step into the hidden past of the Pine Barrens on the Lost Industries in the Pines Tour, an immersive journey into a forest that was once one of New Jersey’s busiest industrial frontiers. Though today the Pines feel wild and untouched, this region was home to roaring iron furnaces, bustling glassworks, charcoal pits, company towns, and cranberry operations that shaped early American industry. By the mid‑1800s, huge swaths of forest had been cut to fuel these enterprises—so extensively that some claimed there wasn’t a tree left standing between the Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. While that tale stretches the truth, it hints at the sheer scale of activity that once dominated these now‑quiet woods.
Guiding you through this landscape is Jeff Larson, who has spent more than three decades exploring the Pine Barrens and uncovering the stories that still linger beneath its sandy trails. Jeff will lead you to the ruins of long‑abandoned sites like Hampton Furnace, point out remnants of old cranberry bogs, and share the culture and history of the “Pineys” who built their lives around these industries. As the forest has slowly reclaimed what humans left behind, these scattered remains create a fascinating blend of wilderness and history waiting to be rediscovered.
Traveling by bus and making several stops to explore on foot, you’ll experience the Pine Barrens as both a rugged natural refuge and a museum of forgotten enterprise—an adventure perfect for anyone who loves history, mystery, and the thrill of stepping back in time.
The Pine Barrens are a post-industrial forest. It has been said that by 1850 no trees existed between the Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean due to industrial over-harvesting in the region. While such a claim is slightly exaggerated, it is difficult to imagine that the forest wilderness we know was once a major industrial center. Evidence of bygone eras still lies hidden among the quiet streams and thick patches of wild huckleberry.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Pine Barrens supported a surprising amount of industry for such a wild landscape. Early communities tapped into local resources, using the region’s bog iron deposits to run iron furnaces and relying on vast stands of pine and oak for charcoal to keep them operating. Glassmaking also took hold, supported by the area’s abundant sand, while cranberry cultivation and other wood‑based trades—like lumbering and fuel‑wood production—shaped the livelihoods of many small settlements scattered through the Pines. Although these industries eventually declined, their remnants still linger in the forest, offering a glimpse into a time when the Pines were as industrious as they were remote
Participants will travel by bus and make several stops to explore on foot.
Trip departs from Pinelands Adventures at 1005 Atsion Road, Shamong, NJ 08088.
Questions?
Send us an email or call at 609-268-0189