Allaire State Park

Allaire State Park is a park located in Howell and in Wall Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, near the borough of Farmingdale, operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and is part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. The park is known for its restored 19th century ironworks, Allaire Village, on the park premises. It is named after James P. Allaire, founder of the Howell Works at the same site.[2] The park also hosts the Pine Creek Railroad, a tourist railroad.

Allaire State Park
Pine Creek Railroad at Allaire State Park
LocationHowell and Wall Township, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates40°9′43.60″N 74°7′53.62″W[1]
Area3,205 acres (1,297 ha)
Created1940 (1940)
Operated byNew Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
OpenAll year
WebsiteOfficial website

The park, which is located in the coastal plain geographic region of New Jersey, is an example of podzolic soils. These soils are high in iron particle content and are fairly acidic.

Picnic facilities including charcoal grills, tables, playgrounds and sanitary facilities are available within the developed area of the park. The Manasquan River flows eastward through the park, seasonal canoe rentals are offered offsite by private vendors. The Manasquan River is classified as fresh water within the park and requires a fishing license. The park charges an entrance fee on weekends in the summer. [3]

Allaire Village

The park's signature feature is the Allaire Village, originally named Howell Works in the early 19th century. It was a prosperous industrial town producing pig iron and cast iron from the surrounding bog iron deposits. The buildings which remain and have been restored today include a general store, blacksmith shop, carpenter's shop, manager's house, foreman's house and a church. One of the workers' row house buildings has been recreated and now houses a Visitor Center and Museum (free).[4] The historic village is run by a non-profit organization independent of the park and charges a nominal fee to enter the buildings.[5]

Pine Creek Railroad

The Pine Creek Railroad is an excursion rail line operated by railroad enthusiasts of the New Jersey Museum of Transportation. The museum, an independent not-for-profit organization, moved its locomotives and rolling stock to Allaire State Park in 1962 where it runs weekend trains on a ½ mile loop of track through the park.[6] The physical rail line for the railroad was repurposed from a disused spur of track at a former rug company, 'A&M Karadheusian Rug Company' in Freehold, NJ. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders sold the track for $1.00 to the museum for use at Allaire State Park.[7]

The Pine Creek Railroad, like Allaire Village is an independent private organization operating within the park.

Nature Interpretive Center

The Nature Interpretive Center currently operates weekends during the summer.[8]

Campground

The Allaire State Park family campground provides flush toilets, shower facilities, and a seasonal trailer sanitary dump station. The campground is open all year. Prices range from $20 a night for a regular tent site, to $30 for a yurt, and $40 for a shelter.

There are 45 tent and trailer sites with picnic tables available for guests with their own camping equipment. In addition there are four yurts (circular tents built on a wood deck), and six cabin-like shelters available for rent. There is also a group campground located on the south side of the park, which has an area with six large sites.[9]

Trails
  • The Pink Trail

An easy hiking trail which spans 0.5 miles (0.80 km).

  • The White Trail

An easy hiking trail which spans 1.5 miles (2.4 km).

  • The Blue Trail

An easy hiking trail which spans 4.5 miles (7.2 km).

  • The Orange Trail

A moderate 6.5-mile (10.5 km) trail which is a multi-use trail.

  • The Black Trail

A moderate, more difficult, longer alternate route off the Orange Trail.

While not an official park trail, the bikeway terminates within the developed section at the Pine Creek Railroad parking lot. The trail spans 5.4 miles (8.7 km) to Manasquan. The Edgar Felix is a rail-trail, and would be considered as easy if rated by the NJ DEP.[10]

All trail classifications and distances are made by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the State Parks. Note: Bicycles are not permitted on trails within the developed part of the park. Allaire's mountain biking trails may be accessed by riding the Edgar Felix Bikeway to Hospital road on the eastern edge of the park.

References
  1. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/allaire.html
  2. "Alliare State Park". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  3. "Alliare State Park". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  4. "Alliare State Park". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  5. "Alliare Village website". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  6. "Pine Creek Railroad". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  7. "County Sells Rail Track for Display", The Freehold Transcript, April 25, 1963, Page 13
  8. "Alliare State Park". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  9. "Alliare State Park". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  10. "Edgar Felix Bikeway". Retrieved August 31, 2010.
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