Island Beach

New Jersey's ghost towns are bog-iron villages and mill towns in the Pine Barrens.

Island Beach State Park is a New Jersey state park located just south of Seaside Park on the Barnegat Peninsula in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. Most of the park encompasses the former borough of Island Beach. The park is the largest reserve of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States. The park is divided into two areas. The Island Beach Northern Natural Area covers 659 acres (2.7 km2), some of which is restricted to the public.

The on-the-ground condition of Island Beach is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Island Beach is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Island Beach is roughly 39.9053, -74.0814 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.