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Published: April 12th 2016
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Sometimes there is just so much history right in your backyard. Located right in between Newton and Andover is Kittatinny Valley Staet Park. This 5,656 acres park can provide everything from group camping to hiking, geocaching to hunting, fishing and running with a mix of a bit of interesting history on the side. One of my all time favorite places to run, this park has trails that range from hilly to flat, perfect for leisurely biking as well as some intense mountain biking!
One of the newer State Parks, Kittatinny was even acquired until 1994 but what comes with it is a rather rich history. What is now the office building once was a small little house built in 1825 from the area's limestone for a Sarah Hill. After Hill it feel into the hands of Albert and Nancy Puder who bought the building and added on some farm outbuildings to sustain a successful creamery in the 1850's. However when Albert died, Nancy sold the property over to Frederick Hussey in 1906. Mr. Hussey was a man with a substantial fortune that was made from real estate and whaling, his son was also the owner of the Aeroflex
Corporation which built the airport which is still in use today. After the Hussey's came the Rubicon Arabian Stables which was ran by Joseph and Barbara LoRe. After just eight years here however the property was in foreclosure and owned by the bank. NJ Green Acres puchased the 948 acre property to create what is here today, the Kittatiinny Valley State Park. In 2003 the once small stone building, turned creamery, turned fancy home, turned Arabian Stables became the office for KVSP.
But there is so much more. The YMCA established the Jersey Boys' Camp Wawayanda here in 1919 which eventually moved up to New York but not without leaving a few ruins if you will in its wake. Along the yellow trail take a look up to the great stone fireplace which was built in 1947 to commemorate former campers who served in World War II. Although not originally associated with the YMCA Camp Group, the Slater House which can be four on the Limecrest side of the park was used by the camp as an administration building, summer school and guest house. Originally the property was purchased by Joseph P. Scovill who in his own
right has his claim to setting up the first exclusive fishing preserve in Sussex County in the 1850's. However in 1871, Charles Slater purchased the property and built his dream home on the property in 1874. From there it went to the camp then Mr. Hussey and is now used as District 3 Headquarters of the New Jersey State Park Police.
Free all year around, come on by to see the picturesque fall leaves or check out the beautiful butterfly and hummingbird garden that can be found behind the park office. Check the calendar of events going on because you may be in luck! The Sussex Branch Trail goes right through the park so you can hop on their if you'd like to hike or bike. Lake Aeroflex which is New Jersey's deepest natural lake is a great place to try your hand at fishing. With brown and rainbow trout being stocked every year by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife you might just find yourself pulling in a trout, bass, perch or even a landlocked salmon. You are more than welcome to drop in a boat or kayak and head out into the best fishing
area you can find, but no motorized engines!
Although Aeroflex is the largest lake, you can try your hand at Gardner's Pond, White's Pond or Twin Lakes which are much smaller and shallower lakes however they are still brimming with fish such as bass and crappies. Although there is no boat launch, if you can manage you they do allow boats to be dropped in. And in the winter time, if any and all of these ponds freeze over you can even try your hand at ice fishing.
Kittatinny Valley State Park
199 Goodale Rd.
Newton, NJ 07846
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