Entry No. 77 — the New York City file — filed under: history

Old Ogden Mine

The Old Ogden Mine, later incorporated into Thomas Edison's ill-fated Edison Mines complex, is a historic 19th-century iron mine located atop Sparta Mountain. In the 1890s, Edison built a massive magnetic ore-concentrating plant here, but the venture collapsed by 1900 due to cheaper Midwestern ore. Today, the forest has reclaimed the site, leaving behind concrete foundations, the water-filled Horseshoe Cut pit, and remnants of the old railroad.

The move: Go for a scenic hike along the Edison Trail in the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area to safely view the historic stone foundations and the fenced-off Horseshoe Cut pit.

📍 Before you go The address 83 Ridge Rd is a private residence, but the mine ruins are located in the adjacent Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The open pits and shafts are fenced off for safety, but the ruins and foundations can be legally viewed from public hiking trails accessed via Edison Road.

• 📍 Sparta
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 83 Ridge Rd, Sparta, NJ 07871, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · geocaching.com

last checked: 2026-07-20