Entry No. 47 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: ghost-town

Friendship Historic Ruins

Deep in the Wharton State Forest of the New Jersey Pine Barrens lie the quiet remains of Friendship, a ghost town founded in 1869 at the center of a massive 3,000-acre cranberry farming operation. Once a bustling agricultural community, the village was eventually abandoned as the industry declined. Today, only crumbling stone foundations, cellar holes, and overgrown clearings remain, slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding pitch pines.

The move: Take a scenic hike or drive down the sandy, unpaved Hawkins Bridge Road to explore the quiet forest clearings together, photographing the weathered stone foundations during the golden hour.

📍 Before you go The ruins are located within Wharton State Forest, a public state park, and are legally accessible to hikers and visitors.

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

Where: Hawkins Bridge Rd, Vincentown, NJ 08088, USA

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

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: pinelandsalliance.org · familytravelforum.com

last checked: 2026-07-20