FARMINGDALE – Conveniently located for residents of Monmouth and northern Ocean County, Allaire State Park is named for its founder, James P. Allaire. In addition to being a Nineteenth Century entrepreneur, Allaire is credited with building the first tenement housing in New York City, as well as being the first to develop a compound (multi-compartment) steam engine for use in the maritime industry.
Once known as the Howell Iron Works Company, the area was a self-contained town with a blacksmith, a bakery, a carpenter, a school, a general store and even a church. A large boarding house provided residence for the many individuals who worked at the blast furnace and mill that produced iron products to be shipped to major cities. At its height in the 1800s, the village grew to include some 400 workers and their families. Today, employees at the Village at Allaire dress in traditional period garb and give demonstrations of various crafts to transform the location into a “living museum” where the public can visit and step back in history.
April 2 marked the opening day of the park’s two hundredth anniversary season, with a variety of special events on weekends.
Tours and events are plentiful, and those planning a visit can get information from a continually-updated calendar posted on the park’s website. Upcoming weekends in April will feature a flea market as well as a Nineteenth Century Easter celebration. Allaire Chapel is a popular venue for weddings, and there’s even a narrow-gauge train, the Pine Creek Railroad, that guests to the village can enjoy.
But Allaire Village is just a tiny part of the entire site, which sits near the southeastern portion of Monmouth County. The massive park encompasses over 3,200 acres and is enjoyed year-round by lovers of the outdoors. Besides freshwater fishing in the Manasquan River, a part of the park even allows seasonal deer hunting.
Campers may utilize the park from April 1 through Dec. 15, with varying rates for New Jersey residents and non-residents. While it is rare that visitors to the area encounter one, black bears are ubiquitous in New Jersey, and Allaire State Park is no exception.
Parts of the park are left in a natural, undisturbed state, but nature trails are plentiful throughout Allaire. There are nine distinct trails that meander through the park, totaling nearly 23 miles. The shortest, the Boy Scout Trail, circles around the campsites south of Hospital Road. The longest trail, the Pine Trail, runs 4.6 miles and can be easily accessed by the west parking lot on the north side of Hospital Road. Children will enjoy the Dinosaur Trail, which features a stroll through the woods where hikers will encounter man-made dinosaur skeletal structures.
The trails do differ somewhat in difficulty, and while open to hikers, horseback riding and mountain bikes are permitted in the park. Because the area is an extensive deciduous forest with nearby sources of fresh water, it serves as a resting spot for many migrating birds, and the trails offer dedicated birdwatchers a multitude of opportunities to enjoy their hobby. Pets on leash are permitted, provided that the leashes are no longer than six feet in length.
Of course, restrooms can be found around the location, and there are designated picnic areas close to Allaire Village. For those who may have forgotten to bring provisions for their outing, the park does have a concession area, as well.
As with the other 38 state parks in New Jersey, there are restrictions for visitors. Swimming, smoking and alcohol are prohibited in Allaire State Park, as are ATV-type vehicles.
The park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an entrance fee on weekends.
From what began as a pocket of industrialization in rural New Jersey, Allaire State Park has now become a natural haven for the population in suburban Monmouth and Ocean Counties. While visitors come to Allaire from all parts of New Jersey as well as neighboring states, locals have access to a scenic and historic gem right in their own backyards.
