Ringwood State Park
Encyclopedia
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
in northeastern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Park is located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains
Ramapo Mountains
The Ramapo Mountains are a forested chain of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern New Jersey and southeastern New York in the United States...
in Ringwood
Ringwood, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density is 491.0 people per square mile . There are 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile...
. It contains the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands
Skylands
Skylands 1,119 acres , also known as the New Jersey Botanical Garden, is a mansion and botanical garden in Ringwood State Park in the borough of Ringwood, located within the Ramapo Mountains in Passaic County in the state of New Jersey, United States...
, historic Ringwood Manor
Ringwood Manor
Ringwood Manor was home to a number of well-known ironmasters from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolution, Robert Erskine managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor General, producing maps for the Continental...
and Skylands Manor, and the Shepherd Lake Recreation Area. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
.
Skylands
Skylands
Skylands 1,119 acres , also known as the New Jersey Botanical Garden, is a mansion and botanical garden in Ringwood State Park in the borough of Ringwood, located within the Ramapo Mountains in Passaic County in the state of New Jersey, United States...
Manor, a forty-four-room English Jacobean mansion, was designed in the 1920s by John Russell Pope
John Russell Pope
John Russell Pope was an architect most known for his designs of the National Archives and Records Administration building , the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.-Biography:Pope was born in New York in 1874, the son of a successful...
for Clarence McKensie Lewis, a wealthy stockbroker and civil engineer. The gardens were established by lawyer Francis Lynde Stetson
Francis Lynde Stetson
Francis Lynde Stetson was an American lawyer.He was born at Keeseville, New York, the son of Lemuel Stetson who served in the New York state assembly and as a representative in the 28th U. S. Congress. He was graduated from Williams College in 1867 and from Columbia Law School in 1869...
, who owned Skylands from 1891 to 1922. The 96 acres (388,498.6 m²) botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
contains a variety of plants, evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs. The landscaping includes a crabapple
Crabapple
Crabapple is a term used for several species of Malus in the family Rosaceae, which are characterized by small sour fruit resembling familiar table apples . They are usually small trees or shrubs....
vista, terraced gardens, perennial and annual gardens and woodland paths. The extensive gardens offer views of the Ramapo Mountains
Ramapo Mountains
The Ramapo Mountains are a forested chain of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern New Jersey and southeastern New York in the United States...
. Skylands Manor is open for tours one Sunday per month March through November.
Ringwood Manor
Ringwood Manor
Ringwood Manor was home to a number of well-known ironmasters from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolution, Robert Erskine managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor General, producing maps for the Continental...
was home to a number of well-known ironmasters from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolution, Robert Erskine
Robert Erskine
Colonel Robert Erskine was a Scottish inventor and later an American officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's first geographer and Surveyor-General, producing maps for the Continental army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
; Washington visited the Manor House several times. Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain
Hudson River Chain
The Hudson River Chain may refer to any of several chains used as a blockade across the Hudson River intended to prevent British naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War.-The Great Chain :...
, and for tools and hardware for the army. One of the Manor's last owners was Abram S. Hewitt, ironmaster, educator, lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and mayor of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The Manor is part of a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
District and is open for tours from Wednesday through Sunday year round from 10 am to 3pm.
The Shepherd Lake Recreation Area is centered on 74 acres (299,467.6 m²), spring-fed Shepherd Lake. Swimming, boating (electric motors only) and fishing are permitted, and boat rentals are available. A network of trails maintained by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference
New York - New Jersey Trail Conference
The New York – New Jersey Trail Conference is a federation of approximately 10,000 individual members and about 100 member organizations...
surrounds the lake; some are multi-use trails, and may be used for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross country skiing or snowmobiling. A 7.5 miles (12.1 km) mountain bike loop, maintained by the Jersey Off Road Bicycling Association
JORBA
The Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association is a mountain biking association in New Jersey, USA, founded in 1999. Their activities include trail maintenance, sustainable trail building, group rides and skills clinics. JORBA is a 501 non-profit organization. JORBA is an affiliated club of the...
, is especially popular.
Shepherd Lake also operated as a ski area during the 60s and included a rope tow and double chairlift. Hiking to the top of the hill will reveal the top station and bullwheel of the chairlift. The old ski slope is now mostly overgrown. Sledding used to be permitted on the lower half but is no longer allowed due to the safety hazard of sledding into Shepherd Lake. Sledding is still available in the park on two hills in the Ringwood Manor section.