Belleplain State Forest Offers A Unique Entertainment Bargain

By BARBARA METZLER WOODBINE — Tired of beach tags, tourist crowds, and failing air conditioning? Looking for something different to do on your day off? A one-dollar admission fee can get you a swim, open space, cool pines, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and your own barbeque grill and picnic table. Belleplain State Forest is only 20 minutes away from most Cape May County towns At 12,000 acres, it is not the largest of New Jersey’s 34-plus state forests and parks, but recreational opportunities offered there, said Supt. Tom Keck, are unique because of their wide diversification. Twenty-six acre Lake Nummy, named after the last Lenape Indian chief, provides swimming and canoeing for park patrons. East Creek Lake, at 65 acres, is used for Boating and sailing — electric motors only. Both lakes offer fishing for native species like bass, crappies, sunfish, pickerel, and some trout. THE LAKES were artificially created in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Lake NUmmy, a spring fed lake, was once a cranberry bog Keck explained that the cranberry plants were planted on the lake bed. The arealwas then diked and flooded. The ripe cranberries floated jo the top and were skimmed by the cranberry “pickers '[ The three overnight camping areas — Nqrth Shore, Meisel Field, and the CCC area — offer 200 groundsites, and 11 closed lean-tos The lean-tos can sleep six and are similar to a cabin, although smaller. They are raised off the ground Winter campers, primarily hunters, are outfitted with a potbelly stove. The lean-tos are a nice provision for campers, said Keck, because "you don’t have to bring the tent, and get wet " EACH CAMPING SPOT has its own barbeque grill, picnic table, and fire ring. Keck is especially proud of Belleplain’s sites because they are spaced far enough apart to provide privacy for campers — the “room to breathe" for which they came to the campground Family campsite rates are $6 a night, closed lean-tos are $9. For groups larger than seven persons, Belleplain offers two group camping sites. These are used primarily by groups like the Boy and Girl Scouts, and can old up to 100 campers. Camping in these areas, said Keck, is a bit more primitive. Water comes from hand pump, and bathroom facilities are, to use a kind word, traditional, "but clean,” insisted Keck The family sites provide flush toilets, laundry facilities and showers, but there are no electrical hookups. KECK EXPLAINED, "The state park never intended to be in competition with the family campgrounds in the area.” If you want electricity, he said, you can go somewhere else. "A number of people don't want that kind of established campground, where they're elbow to elbow with other people, ,r he said. Sites can only be reserved for seven or 14 day runs. The two-week maximum stay, said Keck, is to insure all the persons the opportunity to camp at the state forest. (Page 22 Please)

and Lantern June 29,