Fourteen of Ocean Grove’s unique summertime family tents will be open for a special tour on July 11, with one tent cabin dating to the 1870s and made from old barn doors.
“This is the most tents we have ever had on the tour. Many tenters will be home and they are generally very happy to tell their story,” Historical Society of Ocean Grove walking tours chairman Bob Waitt said.
The Tent Colony Tour, in the general area of the Great Auditorium, is offered only one time a year and not every year- the last being held about four years ago. At one time, over 700 tent and tent cottages were in Ocean Grove. Today, only 114 tents remain and they are occupied from May 15 to Sept. 15.
Waitt said one of the tent cabins dates back to the 1870s and was constructed using old barn doors.
“They are all different, all beautiful! Each tent is decorated and furnished by the tenters so all of them are different,” Waitt said.
The Tent Colony Tour, sponsored by The Historical Society of Ocean Grove, is on Tuesday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets to visit the tents are $30 in advance and $35 day of the tour. Participants walk around on their own and are given a special brochure identifying the tents and providing some background information. For information call 732-774-1869.
