Walpack Center
The Town That Waited to Drown
State: New Jersey
County: Sussex County
Founded: 1800s
Abandoned: 1970s (Tocks Island Dam)
Peak Population: Village
Walpack Center was a quiet farming village condemned by the federal government in the 1960s for the Tocks Island Dam project. Residents were evicted, but the dam was never built due to geological and environmental concerns. The town sits empty but intact within the National Recreation Area.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Year-round
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1 hour
Quick Facts
- Evicted for a cancelled dam
- Main street is perfectly preserved
- Now part of National Park Service land
Location
Address: Walpack Center, NJ
Coordinates: 41.1554, -74.8789