The Batsto Mansion
The Batsto Mansion
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
24 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
13
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
William S
Millville, NJ306 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Absolutely terrific! Wes was our tour guide. Great speaker and really knew his stuff. I have been coming to Batsto since the 1960s and this was the best trip ever. For $3.00 you take an hour long tour of the mansion. Sorry no pictures allowed inside. Time very well spent. Got there at 12:30 Sunday and the 1 o’clock tour was sold out. Bought the 2 o’clock tour and walked around until ten of. Beautiful winter day.
We had two very young little girls along in the tour and they were perfect kids.
Nice crowd of people. Kids having fun.
We had two very young little girls along in the tour and they were perfect kids.
Nice crowd of people. Kids having fun.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnBCowgill
Washington DC, DC760 contributions
Jan 2020
I have been on many house tours, and I have been on many unique house tours. This one is unique. It has a great history too.
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
duck8to
Montville, NJ6,814 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
The Mansion is part of the Batsto Historical Village. It costs $3 for a 45 minute tour of the Mansion. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor's Center .Adults 12+ $3, 6-11 years $1, and under 6 years free. The Mansion has 32 rooms of which you are shown 14. Parlors, dining room, library bathrooms and bedrooms are on display. The 14 rooms are on two levels with stairs leading to the second floor. The belvedere was used by Joseph Wharton to survey the land and sits on top level of the house. This is not part of the tour. It was originally built by William Richards in 1876 and renovated and expanded by Joseph Wharton. Wharton also changed the architectural design to Italianate. Wharton added all the modern luxuries of the time including hot and cold running water, gas lines and a fire prevention system which had a 12,00o gallon water take on the roof and water lines to various rooms. Original furnishings are present with the dining room and secretary desk being notable. Pat was the docent on our tour and she added much to the experience.
Written 8 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FRANK H
Malvern, PA73 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Mansion was not impressive from the outside. Gordan, our guide, was great! He shared the history of the different families, how the owners reinvented the site as competition and market conditions evolved, the Quaker background of the Wharton family which was seen in the beautiful interior, the care the family showed for the worker families, and the restrictions the Girard Trust placed on the property when it was deeded to New Jersey. The 10 minute movie in the museum was well done. And if you like hiking, lots of grounds to walk.
Written 26 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
whelfand
West Berlin, NJ298 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
I've been here many times since childhood (I'm far from a child now but we don't have to go into that). It felt like serendipity to find a complete Victorian (it goes back further) town with workers cottages in the middle of the pine barrens. The town was established in 1766, made supplies for the American Revolution and was bought by Joseph Wharton (of Wharton Business school fame) 100 years later as part of his plan to provide fresh water for Philadelphia. The New Jersey legislature had other ideas and the state eventually acquired Batsto and the entire Wharton Tract for almost nothing. It has always amazed me that this vast forest was something of a population center in South Jersey many years ago. The mansion and lands are pretty. They are usually not crowded and they provide a good spot for a picnic and I usually find them restful. The best way to approach the town is by canoe. If you tour the Mansion beware of yellow jackets in the tower and notice the temporary door were they took coffins out which was then closed so the deceased couldn't return. I can't comment on how effective it was.
Written 20 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deep Frese
Blackwood, NJ7 contributions
Feb 2020
Unfortunately, the mansion itself was closed as it was a national holiday. But the place is beautiful and the setting around Batsto is just gorgeous. Highly recommend a visit!
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denise H
Brigantine, NJ196 contributions
Oct 2019
I definitely recommend taking the tour of the Batsto mansion after walking around Batsto Village. We had a very kind and knowledgeable guide who told us 30+ minutes of stories as we toured the historic mansion. If you like NJ/Philly facts, you would really enjoy the free tours offered here at the mansion.
Written 20 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ITRT
Virginia45,564 contributions
Sept 2018 • Family
The Batsto Mansion is the centerpiece of the Batsto Village, both of which are located in the Wharton State Park. Joseph Wharton, an industrialist from Philadelphia, built it as a place to relax. I have read the interior is decorated in the Victorian Era and has been modified throughout time by the various owners of Batsto Village. Tours are available Wednesday through Sunday and tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Center. Entrance Fees are $3.00 for ages 6 and up, $1.00 for ages 6 to 11 and free to under 6 years old. The grounds are beautiful and there is a great view of the lake from the front porch. Call ahead to confirm tour times.
Written 8 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hgtravl
Marlton, NJ3,305 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
A hidden gen in South NJ!
Love the vibe here! Laid back park rangers and friendly gift shop workers!
Park for free. Walk around and check out the beautiful HISTORIC buildings kept in tip top shape. Lots of couples strolling around, dog walkers, people getting engagement photos done. Bring a camera- you will want to snap photos. Even on a cold day, plenty of people visting here!
We loved walking around and checking the buildings out. Don’t pass on the gift shop- fun little museum and things to learn!
Love the vibe here! Laid back park rangers and friendly gift shop workers!
Park for free. Walk around and check out the beautiful HISTORIC buildings kept in tip top shape. Lots of couples strolling around, dog walkers, people getting engagement photos done. Bring a camera- you will want to snap photos. Even on a cold day, plenty of people visting here!
We loved walking around and checking the buildings out. Don’t pass on the gift shop- fun little museum and things to learn!
Written 24 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenUnicorn
New Jersey3,321 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
We finished our hike at Batsto about 12;25 and went back to the Visitors' Center to visit the rest rooms. We noted that the first tour of the Batso Mansion was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., so we paid our $3.00 each and purchased tickets. At this time of year, tours seem to be at 1 and 2 pm on Saturdays and then on some Sundays.....
We then went into the auditorium, where one of the employees started the 10 minute film. We definitely were glad that we had the background from the film about the various owners of the mansion and Batsto before we went on the house tour.
Warning! No interior photography is allowed. There are postcards for sale in the gift shop. Our guide did an excellent job of taking us through the various rooms of the house and filling us in on the history. Most furniture is of the time period, although a couple pieces, including a settee in the upstairs game room, are original to the Wharton family ownership. Wharton (as in Wharton State Forest and Wharton School at Penn) spent $40,000 in the 1870s remodeling the home as part of his gentleman's farm concept--$600,000.00 in today's money.
As our tour was 8 people, we were able to go to the third floor, which has an 8 person limit on occupancy on tours.
Overall, we thought the tour added to our understanding of the history of Batsto.
We then went into the auditorium, where one of the employees started the 10 minute film. We definitely were glad that we had the background from the film about the various owners of the mansion and Batsto before we went on the house tour.
Warning! No interior photography is allowed. There are postcards for sale in the gift shop. Our guide did an excellent job of taking us through the various rooms of the house and filling us in on the history. Most furniture is of the time period, although a couple pieces, including a settee in the upstairs game room, are original to the Wharton family ownership. Wharton (as in Wharton State Forest and Wharton School at Penn) spent $40,000 in the 1870s remodeling the home as part of his gentleman's farm concept--$600,000.00 in today's money.
As our tour was 8 people, we were able to go to the third floor, which has an 8 person limit on occupancy on tours.
Overall, we thought the tour added to our understanding of the history of Batsto.
Written 19 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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