Tags: Abandoned, Cape May County, Delaware Bay, Military, Tower, World War II

Photos from 2003 & 2009
Originally posted 2003, updated 12/10

I didn’t even know about this place until I went to the Cape May Lighthouse and saw it off in the distance. The guide at the top of the lighthouse told me a bit about the history of the Watchtower, the Bunker, & the Concrete Shipwreck. The Shipwreck’s just down the street from the tower. And now for the sake of scribbling on pics, here’s the tower & shipwreck from the lighthouse:

Don’t know too much about the tower actually. The guide told me it was from World War II and that it’s closed off. He wasn’t kidding; there wasn’t even a door to get in. They sealed it off completely. He also mentioned they plan on reopening it within 3-5 years. I hope they go through with this ‘cuz I really want to see the inside.

There’s a faint outline of where the door was…

Update – 12/10

In July of ‘09, I took a friend from out of the country to the shore since he had never seen a boardwalk before.  We went to Wildwood, and during our time there, I decided to swing by Sunset Beach to check up on things.  Turns out the tower is finally open.  There is a fee to climb to the top; military and veterans can go for free.

Looks like a long way down.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Tags: Burlington County, Pine Barrens, Tower

Not a whole lot to say about Apple Pie Hill now; it’s a hill with a fire tower on top of it. It’s one of the highest points in southern NJ at 205 feet.
There are several stories surrounding it; a popular one claims an asylum once sat on the hill. Remnants of an unfinished development can be found around the hill’s base.
This place has surely seen better days; there’s graffiti on the tower & wooden rails surrounding the hilltop. People seem to like to drop things off the top of the tower as well…..we’ve seen chainsaws, TV’s, and this bike back there.

I climbed to the top of the tower. The top 2 levels were quite shaky, so I don’t know if the tower is still used or not. Judging by its condition I’m guessing it’s not. There was a big padlock on the hatch of it which looks like it’s been there a while. I was surprised I could see Philadelphia from the top.

Down one of the trails are what look like small houses made of sticks. I have no idea who built them or why; they’re far too small for anyone to fit in. One map I looked at called the area a ‘primitive campground’. Most of them have collapsed; it’s clear they haven’t been used in quite a while.

Popularity: 10% [?]