Allaire State Park

State park in New Jersey, United States

Allaire State Park is a park located in Howell and in Wall Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, near the borough of Farmingdale, operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and is part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. The park is known for its restored 19th century ironworks, Allaire Village, on the park premises. It is named after James P. Allaire, founder of the Howell Works at the same site. The park also hosts the Pine Creek Railroad, a tourist railroad. The park, which is located in the coastal plain geographic region of New Jersey, is an example of podzolic soils. These soils are high in iron particle content and are fairly acidic. Picnic facilities including charcoal grills, tables, playgrounds and sanitary facilities are available within the developed area of the park. The Manasquan River flows eastward through the park, seasonal canoe rentals are offered offsite by private vendors. The Manasquan River is classified as fresh water within the park and requires a fishing license. The park charges an entrance fee on weekends in the summer.

The park's signature feature is the Allaire Village, originally named Howell Works in the early 19th century. It was a prosperous industrial town producing pig iron and cast iron from the surrounding bog iron deposits. The buildings which remain and have been restored today include a general store, blacksmith shop, carpenter's shop, manager's house, foreman's house and a church. One of the workers' row house buildings has been recreated and now houses a Visitor Center and Museum (free). The historic village is run by a non profit organization independent of the park and charges a nominal fee to enter the buildings.

The Pine Creek Railroad is an excursion rail line operated by railroad enthusiasts of the New Jersey Museum of Transportation. The museum, an independent not for profit organization, moved its locomotives and rolling stock to Allaire State Park in 1962 where it runs weekend trains on a ½ mile loop of track through the park. The physical rail line for the railroad was repurposed from a disused spur of track at a former rug company, 'A&M Karadheusian Rug Company' in Freehold, NJ. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders sold the track for $1.00 to the museum for use at Allaire State Park. The Pine Creek Railroad, like Allaire Village is an independent private organization operating within the park.

The Nature Interpretive Center currently operates weekends during the summer.

The Allaire State Park family campground provides flush toilets, shower facilities, and a seasonal trailer sanitary dump station. The campground is open all year. Prices range from $20 a night for a regular tent site, to $30 for a yurt, and $40 for a shelter. There are 45 tent and trailer sites with picnic tables available for guests with their own camping equipment. In addition there are four yurts (circular tents built on a wood deck), and six cabin like shelters available for rent. There is also a group campground located on the south side of the park, which has an area with six large sites.