Local Life

Camping in a Historic Spot Comes to Sandy Hook

Camping steeped in Cold War history has come to the National Park Service Gateway National Recreation Area’s Sandy Hook Unit.

The group camping area at Sandy Hook is now open to the public for the first time, hosting groups of up to 30 campers.

The Sandy Hook Foundation, the official nonprofit partner to Sandy Hook, played a role in the preparation of the camping area and restoration of two historic barracks with a $100,000 contribution to the National Park Service.

The public may make camping reservations for the site, open every day for four weeks this summer between June 13 and July 12, at recreation.gov.

The site’s history …

The group camping on Sandy Hook is located behind the preserved historic Nike Missile Radar Site (Parking Lot L) where, during the Cold War, radar units could locate and track enemy warplanes in the sky and guide Nike air defense missiles via radar to enemy warplanes from the Nike Missile Launch Area located one mile to the south on Sandy Hook.

Both radar and missile launch areas were constructed from 1954 to 1956. Each site included four one-story metal barracks to house Army soldiers on site 24/7 to be ready to man the radars and missiles at any time. The soldiers were known as Ready Crews.

At the Radar Site are two sections of radar platforms and small support buildings. When a siren sounded the off-duty soldiers would run from the barracks to the radar sections and join the on-duty soldiers.

The Sandy Hook Foundation funds supported restoration of two of the four original barracks at the site, which have been converted into covered sleeping quarters for camping groups, or to be used for group activities or meals.

Other amenities at the new campground include two new charcoal grills, two large metal frame tents, parking, a water station, lock boxes, and access to the campground store which sells the only firewood permitted on Sandy Hook.

The Sandy Hook Foundation is the official friends group to the Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, dedicated to preserving and protecting the park’s vast natural and cultural resources, and enhancing the visitor experience. To learn more visit www.sandyhooknj.org. Also visit Gateway NRA’s website for up to date information before visiting the park.

— Edited press release from the Sandy Hook Foundation