The Judge’s Shack, continuously threatened by hurricanes and other coastal conditions, is a New Jersey state icon, a landmark for fishermen and women, and a historic symbol of a bygone era.
The Shack
The Judge’s Shack is the last known surviving example of its type, in its original configuration, on the New Jersey coast. It is believed to have been built about 1911 as a fishing shack and is located within the dunes of Island Beach State Park (IBSP), New Jersey. The building is being preserved through a partnership between the non-profit Friends of the Judge’s Shack and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Island Beach State Park is the largest undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey, and one of the largest in the United States.
The History
The Judge’s Shack was purchased by Judge Richard Hartshorne in 1942 and was moved 6 miles south in 1952 by the Hartshorne family to its current location. The Judge’s Shack remained in the Hartshorne Family until 2016. The Shack is now owned by the State of New Jersey and preserved and managed by the Friends of the Judge’s Shack (FOJS) group.
Notable guests of the Judge’s Shack include Lee Nelson, nationally recognized preservationist and Chief of the National Park Service Technical Preservation Services; Joachim Frank, noted biophysicist and recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry; and Yoshihisa Shimazo, grandson of Japanese Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako.
The Judge’s Shack: A Historical and Cultural Landmark
A Family Legacy: By William Cahill
The Judge’s Shack: The Historic Structures Report
By: Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler, the Judge’s daughter and historical architect for Independence National Historical Park.
Peek inside the Judge’s Shack
Come take a look inside an iconic piece of Jersey Shore culture and history - the "Judge's Shack" on Island Beach State Park.
Video Produced by: New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites.
Referenced Friday hikes by IBSP
