Elwood is centered between the shore and Philly in N.J.’s pinelands
The village of Elwood is tucked into southern New Jersey’s pine barrens, a sleepy small town on a busy thoroughfare between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. More than a midpoint between cities on the shore and across state lines, Elwood is also the crux of civic and social life in the rugged, pinelands community of Mullica Township. “When I think about Mullica Township, I think about tranquility, quiet and relaxation,” says Maryann D’Agostino, a South Jersey real estate specialist and one of the owners of Bruce Associates Inc. “It’s rural. Most of South Jersey is pretty highly populated. If I’m a buyer going there, I’m going because I want some peace. Somewhere the hustle and bustle aren’t beating me up.”
Single-family homes in the rural pine barrens
The pine barrens surround loosely plotted blocks around Elwood’s village center and shade a blend of single-family homes hidden on country roads. Prewar bungalows make up some of the area’s oldest housing stock. Ranch-style and bi-level homes were built in suburban subdivisions and rural acreages through the 1960s and 1970s. Custom builders introduced some scattered contemporary homes in the late 20th century. Move-in-ready homes on less than an acre go for around $180,000 to $350,000, while those on between 1 and 5 acres go for about $300,000 to $560,000.
Recreation at nearby parks and forested preserves
The Mullica Township Recreation Fields are just north of Elwood, home to some of the Mullica Township Recreation Association youth leagues’ athletic fields and a playground. The village is also bordered by Makepeace Lake Wildlife Management Area, a swathe of pine barrens and swampy wetlands open for hunting, range shooting, bird watching and fishing on its namesake lake. Because Makepeace Lake was once a cranberry bog, the water is a little too shallow for most species of fish to thrive. The angler-friendly Batsto and Mullica Rivers, plus plenty of trailheads and historic landmarks, are less than 10 miles away in Wharton State Forest. “If I want to have a day of quiet and get back to nature, I go hike around Wharton State Forest,” D’Agostino says. “I go to Batsto Lake to boat. Then there’s Batsto Village. All the historical buildings give it an old-fashioned atmosphere.” Atlantic City’s free beaches are a roughly 30-minute drive down White Horse Pike, provided that shore-bound traffic is light.
Traveling on White Horse Pike and by NJ Transit
Taking White Horse Pike toward the shore, Atlantic City is about 20 miles away, and Atlantic City International Airport is around 15 miles away. Philadelphia is closer to 40 miles inland down the Atlantic City Expressway. An NJ Transit bus stops at a handful of stops along White Horse Pike on the way from Lindenwold to Atlantic City. While train tracks parallel Railroad Avenue through Elwood, the nearest stops on the NJ Transit Atlantic City line are more than 5 miles from home in Egg Harbor City and Hammonton. The AtlantiCare Hammonton Health Park is about 7 miles away for primary and emergency care.
Attending Mullica and Greater Egg Harbor Regional schools
Younger kids attend the Mullica Township School District’s single academic complex. Mullica Township Elementary School earns a C-plus from Niche, as does Mullica Township Middle School. A-minus-rated Cedar Creek High School is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Cedar Creek is home to the district’s engineering and environmental science magnet programs, each offering college credit opportunities.
Shopping on White Horse Pike in Elwood and Hammonton
A sparse commercial district lines White Horse Pike through the center of Elwood. Down the road from the stuffed showroom of Elwood Antiques, diners stop for Polish comfort food and pub fare at No. 79 Restaurant Bar and Liquor Store. The Elwood Deli is a locally owned convenience store that doubles as a takeout breakfast sandwich and submarine shop. Dollar General stocks some groceries, but residents drive about 7 miles to ShopRite and Walmart in Hammonton for larger shopping trips. A handful of small churches like Greater Love Chapel hold services throughout the village.
Events through Mullica Township
Local first responders, township officials and community groups put on the Mullica Township Tree Lighting at town hall each winter. Neighbors wearing festive holiday gear gather in Elwood for an evening of performances by Mullica’s student musicians, snacks and visits from Santa Claus. The Mullica Township Recreation Fields host community events that need more space, from springtime Easter egg hunts to the family festival-style National Night Out celebration each summer.
Slight fire risk thanks to Jersey’s pines
New Jersey’s pinelands can experience wildfires. Though the risk is only slightly elevated in Elwood, residents should still follow common-sense safety and prevention tips posted by Mullica Township.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
