Mystic Island in Little Egg Harbor Township is a relatively affordable and quiet place along the Jersey Shore. Just south of Tuckerton, the area was developed in 1959 as a planned community of small homes along a network of man-made lagoons. Many of these original homes still stand, while others have been torn down, either due to natural disasters or by buyers who want to upgrade. Grass sways in the salt marshes just east of the area, boats coast through Great Bay, and locals jump off backyard docks, taking a dip before going inside for dinner. Plus, the community has access to nearby areas. “We’re 3 hours from everywhere: Philly, Baltimore, New York and all of Jersey,” says Realtor Kim Hanadel with Century 21 Action Plus Realty, who grew up in Mystic Island.
Mystic Island
The Great Bay Boulevard extends to the southernmost extends of Little Egg Harbor Township.
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Living along the Great Bay
When Mystic Island was first built, modest two- to three-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalows with a carport comprised the area’s housing. Some of these properties still stand, and infill has brought more styles to the area, like Colonial Revivals, split-levels and ranch-style homes. Properties closer to the water fetch the highest price tag, but Mystic Island’s median home price of $400,000 is on par with the national average. “There are a lot of second homes,” Hanadel says. “A lot of people will keep their house and hand it down; they’re generational.”
Mystic Island is located along the Great Bay, but Hanadel says that natural disasters are few and far between. “It’s not affected much by storms,” she says. “Mystic has only had a few major floods: ’62 was the first, then ’92 and 2012. It’s literally every 20 to 30 years on the dot. But Sandy [in 2012] was our worst.” When the tropical cyclone approached the New Jersey coast, parts of Mystic flooded with 7 feet of water, and many homes were damaged. Since then, many properties have been rebuilt, raised or bought out by the government, turning vacant lots into protected land. Some roadways have also been elevated. Aside from that, Hanadel says the weather is, “Generally pretty mild, which is weird because surrounding areas are affected by storms. But it’s something about the shape of the bay; we’re protected by land on both sides.”
Mystic Island
Mystic Island
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Backyard beaches and Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area
Residents don’t need to travel far to access the water. “A lot of people swim right there off their properties,” Hanadel says. Many residents also own jet skis, boats, kayaks and canoes. When they want to spend time at the beach, Hanadel says that there are some sandy shorelines along the bay. These areas aren’t trafficked much, aside from by the area’s residents. “They’ve expanded the beach near Radio Road,” she says. “When I was a kid, it had been an amusement park, but it was ignored for a long time. Then, people started swimming there, so they improved it, and now it’s a real public beach with a breakwater so people can swim.” For a full-on beach day with boardwalks and waterfront ice cream shops, Atlantic City is about 30 miles away, and Long Island Beach is about 18 miles away. “It’s a prime area for being close to other entertainment,” Hanadel says. Golfing is also popular, and several courses are within a 20-mile drive. The Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area is also just east of Mystic Island. Originally intended to connect the community to Atlantic City, the narrow two-lane Great Bay Boulevard cuts through the marshland. The project, however, was never completed, and locals now drive down this scenic roadway to take in beautiful views and go fishing or birding.
Mystic Island
Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area is located in Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
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An odd connection to World War I
Radio Road is Mystic Island’s main thoroughfare, named for its unexpected connection to World War I. In 1912, Germany built the 825-foot Tuckerton Wireless Tower along Great Bay due to its level ground and remote location. The tower communicated with its twin overseas, as well as with submarines and ships in the Atlantic Ocean. The American government was unaware of the project until it was almost finished. The United States was still neutral in the war, so it monitored the tower, ensuring it wasn’t broadcasting military messages. However, seemingly innocent messages could be transmitted in code, and it is believed — but unconfirmed — that the message, “Get Lucy,” sent to a German U-boat was a disguised command to sink the RMS Lusitania, one of the events that pushed the U.S. to enter World War I. The U.S. Navy took over the tower, and it was demolished in 1955. Massive concrete blocks, remnants of the tower, remain around Mystic Island.
Rutgers University Marine Field Station along Great Bay
Little Egg Harbor Township School District serves Mystic Island and gets a C-plus from Niche. The Rutgers University Marine Field Station sits at the end of Great Bay Boulevard in the Mullica River-Great Bay estuary. The working lab conducts graduate and postdoctoral research for the school’s marine biology and marine oceanography programs.
Mystic Island
Pinelands Regional High School's mascot is the Wildcats.
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Everyday amenities nearby
A few businesses are scattered around Mystic Island, but most everyday amenities lay a short drive north in central Little Egg Harbor Township or the borough of Tuckerton. Residents will find grocery stores and small shops in these quaint beach towns. For medical services, Southern Ocean Medical Center is about 13 miles north. Crime statistics for Mystic Island are not readily available.
Mystic Island
The Union Market in Little Egg Harbor serves residents delicious coffee and bites.
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Getting around Mystic Island
Mystic Island doesn't get a lot of traffic. “It’s not a thoroughway,” Hanadel says. “You’re not dealing with a ton of cars; people aren’t passing your house to go to the beach and come back.” Radio Road and Center Street are Mystic Island’s two main thoroughfares, leading north towards Tuckerton. New Jersey Transit buses run along some roads and lead to surrounding areas. While many residents own vacation properties in the area, Hanadel says that permanent residents often travel to surrounding cities for work. “Some commute to New York or Philly,” she says. “They mostly use the express lane, but there’s also a train station in Atlantic City.” When it’s time to fly, the Atlantic City International Airport is about 27 miles southwest.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
Video By
Edward Pokoj
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