Tucked away on the north side of the Toms River, you will find Island Heights, a picturesque borough of just 1,650 residents.
This highly intact historic district feels like a living time capsule. It was originally founded in 1878 as a Methodist camp meeting resort. Today, it remains a quiet, tightly-knit community packed with authentic Victorian vernacular architecture.
A historic dry town with a unique past
Island Heights has a fiercely protected history. Out of its 375 historic structures, the vast majority were built within just 25 years of the town’s founding.
Because of its roots as a religious retreat, the sale of alcohol is completely forbidden within the borough. It has proudly retained this “dry” status for well over a century.
Before the Victorian cottages arrived, the area was a favorite camping ground for Native Americans. Later, during the 1880s, thousands of visitors would arrive by horse, buggy, and train from places like Philadelphia and New York.
They flocked to the island for the fresh air, the waterfront pavilion, and the summer camp meetings.
The John F. Peto Studio Museum
Beyond its religious history, Island Heights boasts a surprisingly rich creative legacy. The natural beauty of the river and the bluffs attracted an entire colony of landscape painters seeking inspiration.
The most famous resident was John Frederick Peto, who moved to the island in 1899. He was an absolute master of the trompe l’oeil (“fool the eye”) style of American still-life painting.
While he lived in relative obscurity during his lifetime, his work is now featured in major institutions like The Met and MoMA.
Today, you can step right into his beautifully restored home and workspace at the John F. Peto Studio Museum. It is a massive draw for art lovers and a beautiful tribute to a once-forgotten genius.
Waterfront views and a rich sailing legacy
You can’t visit Island Heights without taking a stroll by the water near the mouth of Barnegat Bay. The Island Heights Yacht Club, organized back in 1898, is still a vibrant part of the town’s social fabric and has produced some of the bay’s most successful sailors.
Whether you are walking along the boardwalk pavilion, admiring the 1892 St. Philip’s Episcopal Church at the highest point of the island, or just taking in the waterfront breeze, the borough offers an incredibly peaceful day trip.
It is the perfect place to unplug, soak up some local art, and admire a true New Jersey hidden gem.
