Imagine a summer rental at the Jersey Shore. Now, erase the idea of a standard beach house and replace it with a canvas roof.
Ocean Grove, New Jersey, is a historic Victorian town known for its quaint charm and scenic shoreline. But its most fascinating feature is “Tent City,” a tight-knit community of 114 canvas-and-wood structures.
Here, residents live completely out of tents from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is a highly coveted summer tradition, and if you want to join in, you might have to wait a few decades.
A seaside tradition dating back to 1870
The Ocean Grove tent community is deeply steeped in history. Founded in 1870 as a Methodist summer retreat, the town once boasted 200 tents for every house.
Today, the surviving 114 tents are clustered tightly around the town’s towering Great Auditorium. However, these aren’t your average camping setups.
Each rental features a canvas front room attached to a wooden cabin. The cabin holds the essentials, including a kitchen, toilet, and shower. The total enclosed space is a cozy 600 square feet. Tenters get incredibly creative with the layout, utilizing futons and bunk beds to maximize their tiny footprint.
The notoriously long waiting list
Renting one of these quirky summer homes costs anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 for the season. But having the cash won’t automatically get you a spot.
The waiting list for Tent City is legendary. There are currently over 300 people on the waitlist, with some hopefuls waiting since the 1980s. Because the community is so deeply rooted, many leases skip the line entirely as “generational hand-offs” passed down through families.
Quirky rules for minimalist living
Because Ocean Grove is rooted in its religious ministry, tent life comes with a very specific set of guidelines.
Prospective renters must undergo an in-person interview with the Camp Meeting Association. Once accepted, they have to fully embrace a minimalist, community-focused lifestyle.
Pets, subletting, and outdoor barbecues are strictly prohibited. Ocean Grove is also a dry town, though residents can quietly enjoy a drink in a cup on their tiny front porches.
The tents are built incredibly close together—so close you can almost reach out and touch your neighbor. To keep the peace in such tight quarters, strict quiet hours are enforced from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
How to see the tents for yourself
While the tents are private seasonal rentals and are not open for interior tours, they are located directly along public streets and walkways.
Visitors can easily take a picturesque stroll past the colorful striped awnings and tiny porches to see this 150-year-old tradition in action. Just be sure to plan your day trip between mid-May and mid-September, before the canvas comes down for the winter.
