Blue Mountain Trails in Sandyston, New Jersey, once served as a residence to dozens of thriving citizens. A keen look as you trek will reveal a vegetation-covered foundation here or clearing there. The houses that served as homes from 1956-1969 were either moved or demolished to give room to the Tocks Island Dam and also to conserve the immaculate scenery of the Blue Mountain Lakes and the Appalachian Trail.
The New Jersey Herald had this news of the expected relocation of residents from May 24, 1956. Found at about 1,430 feet, the 10,000-acre expanse from Tillman’s Ravine via Flat Brookville to Millbrook would be the biggest lake community to grace the state of New Jersey.
Before that time, residents considered the land to be rocky, barren and worthless, according to the developer Frank Aceto. People could only gain access through a dirt trail named Fiddler’s Elbow. But while it exists, the long-serving trail has since been closed.
While the lake community did not flourish as Aceto had envisioned, older locals recall of the close-knit neighborhood and the dips into the cold waters in lazy sunny afternoons. And some families still have summer reunions to rekindle memories and enjoy the leisure moments.
Trails have been incorporated over the years and some as recently as 2015.