PINE BEACH – For generations, people have seen Pine Beach as the place to spend summers on the water and also to call home year-round.
The town recently celebrated its lineage with a day-long festival called “A Century By The River.” Inflatables, food and drinks, live music, and vendors filled Vista Park – itself a historic location as it used to be part of the Admiral Farragut Academy.
The weather report had an extreme heat warning, but the breeze coming off the river calmed that down a bit. As kids flocked to the inflatables, parents caught up with their neighbors. Fitting the theme of the event, the band played classic rock.
If you asked the people in the park why they chose to live in Pine Beach, some of the same answers came up:
“It’s a wonderful community.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a nice place to raise a family.”
Robert Krempel said he’s been here 27 years. He said it’s a tight community where people know each other. It’s quiet, and there’s not a lot of through traffic. People aren’t cutting through town to get to the beach. It’s just locals.
“It’s a safe place for your kids to ride their bikes and have fun,” he said.
George Roksvaag, the president of the Pine Beach Preservation Society, shared how he also chose to call this his home.
“I’ve never lived in a place where I had more close friends,” he said.
In 1908, two real estate developers from Philadelphia bought up all the land. They had a train running from Philly to Pine Beach, and even on a bridge across the Toms River to Island Heights.
After visitors took their train ride here, they bought lots for $1,000 from the Pine Beach Development Corporation.
March of 2025 was the 100th anniversary of when the residents of 1925 voted to become independent of Berkeley Township.
Several other institutions started around this time, too. The Fire Company is also 100 years old. The Yacht Club dates back to 1915 and the chapel, 1910.
The Buhler mansion is the oldest building in town, dating back to 1877. According to the real estate listing for the mansion (listed for $2.9 million), the mansion was built by George Burnett, a wealthy hatter. It was purchased by Buhler in 1903. President Grover Cleveland was reportedly a guest at some point.
Joan Lovell’s great-grandfather built a home on Riverside Drive in 1928. It’s been in the family 97 years – almost as long as the town has been a town.
“We spent every summer here growing up,” she said. “Every successive family has fallen in love with the town.”
Generation after generation has continued this tradition. She literally feels the past members of her family – long gone – but their presence is near. “This town holds memories.”
