Burlington Island

West Jersey Detecting

Gold Member
Oct 23, 2006
5,240
1,058
Philadelphia Area
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Nokta Legend, Excalibur 1000/II (hybrid) , Teknetics T2 SE
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Other
I believe the Island is off limits, although I have seen boats parked there and I can see litter on the shore.. It once housed an amusement park, and prior to that had private residences.

If you have a boat, I am willing to risk it.
 

OP
OP
hed11877

hed11877

Jr. Member
Jan 17, 2007
46
0
Philly area
Detector(s) used
Garrett Ace 150
its tough, I have a jet ski lol, that wont help much, I live right across from the island on the PA side. I'm lookin for a canoe or a paddle boat.
 

fyrfighter17

Full Member
Feb 24, 2007
154
28
Essington,Pa
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GARRETT AT PRO
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All Treasure Hunting
Don't know if you've seen this but it looks like it may a tough hunt....read down to "1955"










Burlington Island Park
Burlington, NJ.
1900-1934


* * *

Burlington Island Park was an amusement park on Burlington Island in the Delaware River between Burlington, NJ., and Bristol, Pa. This is just northeast of Philadelphia, Pa. It was also known as Island Beach Park.
Never having any automobile access, the park has always been accessible by footbridge or ferry only.

Around 1900, the island was used as a family picnic "resort". People would arrive on the island by boat and picnic among the trees on tables and in a large pavilion.

In the early 1900's, Burlington Park had a midway, circle swing, and sandy beaches for swimming. There was a bath house for the swimmers and an ice cream stand.

In 1910, they added a carousel. It was a beautiful mixed Dentzel machine. It spun under a large canopy.

In 1917, George Bassler and Robert Merkel purchased the park. They added a giant roller coaster called "The Greyhound" and built an elaborate amusement park. They introduced a ferris wheel, along with an "ocean wave" and boat swings. People came by the thousands, by steamboat or train, then ferried to the island.

The rides and attractions were numerous. There were the Steeplechase, Tunnel of Love, Tumblebug, Aeroplanes, Dodge-em, bumper scooters, caterpillar, a fun house, a merry-go-round, and a miniature railroad. There were a fish pond, a rifle range, air guns, a pony ride, and a ring-a-cane. For other entertainment, there was baseball, a dance hall, and bingo.

At this time, the park covered almost 100 acres of the 400 acre island. But it was to last only 11 years.

In 1928, a fire broke out at the park. It started one morning at 2am. Since all the fire-fighting equipment had to be ferried across the river from Bristol, Pa., most of the amusements burned to the ground by the time the equipment arrived.

After the fire, Robert Merkel sold the property to the VanSciver Sand and Gravel Co. (later to become the Penn-Warner Cement Co.)

The ruins of the park stood on the island until 1934 when a second fire destroyed what was left.

In 1955, the Warner Co. started to dredge the sand and gravel from the park area of the island. By 1969, there was nothing left of the former amusement park site but a 100-acre lagoon.

The carousel still exists today. It is owned by Dr. Floyd L. Moreland of Seaside Heights, NJ. And it still spins, under the same canopy, on Casino Pier in Seaside Heights.
 

busterbrown

Tenderfoot
May 31, 2007
9
0
New Jersey South
Detector(s) used
Cobra
Burlington was originally a indian settlement, then a swedish settlement, finally a amusement park that burned down, there was a care taker living on the sland, but since he passed away about 10 to 15 years ago, no lives there to my knowledge, also during the revolutionary war the americans sunk several gunboats and shallops off shore between burlington city and the island and on the other side of the island also between bristol and the island.
when it was a park 1000's of people from jersey and philadelphia went there, just some history, i know the island is patrol by the coast guard
 

Elad

Hero Member
Apr 23, 2008
570
123
MA
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2SE
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I found this...

"In 1624 the Dutch became the first European inhabitants of [Burlington Country]. A small group of Walloon settlers occupied Burlington Island - then known by its Indian name "Tenneconk" - with the expectation that others would follow."

Found this info here.
 

Con

Full Member
May 21, 2006
138
3
NJ
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White's Vision
You guys are insane :) It look like where Jason Voorhees lives.
 

cavdetect

Jr. Member
Feb 18, 2013
53
46
Mt. Laurel, NJ
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Garrett Ace 250
Garrett AT Pro
Garrett Pro Pointer 2
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I know this is an old thread, however, I'm very interested in detecting on the island. My son and his friends go there all the time. It is true that the USCG and the Burl. City PD keep an eye on the island but they don't really stop anyone from going there, they are more interested in the safety of the kids crossing over from the city.

If there is anyone in the area interested in going over I would be more than happy to accompany. You just have to have a canoe or boat since I don't have one. I have not been out much lately due to a few surgeries, however I can only imagine that detecting on the island with it's incredible history would be fun and interesting. Please feel free to post on here or send me a message.
 

flyadive

Bronze Member
Jun 11, 2012
2,192
1,535
NJ
Detector(s) used
Whites
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I know this is an old thread, however, I'm very interested in detecting on the island. My son and his friends go there all the time. It is true that the USCG and the Burl. City PD keep an eye on the island but they don't really stop anyone from going there, they are more interested in the safety of the kids crossing over from the city. If there is anyone in the area interested in going over I would be more than happy to accompany. You just have to have a canoe or boat since I don't have one. I have not been out much lately due to a few surgeries, however I can only imagine that detecting on the island with it's incredible history would be fun and interesting. Please feel free to post on here or send me a message.

cav , the island has been hunted to death by my friend and I, you can try inland but it is full of dredge spoils!
Get past the dredge spoils and you will find great things !!!!
We spent years and years detecting there! Doesn't mean you won't find anything though.
I can go back tomorrow and find a silver dime/ wheat penny!
It is a great place to relax and swing.......
Go for it
HH
 

JOFO17

Jr. Member
Jun 20, 2009
21
1
Glo co
Detector(s) used
Equinox 600
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
One of my buddies went a few times as well and did well. His last trip therre he came home with chiggers so bad he swore never to go back.
 

Kut2TheChase

Full Member
Jun 27, 2007
139
1
NJ
Detector(s) used
Excalibur 1000 NATO - Explorer SE
I asked for and got permission to go there about 2 years ago.
Neil and I took a couple of Kayaks over and spent the day but I only found two silver quarters from 1943.
I have been thinking of going back since I have the permission, the caveat is that if I find anything like Indian Artifacts I have to turn it over to Burlington township.
 

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