South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge
Checkpoint Zinnia
Welcome to Ocean County Park, Lakewood, NJ. This cache will fulfill the “Zinnia” requirement for the South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge.
Ocean County Park has a rich and fascinating history. While the park has a "piney feel, where the paved road "squeezes" between, white pine, hemlock and other pine trees, the originally grounds were part of John D. Rockefeller's vacation estate.
1902 -- John D. Rockefeller begins to buy property in Lakewood when he buys the Ocean County Hunt and Country Club from George Jay Gould. Rockefeller converted the property into his private estate where he played golf.
1904 -- White pine, hemlock and other unique specimen trees were imported by Rockefeller from all over the country. The public was allowed to walk through the area. Rockefeller had a dairy herd and distributed free milk to his friends in Lakewood.
1925 -- a series of acts of vandalism leads to ending public access to the Rockefeller lands. Rockefeller erects a fence around the four mile estate perimeter.
After Rockefller's death in 1937, the mansion was demolished. and his his heirs gave the estate to Ocean County.
 |
While seeking this cache, enjoy the other caches in the park and take a walk around Lake Fishigan.
Other activities and facilities available: Bike trail, cross-country skiing, driving range, fishing, fitness trail, handicap accessible, open playing fields, picnic area, playgrounds, restrooms, shuffleboard, softball, large swimming pool, tennis courts, and beach volleyball. |
Please note that park rules are strictly enforced and the grounds are patrolled frequently. The road through the park is a long "one way" so if you miss the parking you'll need to take the cut through and loop around again.Please do not park on the side of the road, park in a designated spot.
Please do not enter the park if the park is closed.
Official SJCC Information
The South Jersey Geocachers (SJG) are sponsoring the South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge series. This challenge is intended to take geocachers on a tour of Southern New Jersey (loosely defined as south of I-195) while finding caches placed by members of the SJG. On the tour, we hope you will find South Jersey an interesting and beautiful part of our great state.
Scattered around the area are 26 checkpoint caches and a final challenge cache - South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NJDZ). Hidden within the 26 checkpoint caches are numbers to be used in determining the coordinates of the final South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge cache – please be sure to note them while you are there.
Complete information can be found on the South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NJDZ) cache page.
Happy caching and enjoy the South Jersey Checkpoint Challenge!!!
This cache is certified South Jersey