Exploring the Pine Barrens - The Ruins of Fries Mill

Deep in the New Jersey Pine Barrens are ruins of two sites right on top of each other - the old Fries Mill settlement dating back to 1770, and the ruins of the New Jersey Silica Sand Company from 1915. Let's hike out there and see what we can find.

[alansalacain]

The real treasure was the friends you lost along the way.

[KennyCnotG]

Fun fact, the name of the ruins Fries Mill is a shibboleth. The actual pronunciation is "Frees Mill", with Fries Mill Road (a road in modern use) being where most people would here it referenced. Love seeing a presence of NJ on youtube- this state has so much more than what people think!

[HistoricalShark]

Honestly, I really love these exploring videos. The reason I really enjoy this content right now is because I’m going through a lot of serious health issues and I can’t walk right now or really do anything. So kind of able to get out and explore vicariously through your videos.

[BigWoollyMammoth]

This area has basically been my playground for the last 33 years. I find new and interesting things each time I visit. Great stuff.

[IAmInTheIAm]

I remember reading a book about The Pine Barrens by Tom Wolf as a teenager back in the late '70s. It peaked my interest in natural places, that I drove up to Alaska and never left...42 years later, I'm still here ✌️

[betterbee]

I grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and I always heard stories about Fries Mill and the families that lived there. It's amazing the amount of history in this highly disregarded state...

[bordenatorx]

I love how you document everything. I'm a historical archeologist. I'd be very interested at doing some exploring with you guys.

[banjoist]

Have to say I've had my preconceived notion of the Pine Barrens as the most haunted place in the world shattered. It's freaking gorgeous!

[John-psce]

Love it!
My dad used to bring me to the Pine Barrens. We'd visit Batsto and we canoed the Batsto River.
Later, a friend and I went mountain bike riding there.

[burntavocado]

As a life time NJ resident, I found this video fascinating. Not to many YouTubers from NJ 👍 good work! Stellar!

[thefpvlife]

This was fun to watch and I personally appreciate how well you documented this and edited this video from our pleasure. Thank you for sharing.

[tmduboz]

Southern New Jersey is home to many ruins similar to this, it would be interesting for the group to explore some more similar to these as shown within the video.

[awallner]

I had a postdoc deep inside the Pine Barrens, at the Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Research Center. It's near Chatsworth. I collected insects all over the barrens. It is carpeted with an incredible and rich endemic fauna. Those are fond memories that will never flee from me. That is until I get dementia.

[thraciangrapes]

I grew up in South Jersey on a farm along a railroad tracks just like this. I loved exploring the woods as a child.

[ElicBehexan]

My cousin lived in Little Egg Harbor Township in part of the Pine Barrens near Tuckerton. I only got to visit a couple of times, but it really looked interesting. However, even by the time I visited the first time, I was too disabled to explore more than just the edge of his backyard. This getting old stuff is tough. Now it is sometimes hard to just get the mail...

[CalebOrvik]

“Guy was an interior decorator.”
“His house looked like shit!”

[teachermatt]

Thanks for this video man. I'm from Vineland, but have been living in China for 6-7 years and because of the pandemic I wasn't able to come home this year. This video was a nice substitute to being back home in the pines. Thank you for this video and the history lesson. Happy New Year man!

[freekehliciousfreekehlicio]

Wow...one of the best 'documentary' style videos I've watched on the Pine Barrens. Telling the history was a great plus! And, love when maps are used! Thank you!! Look forward to your other adventures!

[christopherengel]

This is basically right around where I grew up. There are so many old foundations out in the Pine Barrens. A great easy day to find them is look for something other than pine trees, apple, oak, etcetera. You'd be surprised how quick you get a eye for different trees. I appreciate seeing people exploring the old Pine Barrens but there's better & creepier ruins.

[alexandraduffy]

Thank you so much for doing something on the Pine Barrens! No one ever does anything on them and there are so many spooky and great stories about them!!