Crestwood Lake

Throughout the twentieth century, the lure of Crestwood Lake was putting Allendale, NJ on the map as a summer getaway. The development of this resort spot came as somewhat of an accident. In the late 1920s, business partners Stephen T. Van Houten Jr. and Christopher J. Smith purchased 34 acres with the intent of creating a residential lake community. The dam was built and only one lakefront lot was sold when the Great Depression hit. In order to pay for the construction of the dam and the property taxes, Van Houten and Smith opened the lake for swimming. It was a great success and eventually, more acreage was purchased for this wonderful resort. In the early 1930s, a day’s admission for a guest was 25 cents. As the years passed a family membership or day’s admission fee included a pastoral setting surrounding the lake with sandy beaches, swimming, 2 large water slides, see-saws, 16 rafts, a 30-foot diving tower with the platform, Sunday diving exhibitions, basketball courts, swings and picnics in the apple orchard. For an additional fee there was a 9-hole chip & put course, archery, and pony rides, as well as swim instruction offered by a certified swim instructor. A 40-foot water spray was installed for aeration and dramatic effect. Families traveled here from far and near NJ and NY all summer long. During the war years of the 1940s when gasoline was strictly rationed, the Erie Railroad assigned special trains to pick up hundreds of passengers along the way destined for a day at Crestwood Lake! These ran to/from Jersey City to Allendale on Saturdays & Sundays. For almost 80 years Allendale’s residents and their guests have been creating fabulous memories at “Crestwood Park”, a beautiful treasure that will be enjoyed for generations to come.