The Pines

Nestled into a corner of the woods in north NJ is The Pines, a once boarding house and lodge.  As it stands, Sussex County was once host to numerous camps and lodges as it was situated closer than the Borscht Belt in the Catskills for folks on a budget.  But as the vacation and travel patterns on the east coast changed, many of the lodges and getaways that once hosted people looking for a little breath of fresh air failed.  Beginning it's life as a lodge,  The Pines was converted to a boarding house following the decline in rural tourism, where it housed the infirm and people in need of some supervision before release into the populace.  There are still documents there detailing discharge of residents that include psychiatric medications and recommendations.  The Pines was shut down by the fire marshall for obvious fire code violations in the late 1990's.  Having climbed that wooden fire escape, I can see why.

There are actually three buildings to the property, although some others may be hidden by foliage at the time of shooting.  The main white building was the lodge proper, which had evidence of squats and hooligans partying.  The red building housed recreational activities at one point, now it houses rot and water damage.  The third building is over a garage, severely damaged by water and mold to the point the floor is perpetually softened.  The Pines is a testament to the past, both in the history of the building and the traces of inhabitants left behind.