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Duke Farms
80 Route 206 South, Hillsborough
908-722-3700
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Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre estate in Hillsborough, New Jersey, was developed by tobacco and hydropower magnate James Buchanan Duke, beginning in 1893. By the time he died in 1925, J.B. Duke had transformed more than 2,000 acres of farmland and woodlots into an extraordinary landscape. He excavated 9 lakes, constructed some 45 buildings, and built nearly 2½ miles of stone walls and more than 18 miles of roadway. He also installed approximately 35 fountains and populated his park with countless pieces of sculpture. Duke engaged in at least three known building campaigns, employed hundreds of laborers, and utilized the latest technologies in excavation, construction, water filtration and agriculture in pursuit of his vision. Much of the landscape J.B. Duke created between 1893 and 1925 is still clearly evident at Duke Farms, a testament to his ingenuity, resourcefulness and determination, as well as his bold vision and tremendous resources. When J.B. Duke died, his 12-year-old daughter Doris inherited control of the estate and continued to enhance the property when she became an adult. Doris Duke adapted her father’s greenhouses to create noteworthy display gardens that she opened to the public in 1964. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she purchased small 19th century farms along the western boundary of the estate, which represent the rapidly vanishing agricultural landscape that once characterized central New Jersey.
Today, visitors can take four featuring different aspects of Duke Farms, as well as take part in a number of educational programs and recreational activities. The property is owned and supported by the Duke Farms Foundation, which maintains the estate’s array of natural, horticultural and historic resources.
Visitors may climb aboard the Duke Farms tour bus
for the Estate Park and Nature Tour . Learn about the property’s diverse wildlife habitats and endangered species, as well as its historic buildings, lakes, woodlands, fountains, sculptures, waterfalls, ornamental horticulture and magnificent champion trees. See first-hand how this man-made landscape has evolved over the last 100 years into a critical refuge for wildlife.
Walk on the Wild Side at Duke Farms and explore nature at your own pace. Follow a 1.25-mile trail through a series of different habitats, and see some of the unique features added to the landscape by J.B. Duke. Discover the property's impressive array of wildlife, and learn about Duke Farms’ role as a living laboratory with ongoing restoration projects.
Families are invited to enjoy Scenic Bike Tours , a seven-mile tour of the property led by a guide from Duke Farms who will provide an overview of the history and environmental significance of the beautiful landscapes.
In addition, Duke Farms hosts educational programs throughout the year, including bird and butterfly walks, tree identification classes and more.
For more information on any of the tours or programs listed above, including schedules, fees and registration, visit www.dukefarms.org or call (908) 722-3700. Also visit the Web site for more information on Duke Farms’ transition into a living environmental center and its new mission to serve as a model of environmental stewardship.
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