Ponderlodge preservation advocates want to spare the state-owned structures from demolition. Photos and video by Jack Fichter

VILLAS — Can Villas Wildlife Management Area, the former Ponderlodge Golf Course, become an environmental educational center or will its owner, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), demolish remaining buildings on the acreage next month?

If Cape May resident Barbara Skinner has her way, the former Ponderlodge mansion and lodge building would have a second life. She has started the Environmental Preservation and American Heritage Institute. Skinner has requested a stay of demolition from DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson.

“It would be South Jersey’s premier environmental center,” said Skinner, who is also a member of the Beach Theatre Foundation. “It would be one of the few, if not the only one, to offer overnight facilities.”

She said she envisions inner city children enjoying Ponderlodge's beautiful wooded acreage and lake.

Joyce Gooch-Dali, a member of Skinner’s group, said the center could present programs for the entire family.

“The stability of the family is one of the plants we need to nurture in this area,” she said.

Skinner said she would like to discuss a 99-year lease of the property from DEP or the transfer of only the buildings and recreation areas. Two swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts exist in a state of disrepair on the property.
She said the center could also be help with juvenile crime problems in Lower Township.

As part of the center, Skinner said she would like to see an organic restaurant. The former “mansion” has a number of rooms that could be used for dormitories.
The lodge building offers a large dining room that could be used by students, said Skinner.

“You could be teaching any number of things here, sustainability, the values of recycling, the values we want the world to adopt,” she said.

Such a center could also offer programs through colleges in the region, said Skinner.
She does not rule out bringing back golf to the facility in the form a nine-hole, organic golf course connected to recycled wastewater from the nearby Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority plant. The golf course could provide an income for center.

“We want to open up the communication again between DEP and Lower Township because the buildings are not beyond repair,” said Skinner.

She said DEP does not have the funding to adequately supervise the site and the agency feared liability issues. The buildings have suffered vandalism.
Skinner said her goal is to restore the buildings for use by the entire community. She said other communities have nature centers such as the Wetlands Institute but Lower Township lacks such a facility.

“This is something for the year-round population of this county,” said Skinner.

Sam Foxworthy, a member of Skinner’s group, said the 255 acres could be used for many different purposes.

“You’ll have a place for children to come and do things that they never have done before and have good life experiences,” he said.

Building contractor Stuart Solewater said Ponderlodge’s buildings need mostly cosmetic repairs.

“It is a perfect example how we can take something that is about to get thrown away through neglect and reuse it,” he said.

Solewater said it would be a prime site to use and demonstrate wind and solar energy.

Skinner said she plans a concert fundraiser in the fall for the project. Buildings would be restored in phases, she said, starting with the smaller structures.
Skinner said she has two organization members who would be willing to live on site to deter vandalism.
Much of the funding would come through grants from foundations, she said.

Skinner can be contacted at (609) 884-3951.

DEP Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources, Amy Cradic, told the Herald last October her agency anticipated the demolition of the larger buildings on the site by spring 2008.
Alternative uses for the buildings were explored but a time period for proposals for reuse passed without a firm offer, she said.

Three years ago, developer K. Hovnanian was interested in buying the property to build 390 condominium townhouse units but did not receive a necessary zoning change from Lower Township.

In January 2006, Lower Township made application January to the state Green Acres program to receive up to $500,000 in funding to help purchase Ponderlodge and turn it into a public recreation area. The application plan called for the township to supply $1.5 million in matching funds, a match that could come from the county.

A “People’s Plan” endorsed by local community organizations called for the township to reopen the 18-hole golf course, food facilities, lease the conference building to the Elks Club, and have the township operate recreational facilities on the 235-acre property.

The original plan had the county applying to the state Green Acres program to request $8 million to purchase the property.

The state Green Acres program purchased the 235-acre property from bankruptcy court in March 2006 for $8.4 million.

An evaluation of the lodge indicated a new roof was needed at an estimated cost ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. It anticipated other repair costs to the lodge as high as $200,000.
Lower Township told DEP it was interesting in leasing 20 acres to be used as a municipal park. No deal was struck.

The township’s Public Works and Recreation departments and engineer came up with an estimate of over $1 million to get the facilities up to par including a swimming pool, ball field, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts and shuffleboard courts.

One year ago, Lower Township Mayor Walter Craig Township ordered Township Manager Joe Jackson to send a letter to DEP listing 37 health and safety violations at Ponderlodge ranging from broken windows to exposed wires and a swimming pool filled with murky water.