Triple C Ranch and the Dismal Swamp
206 Tyler Road, Edison, Middlesex County, NJ
5.27-acres with access to the Dismal Swamp
Directions to the Triple C Ranch and Nature Center:
From Interstate 287 South:
Take I-287 South to exit 3 (New Durham/ Metuchen). Bear right at the end of the
exit ramp onto New Durham Road. At the first traffic signal, turn right onto
Talmadge Road. Continue on Talmadge Road approximately two miles to second
traffic signal, Park Avenue. Turn left onto Park Avenue. Make your first left
onto Nevsky Street. Continue on Nevsky Street (which curves right and becomes
Delancy Street) to the end. Turn left onto New York Boulevard. Continue on New
York Boulevard to second right, Tyler Road (may be unmarked). Turn right onto
Tyler Road, cross railroad tracks and continue to the end of Tyler Road. The
Triple C Ranch and Nature Center is #206, the small brick barn on the left.
From Interstate 287 North:
Take I-287 North to exit 2B, Route 27 South (New Brunswick). Continue on Route
27 South approximately one mile to the third traffic signal, Talmadge Road. Turn
Right onto Talmadge Road. Continue on Talmadge Road for approximately three
miles to the fourth traffic signal, Park Avenue. Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Make your first left onto Nevsky Street. Continue on Nevsky Street (which curves
right and becomes Delancy Street) to the end. Turn left onto New York Boulevard.
Continue on New York Boulevard to second right, Tyler Road (may be unmarked).
Turn right onto Tyler Road, cross railroad tracks and continue to the end of
Tyler Road. The Triple C Ranch and Nature Center is #206, the small brick barn
on the left.
From the Garden State Parkway (North or South):
Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 131 (Iselin, Rahway, Metuchen). Bear right
at the end of the ramp onto Route 27 South. (Route 27 becomes Middlesex Avenue
in Metuchen). Continue approximately three miles on Route 27. At the
intersection of Lake Avenue (Condos on the right, Stop & Shop on the left)
continue straight on Middlesex Avenue (Route 27 continues on Lake Avenue). Make
a right onto Central Avenue. Central Avenue becomes Plainfield Avenue in Edison.
Continue approximately 1.3 miles on Plainfield Avenue to the third traffic
signal, Park Avenue. Turn left onto Park Avenue. At the first traffic signal,
turn right onto the continuation of Park Avenue. Make your first left onto
Nevsky Street. Continue on Nevsky Street (which curves right and becomes Delancy
Street) to the end. Turn left onto New York Boulevard. Continue on New York
Boulevard to second right, Tyler Road (may be unmarked). Turn right onto Tyler
Road, cross railroad tracks and continue to the end of Tyler Road. The Triple C
Ranch and Nature Center is #206, the small brick barn on the left.
From the New Jersey Turnpike (North or South):
Take the New Jersey Turnpike to exit 10. As you exit the tollbooths, follow
signs for Interstate 287 North. Take I-287 North to exit 2B, Route 27 South (New
Brunswick). Continue on Route 27 South approximately one mile to the third
traffic signal, Talmadge Road. Turn Right onto Talmadge Road. Continue on
Talmadge Road for approximately three miles to the fourth traffic signal, Park
Avenue. Turn left onto Park Avenue. Make your first left onto Nevsky Street.
Continue on Nevsky Street (which curves right and becomes Delancy Street) to the
end. Turn left onto New York Boulevard. Continue on New York Boulevard to second
right, Tyler Road (may be unmarked). Turn right onto Tyler Road, cross railroad
tracks and continue to the end of Tyler Road. The Triple C Ranch and Nature
Center is #206, the small brick barn on the left.
History:
Triple C Ranch is located in the middle of the Dismal Swamp.
2000 (March) -- EWA entered into a lease-purchase agreement for the ranch.
2001 (April) -- purchase completed.
The ranch remains one of the last horse farms in Middlesex County, but has fallen into considerable disrepair. The Edison Wetlands Associates and their volunteers and work crews have put in an amazing amount of work to clean up the site and return it to a healthier condition. EWA's vision for the Triple C includes the rehabilitation of the ranch and the establishment of a Nature Center.
Habitats:
The Dismal Swamp is a 650-acre environmentally sensitive wetland and is
adjacent to 275 acres of protected land owned by Edison Township. It is the
largest continuous wetlands in northern Middlesex County, spanning portions of
Edison, Metuchen and South Plainfield.
It is the last viable ecosystem within an encroaching urban/suburban
environment. The Dismal Swamp is home to an estimated 165 species of birds, as
well as 6 amphibian and 8 reptile species.
Tours and Hours:
EWA leads frequent tours of the Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge for school children
and the general public starting at the Triple C Ranch – a natural access point
to the Dismal Swamp.
Visiting Hours: Saturdays: 1 - 4pm; Sundays: 9am - 1pm; Weekdays: by appointment only.
Trails:
The Ranch is at the terminus of the proposed Middlesex Greenway. There is to be riding, hiking, and biking trails through the Dismal Swamp.
(Source: http://edisonwetlands.org/home.html)
4/17/04 Volunteer David Coyle took us on our own private tour of the place. There were hens, ducks, two alpine goats (Sammie and Stanley), a turkey and six huge pigs. We then walked along the Dismal Brook to see a beaver dam and lodge. David pointed out there had been a native American encampment in the area. There is fishing here (chain pickerel, bass and sunfish) but it is a catch and release area. After returning from the brook walk, David took us on a walk along a causeway between two grass meadows and then back through the meadows to the main ranch area. Back at the ranch itself, we met Cynthia, another very pleasant and friendly volunteer.
PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney
date = date plant found in bloom, 4/17/04
Trees:
Acer negundo (box elder maple)
Acer rubrum (red maple) 4/17/04
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
Carya sp. (hickory)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Juniperus virginiana (red cedar)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Pyrus sp. (crabapple)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Shrubs:
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) 4/17/04 soon
Cornus amomum (swamp dogwood)
Lindera benzoin (spicebush) 4/17/04
Lonicera sp. (honeysuckle)
Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)
Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw viburnum)
Vines:
Celastrus orbiculatus (Asiatic bittersweet)
Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)
Vitis sp. (grape)
Herbs:
Ajuga repens (ajuga) 4/17/04
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Allium vineale (field garlic)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Artemisia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Barbarea vulgaris (common wintercress)
Claytonia virginica (spring beauty) 4/17/04 lots of them
Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)?
Erythronium americanum (trout lily) 4/17/04
Geum canadense (white avens)
Impatiens capensis (jewelweed)
Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife)
Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)
Narcissus sp. (yellow daffodils) 4/17/04
Plantago lanceolata (English plantain)
Podophyllum peltatum (may apple)
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed)
Potentilla sp. (cinquefoil)
Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock)
Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)
Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)
Viola sororia (common blue violet) 4/17/04
Sedges:
Carex stricta (tussock sedge)
Grasses:
Phragmites australis (giant reed grass)