New Jersey is such a great place to live, especially when it comes to celebrating our incredible mix of cultures and traditions! Just look at October. We’ve got the Italians celebrating their heritage, the Germans breaking out the lederhosen for Oktoberfest, and our Indian neighbors lighting up the season with Diwali festivities. And that’s just the beginning!
From pasta and pizza to bratwurst, beer, and Indian delicacies, Jersey knows how to throw a party. With so many cultures sharing their traditions, there’s always something to celebrate, something delicious to eat, and a reason to get together. And when it comes to Oktoberfest, few places in New Jersey have a history quite like Forest Lodge in Warren Township!
No better place to celebrate than Forest Lodge in Warren Township, Somerset County, home to one of New Jersey’s largest Oktoberfest gatherings. Nestled among 40 beautiful acres in the Watchung Mountains, this longtime recreational landmark comes alive with German music, dancing, bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, cold beer, and plenty of good old-fashioned Jersey hospitality.
But here’s where the history gets interesting. Long before the lederhosen and beer steins, Forest Lodge was already a favorite destination for generations of New Jersey families. Vintage roadside billboards proudly advertised its three swimming pools, picnic grounds, and recreational activities, calling it one of the state’s most beautiful outdoor destinations. The swimsuits may have given way to lederhosen, but the tradition remains the same: bringing people together for food, fun, and unforgettable memories.
So raise your stein and join Mr. Local History as we celebrate Forest Lodge, where New Jersey history meets German tradition—with a social twist!
Ein Prosit!
In 1933, Samuel Arsarnow (a retired shoe retailer) bought property in Warren as a summer place for friends and family. Word spread, and the property quickly became the go-to hangout spot. Samuel started charging 25 cents a person for food, drinks, and new yearly additions to the facility. Samuel renovates the property and adds a few games, a public pool, pavilions, and more! Eventually, he decides to call this new public attraction “Forest Lodge”.
Owners over the Years
Forest Lodge: Four Eras, Four Owners, and a Whole Lot of Jersey Memories!
From a backyard swimming hole to one of New Jersey’s best-known destinations for Oktoberfest, weddings, and company picnics, Forest Lodge in Warren Township has seen quite a transformation. And behind all those memories are the families and entrepreneurs who helped make it happen.
1934–1968: Samuel Asarnow — The Man Who Started It All
Imagine it’s 1938. It’s hot, there’s no air conditioning, and your family needs a place to cool off. Enter Samuel Asarnow, a retired Plainfield shoe retailer who purchased a farm at 11 Reinmann Road in 1934.
Originally known as Barney’s Farm, after his middle son, the property became a summer escape for relatives and friends. Mrs. Asarnow handled the cooking while Samuel managed the growing crowds. In 1938, they installed a small swimming pool and eventually began charging visitors a whopping 25 cents to get in! For just a quarter, families could enjoy swimming, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, picnics, and good food. It was the kind of place where everyone knew someone, and nobody seemed in a hurry to leave.
1968–1980: Robert Evans — Turn Up the Music!
By 1968, Forest Lodge was ready for a new beat. Robert Evans took over and brought country-rock entertainment to the property, adding a bar that would later become known as the Sherwood Room.The peaceful picnic retreat now had a little more nightlife. Forest Lodge was becoming more than a summer destination. Picture a Friday night in the 1970s, with friends gathering for drinks, live music, and a little dancing. That country-rock bar helped give Forest Lodge a personality beyond its traditional summer picnics.
A former Forest Lodge employee, Ray V., recalled starting work there in 1974 at age 14 for $1.65 an hour. He remembered Bob Evans as a towering, demanding boss and the excitement of listening to bands such as Kinderhook Creek and the Good Rats. It’s a wonderful firsthand glimpse of the Forest Lodge that so many Jersey residents remember.
1980–1985: Charles Alberto Jr. — The Man Who Saw the Possibilities
In 1980, Livingston developer Charles Alberto purchased the 35-acre property with development plans in mind. Fortunately for generations of Forest Lodge fans, he decided to invest in the existing resort instead. Renovations, landscaping improvements, and upgraded facilities helped transform the property into a destination for weddings, corporate outings, family reunions, and celebrations.
For this time, think of those enormous company picnics of the early 1980s: coworkers trading their office clothes for shorts, kids racing around the grounds, and families loading up their plates before heading back for another afternoon of fun.
1985–Present: The Alberto Family — Keeping the Traditions Alive
Under the Alberto family’s stewardship, Forest Lodge continued to grow as a destination for weddings, catered celebrations, corporate gatherings, and seasonal traditions. And for many New Jerseyans, one tradition stands out above the rest: Oktoberfest! German music, hearty food, beer steins, dancing, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a Jersey fall celebration.
Every October since 2009, the smell of bratwurst in the autumn air, the sound of a polka band, and a crowd raising their glasses together. For many families, Forest Lodge isn’t just a venue. It’s where generations of memories were made.
Warren and Oktoberfest is Alive at the Forest Lodge
Autumn in the Garden State, when New Jersey’s landscape explodes with brilliant reds, golden yellows, and fiery oranges. The air turns crisp, the leaves begin to fall, and suddenly it’s time to break out the lederhosen, grab a stein, and shout Prost! Oktoberfest has arrived!
A short video to honor Oktoberfest at Warren’s Forest Lodge. In this video,the Dockenspielers are a Munich-style Blaskapelle (German brass band) that performs traditional German musical heritage, polka, and Oktoberfest music.
That Bavarian Tyrolean Hat
Ever wonder why so many Oktoberfest revelers look like they’ve got a little green hat with a feather sticking out of their heads? Well, there’s history under that hat! Known as the Tyrolean hat, it originated in the Alpine mountains and became a symbol of Bavarian pride. That funny little brush, called a Gamsbart, was originally a hunter’s trophy made from chamois hair. Today, from Munich to Forest Lodge in New Jersey, it’s all about celebrating German heritage, good food, and great beer.
Thousands of visitors come from across the state to feast on bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, goulash, and German desserts while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the beautiful Watchung Mountains. Beyond the food and entertainment, the event features a vendor fair, giant Connect Four, ladder ball, cornhole, horseshoes, Kan Jam, ping pong, Jenga, and bocce. Whether you’re wearing lederhosen, a dirndl, or your favorite fall sweatshirt, it’s a chance to gather with friends, celebrate German heritage, and enjoy one of New Jersey’s biggest Oktoberfest traditions.
2026 Oktoberfest In Photos…
We took a whole bunch of photos at Warren’s Forest Lodge Oktoberfest because there were so few online. If you have one you’d like to share, we’d love to add it to this online photo album. The band, The Dockenspielers are a Munich-style Blaskapelle (German brass band) that performs traditional German musical heritage, polka, and Oktoberfest music. Feel free to drop us a note telling us your Oktoberfest story.
Share A Memory
Were you ever part of the Oktoberfest fun at Forest Lodge?
We’d love to hear your memories! Share your favorite stories, photos, and unforgettable moments in the comments below and help us keep this New Jersey tradition alive!
Now for a Past Warren Oktoberfest Tradition –
The Schwaebische Alb
Local records indicate a farm had occupied the Washington Valley Road site since Prohibition. Three men came to Warren Township with their wives during the German depression of the late 1920s and settled in the fertile Raritan Valley along with other Germans. Herman Mauser, William Schwarz, and Herman Fry created a chicken farm (see our other story about Warren’s EggOmat). Still, in 1935, the poultry business was failing, so they entered the hospitality business and opened the Schwaebische Alb. For almost a century, the Schwaebische Alb would serve Warren and New Jersey well!
Richard Bauchert purchased the restaurant from Fred Kramer in 1962. He and his wife Elizabeth came from Frankfurt, Germany, in 1951. After working at several restaurants, he purchased the Schwaebische Alb. Further research uncovered that the Schwaebische Alb, Warrenville, N.J., was formally incorporated and copyrighted in 1963 as a corporate entity.
Read more……
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