Lakewood's mysterious circle in the woods explained

LAKEWOOD, N.J. — A long-debated circular clearing in the woods near Lakewood Airport has been debated by man for years. People who see the circle on Google Maps are often curious.

The site, carved out of the dense pine barrens, was created as part of the Lakewood Sport Parachuting Center, a drop zone strategically located between New York City and Philadelphia.

It turns out, the circle in the woods was linked to the construction of a parachuting center in the early 1960s.

In 1963, aviation pioneer Jacques Istel secured the Lakewood Airport property to develop the facility. A team led by Lee Guilfoyle and Condon McDonough worked through the winter to prepare the site. In March of that year, bulldozers were used to clear a 600-yard-diameter circle in the surrounding pine forest, creating a designated landing zone.

The center’s location was chosen for its soft sand landings and proximity to major cities. It also benefited from nearby highways, with both the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike providing access. The first jumps occurred on June 12, 1963, with five experienced instructors making delayed freefalls from 2,500 feet.

The Lakewood airport facility was built using repurposed hospital ward buildings from Fort Dix. A 2,500-foot paved runway was added, along with a flight line and parking area. The old gravel runway remained in limited use, accommodating aircraft like a twin-engine Beechcraft with a Ryan conversion.

While the clearing has puzzled locals for decades, its origins are now clear—Lakewood’s mysterious circle in the woods was once the landing zone for a pioneering parachuting center.

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