Camp Sussex property sold to Korean non-profit
By Erika Norton
Vernon — The abandoned Camp Sussex property in Vernon Township was sold for $850,000, Fund Manager of the Empire Tax Funds Lowen Hankin confirmed.
According to Vernon Councilman Patrick Rizzuto, the property was bought by a Korean group with the intent and purpose of bringing in Korean, and possibly other Asian students, for purposes of studying and to become familiar with the United States.
“It's positive in that the township will have the camp cleaned up,” Rizzuto said. “It will no longer be the eyesore if they proceed with what I understand their intent is, to make it a camp for these students.”
Efforts to contact the new owners through their lawyer, Brian Fahey, were unsuccessful.
The downside, Rizzuto said, is the group that bought the property is a non-profit, so the township will not realize any tax benefit from it. He also feels the property could have been used for something more beneficial to the community in the long term.
“It could have become a nice place for a gathering, a passive park, a place where people could go and enjoy the outdoors with their families in a slightly different setting than we have right now,” he said. “Of course, that was a vision that I had and a few others had, but not necessarily one that was shared by others.”
The 88-acre parcel, originally founded as a camp for city youth, sat abandoned since late 2004. The Vernon Environmental Commission had proposed using Open Space and Farmland Preservation funds to acquire the property, but those plans met with opposition from some members of the public and members of the township council.
Empire Tax Fund purchased the township's tax liens in early 2014 and took ownership of the property through the foreclosure process. In September of the same year, a fire in two of the cabins was called “suspicious,” and there was much debate over what should be done with the property if possible suspicious activity was taking place on the grounds.
The fact that the new owners will have to meet certain code requirements and certain building requirements to develop the camp and be allowed to bring in students is what’s most beneficial. Rizutto said.
According to Vernon historical expert Ronald J. Dupont Jr., the camp opened in 1924 and was founded by a Jewish welfare organization based in Brooklyn. The camp was non-sectarian, open and free to orphans and poor children from the city, and at that time, was considered the largest and finest summer camp in Sussex County.
Famous campers include actor Mel Brooks, and in June 2004, Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation for children signed a three-year agreement to create a special summer athletic program with the camp’s board of directors. However, after less than two weeks in operation, the Foundation pulled out and did not return.