Between the Forked River Mountains and Barnegat Bay is Lacey, a Jersey township with abundant amenities and attractive waterfront homes. The area caters to those seeking a suburban, coastal lifestyle while staying close to shopping centers and plenty of recreation. "People love Lacey," says Christine Bender, a Realtor with Weichert Realtors-Forked River, who’s been selling homes in the area for over 15 years. "It's close to everything and has a great waterfront lifestyle. Boaters can literally take their boat to a waterside restaurant. A lot of people tell me that they can't wait to hurry up and retire there."
Tide's End Marina houses many boats in Lacey.
The Waterfront restaurant offers great food, drinks and live music to the people of Lacey.
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20,000 acres to explore in Forked River Mountains
The Forked River Mountains occupy a 20,000-acre wilderness area in the west end of Lacey Township. Hikers and off-road vehicles can explore unmarked trails through forests dotted with Atlantic white cedar and sour gum trees while looking out for local gray foxes and Pine Barrens tree frogs. For recreation closer to home, Forked River Beach Bay Front Park sits on the waterfront with its sweeping ocean views, two nautical-themed play areas, paved walking trails and exercise equipment. There's also Gille Park, 28 acres of green space in the center of town with nearly a dozen sports fields. With its location near the waters of the Forked River and Barnegat Bay, boaters can park at their own private dock or rent one of 35 boat slips at Tide's End Marina and be out on the water in minutes.
Lacey families travel to Forked River Park which has a lot of amenities for kids.
Locals from Lacey can ride their bikes past a decommissioned nuclear power plant.
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Waterfront colonial-style homes start in the $800,000s
Inland homes sit on gridded streets and include mid-20th-century Cape Cod-style and ranch-style homes with two to four bedrooms. Most properties come with driveways, and many come with attached garages, usually selling for $300,000 to $600,000. Colonial-style and contemporary-style waterfront homes have expansive windows to maximize views of Barnegat Bay. These houses come with three to five bedrooms and sell for $800,000 up to $3 million. "You can get more bang for your buck in Lacey," says Bender. "The home prices and taxes are less than other waterfront communities, but the homes still hold their value, especially the waterfront homes. You're not going to see those prices go down." The CAP Index gives Lacey a crime score of 2, with the national average being 4.
Modern colonial style homes are popular in Lacey.
There is quite a selection of ranch style homes in Lacey.
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Shopping along State Route 9
Lacey Township has a variety of locally owned restaurants, including Captain's Inn, a 40-year-old mainstay with a dockside tiki bar. At The Waterfront, residents can get brunch and dinner or enjoy drinks and live entertainment in the outdoor waterside lounge. Along State Route 9, there’s a Walmart Supercenter and ShopRite for the essentials, as well as other chains like The Home Depot and Kohl’s.
Lacey locals drop by the Captain's Inn waterfront bar for great drinks and views.
At The Waterfront, near Lacey, has ample space for dancing, dining and events.
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College academy at Lacey Township High
Students may start at Forked River Elementary, rated C-plus by Niche, for kindergarten through fourth grade before going to Mill Pond Elementary, which also gets a C, for grades five and six. Seventh and eighth graders may then attend Lacey Township Middle with a C-plus before moving on to Lacey Township High, which earns a B-plus rating and offers a college academy where students can earn up to 60 credits in their junior and senior years.
C-plus rated Forked River Elementary School serves the students of Lacey.
Lacey Township Middle School is a fine learning institution in Lacey.
The Lacey Township High School is a grade A learning institution.
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Events at Gille Park
Gille Park is the site of several community events throughout the year, like a Haunted Trail and Halloween party, and Lacey Day, where the township celebrates with food trucks, local vendors, activities for kids and more.
Many Lacey residents can be seen walking through Gille Park.
Gille Park, near Lacey, has many features including a baseball field and playground.
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Bordered by Garden State Parkway
Lacey is bordered by the Garden State Parkway, which runs from Paterson in northern Jersey all the way down the shore to Cape May. The 559 bus line can be accessed from State Route 9 with daily service to the Lakewood Bus Terminal, which provides another bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
The garden state parkway allows Lacey residents to effortlessly drive throughout NJ.
The bus in Lacey helps commuters get to places like Atlantic City.
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Important to Know
Along Oyster Creek in the southern part of the neighborhood, there’s a large nuclear power plant that was decommissioned in 2018. The plant is still being dismantled and is on track to be fully removed by 2029. In May 2024, the township proposed using the space for a ‘green energy park’ in the future, but no plans have been solidified yet.
Photography Contributed By
Josue Johnson
Video By
GL Moses
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Discover the charm of this beautifully renovated 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home in the desirable Forked River community, set to impress with its major renovations completed in 2025. Nestled on a generous 0.59-acre lot, this detached residence offers a perfect blend of modern comfort and suburban tranquility. Enjoy captivating views that enhance your living experience, while the spacious layout
Welcome to Paradise Point! This Brand-New Waterfront Community of 24 Homes is located in the heart of Forked River, NJ by a local/reputable Builder. NEW CONSTRUCTION (Now FINISHED!) on a 0.528 Acre Lot features the Madison A Model which includes 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 2 Car Garage, Walkup Finished Attic is 558sf Additional Living Space, Open Floorplan layout, Engineered Flooring on 1st Flr/2nd Flr
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Welcome to this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath End Unit townhome built just 3 years ago, offering modern finishes, spacious living, and low-maintenance living in a desirable community. The open-concept main level features a bright and inviting living area that flows seamlessly into the dining space and kitchen--perfect for everyday living and entertaining. The kitchen offers modern cabinetry,
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