Skip to Main Content

Forked River, New Jersey: Painted Rock - American Flag Rock

Random boulder along a road through the remote Pine Barrens is maintained with patriotic paint job and surrounded by flags. Was painted regularly (and mysteriously) with holiday and other cheery themes right up until 9/11/2001.

Address:
Rt. 539, Forked River, NJ
Directions:
North of Rt. 72 for 5.7 miles, between mile marker 19 and 20, southbound side.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Painted Rock - American Flag Rock

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Painted rock.

American Flag Rock

There's a rock painted like an American flag along the roadside in the middle of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It's surrounded by American flags, service flags, and POW/MIA flag. No info posted as to why it's there.

[Vince, 05/20/2012]

The rock was supposedly abandoned in the sandy, rockless Pine Barrens by a tractor trailer truck transporting boulders to Barnegat lighthouse. Painted mysteriously for years (and finally revealed to be mostly the work of Edward Gillesheimer), since 9//11/2001 it has manifested a patriotic theme painted by others.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Brooksbrae Brick Factory ArtBrooksbrae Brick Factory Art, Manchester, NJ - 3 mi.
Popcorn Park ZooPopcorn Park Zoo, Forked River, NJ - 3 mi.
Hindenburg, Jersey Devil, Stuffed DogHindenburg, Jersey Devil, Stuffed Dog, Lakehurst, NJ - 10 mi.
In the region:
Poe-Inspired Tombstone, Trenton, NJ - 30 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

New Jersey Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights