Everything You Need to Know About the Ocean Grove Tents

​Experience Tent Life in Ocean GroveYou might be asking yourself, “Why would anyone live in a tent for the entire summer?” The answer is simple: tradition. Ocean Grove’s tent colony dates back to 1870 when there were 200 tents for every house. Today, there are 114 tent structures nestled around the Great Auditorium. The canvas tents are attached to wooden cottages and used as living rooms; the cottages are used for bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Outside, tiny porches provide just enough room for two lawn chairs and a small table.
As you can imagine, this 150-year-old community is tightly knit. Descendants of founding families continue to carry on the tradition by coming back year after year. Plus, the 14 by 21 tents are so close, you can reach out and touch your neighbor! In the evening, tenters sit out on their porches drinking wine, reading, and telling stories. It’s a vacation experience unlike any other.
How to Become a TenterTents run about $4,000 to $5,000 for the summer season (May to September), and there are a few rules tenters must follow. Here’s what you need to know about the process.

• All prospective tenters are interviewed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and placed on a waitlist.
• You can’t rent a tent for a week or month; it’s the entire season only.
• You can’t sublet your tent, bring pets, or have barbecues.
• Air conditioners were once prohibited, but are now allowed.
• Ocean Grove is a dry town, however, beer and wine is allowed in cups.
• All furniture/decor must be removed from your tent in September.

Interested in learning more? Call the OGCMA at (732) 775-0035 for details.