Just west of Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone is one of the Somerset Hills' most distinctive communities. It is really two historic villages, Peapack and Gladstone, joined in one small borough. It offers open countryside, equestrian tradition, and village life on a comfortable, human scale.
Here is what we love about it, and what buyers should know.
How Two Villages Became One Borough
Peapack and Gladstone were once part of Bedminster Township. By the early 1900s, residents of the two villages wanted modern services like electric lights, telephones, and fire hydrants. They also did not want to keep paying for rural roads elsewhere in the township. They petitioned the state, and in 1912 the Borough of Peapack and Gladstone was created.
The names carry their own history. "Peapack" is believed to come from a Lenape term often translated as "marriage of the waters," a reference to where the Peapack Brook meets the Raritan River. Gladstone was named in honor of William Ewart Gladstone, the British prime minister.
Countryside and Open Space
One of the borough's great treasures is Natirar, a 404-acre former estate spanning Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills, and Bedminster. Once the estate of Kate Macy Ladd and Walter Graeme Ladd, it is now owned by Somerset County and administered by the Somerset County Park Commission. It is a beautiful place to walk and to take in the landscape that defines this part of New Jersey.
Around town, you will also see the rolling fields, stone walls, and horse farms that give the area its character.
Equestrian Heritage
Horses are part of daily life here. The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is headquartered at the historic Hamilton Farm in Gladstone. The borough is also home to the Essex Hunt Club and the Essex Fox Hounds, part of a long tradition of riding in the Somerset Hills.
In Peapack, the Moses Craig Lime Kilns, which operated until the mid-1930s, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are a reminder of the area's working past.
A Bit of Hollywood
For a fun piece of trivia: the Gladstone train station stood in for Boston in the 1962 film The Miracle Worker. It is a small detail, but it says something about how well the village has kept its historic character.
Getting Around
- Rail: NJ Transit's Gladstone station is the terminus of the Gladstone Branch, with service toward Hoboken and New York Penn Station. Peapack has its own station just one stop earlier.
- Roads: U.S. Route 206 runs through the borough, and Interstates 287 and 78 are accessible in neighboring Bedminster.
Schools
Public school students attend the Somerset Hills School District, which Peapack-Gladstone shares with Bernardsville and Far Hills. The area also offers private school options, including Gill St. Bernard's School, whose campus straddles the line between Gladstone and Chester Township. As always, we encourage families to visit and speak directly with schools.
What Buyers Should Know
- A mix of housing styles. You will find village homes near the two historic centers, along with properties on larger parcels and some with equestrian features.
- Land use matters. For horse properties or larger lots, ask early about zoning, fencing, barns, outbuildings, and any easements.
- Check utilities and access. As in much of the Somerset Hills, some properties rely on well and septic, and driveways and terrain vary.
- Inventory can be limited. In a small borough, the right home may not come along often, so being prepared helps.
The Takeaway
Peapack-Gladstone offers something increasingly rare: a real village feel set in open, beautiful countryside, with a train line to the city. For the right buyer, it is a place that feels like home right away.
Interested in Peapack-Gladstone or nearby Far Hills, Bedminster, or Bernardsville? Call Fahey Realtors at 908.204.0600 or visit us at 61 Claremont Road in Bernardsville. We would be happy to show you around.
