Ya know, some of our family's favorite hot spots are those that are off the beaten track. Soupy Island is such a place. I did most of my growing up in Gloucester County, New Jersey. And that whole time, unbeknownst to me, there was a place for family fun right under my nose. Soupy Island, or the the Sanitarium Playground as it was once called, is located in Thorofare, at the intersection of Center and and 2nd streets. I didn't find out about it until I was an adult and moved back to the area with my family. How weird is that?
In the 1800's there was a hospital on that land to treat children with tuberculosis. The children came from Philly, which was crowded with cramped apartments and was no place for children to heal and get healthier. At Soupy Island children could get lots of fresh air and play outside. A steam powered carousel was built! Every day they were given nourishing, hot soup.
Flash forward to decades later when hygiene was better and antibiotics and vaccinations were introduced to the area. The hospital was torn down and 2 swimming pools were put in. Underprivileged children from the city were treated to a boat ride across the Delaware River daily so they could eat and play in a safe, fun environment. During the Great Depression over 8,000 families were fed at Soupy Island. In the 1930's, the original carousel broke down and was replaced with a new one. Around 1970, children started being bussed over to Soupy Island from Camden.
TODAY when you visit Soupy Island, it is still free to anyone who wants to come play. The carousel is still there, as is a giant covered slide (built in 1907), and the 2 pools. If you really wanna zoom down the slide, bring a piece of wax paper with you to sit on! There is also playground equipment, a soccer field, a basketball court, a pile o' tires to climb on and pavilions with picnic tables. They STILL serve soup, crackers, and milk for lunch, which is also free.
How is this possible?
A trust fund was set up years ago to keep the place going, and donations of soup come from Campbell's, of course!
Wanna go? Here are the details. It is not usually open to the public until just after 4th of July. In July and August they are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 - 3:00. I would suggest calling before you visit to make sure the hours/days haven't changed. Groups can reserve Soupy Island for picnics/parties for a small fee.
856-845-2430
Tri-State Hot Spots gives Soupy Island
3 out of 3 thumbs up!
3 out of 3 thumbs up!
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