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    Fort Delaware State Park

    4.5 (26 reviews)

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    Approaching island on the ferry.

    The dedicated people that are living history there, all of them, volunteering to preserve our history and the wetlands, are just the best.

    Jason U.

    I really enjoy visiting here, it has great history and it's interesting to learn about historical facts from the staff.

    Cannon launch demonstration
    Leena S.

    Fort Delaware is located on Pea Patch Island in Delaware. We boarded a ferry in Delaware City, which took about 5 minutes to transport us to the Island. (There is a ferry that leaves from the NJ side also.) Once on the Island, we took a short 1 minute tram ride to the fort. At the fort, you are free to wander on your own or participate in a guided tour or attend other activities on the Island. We spent a wonderful 2 hours wandering about, watching the introduction video, taking a guided tour, as well as watching the cannon launch demonstration. All this for the $12 cost of admission (includes ferry.) During the fall months, they hold live Ghost Hunts and Paranormal Events. Beware of the bugs and other creatures. I got stung badly by a wasp/hornet (not sure what it was) while sitting on the tram ride back. Fortunately, we were headed home to a nice cold ice pack. Interesting Tidbit: Pea Patch Island is said to have gotten its name from a boat loaded with peas that ran aground in mud shoal in the 1770s. The spilled peas sprouted and the vines got caught in the mud and the island grew. It first appeared on the map in 1794.

    Jenny B.

    So far not happy. Was told by the staff after we purchased tickets at $12 each to be here at 11:20 at the ferry for it to leave at 11:30. We got here at 11:20 and the ferry was pulling away. Super cool. They told us after the fact that they combined the 11 and 11:30 ferry's but left at 11:20 and not 11:30. What the heck??? Really messed up, especially when you're breastfeeding a newborn and have a toddler and everything needs to be scheduled. Now sitting here waiting for the 12 ferry. Hope it shows up. Note no food is available at the visitor center and the town only has one restaurant; so bring food and water. UPDATE: The 12:00 ferry left at 11:48. At 12:40 we came to the front to take the trolley back to the mainland for the 1pm ferry. It's now 1:07 and no trolley. This place is complete disorganized and poorly run. Won't ever be back and will not recommend it. Also there is zero staff around to see what's going on. Approximately 40+ people waiting. UPDATED AGAIN: The entire property is covered in geese feces. And other animals. There is no shade when you're waiting for the ferry. Ferry is small and doesn't hold many people. Just an awful experience.

    Steve H.

    $12, round trip, gets you a nice boat ride from either NJ or DE. The Fort is free, and impressive; you can just walk around on your own, or wait for the walking tour. (I go from the NJ side, so walking around Fort Mott is also fun, and free. Finns Point Cemetery, next to Ft. Mott, is also worth visiting) Occasionally you'll run into a re-enactor, playing the part as if they were back in 1864. Overall, they do a good job. The 'wife' in the Officer's Quarters today, was the same girl I saw there 2 years ago. She deserves an Oscar; Very entertaining! I could've listened to her all day. It's just a nice, inexpensive way to spend 2 or 3 hours. I've been 3x, and I'll go again.

    On dock of the island
    Shannon R.

    I went to the POW event weekend & they have a lot of civil war reenactors. If there is no events, there will be no reenactors. One part of the fort is for only bat tours. The rest of the fort you can walk around & you can use the stairs to get on the top. You can see the bay from the top. The fort do have cannons. There is picnic tables but you will have to take the trash with you. We paid $24 for the ferry for 2 people to go to the island. The ferry ride is around 10min from & to the island.

    Bea G.

    The reenactors at this site are very good and very friendly. They'll answer any questions you may have. The ferry ride over from Fort Mott was very pleasant and was a good part of the trip. They have programs available throughout the day that speak to specific historical aspects of the park and would be great for families or parents of younger children. We are history buffs, but found ourselves staying no longer than 90 minutes.

    Soldiers showing how to load & shoot muskets.
    Gwenyth F.

    I had an amazing time at Fort Delaware with my family. My cousins live in DE, so we made it a day trip with them. We happened to come on a Saturday during the Prisoners of War Weekend, meaning they had events planned throughout the day including demonstrations, tours, and reenactments. The actors were very interesting and informative, all while staying in character. They were stationed everywhere, giving us little glimpses on how it was to live in the fort from many different perspectives. They knew all the answers to my questions, and were helpful and nice. We also did many of the events available, and I'm glad we did. My favorite was probably the watching the reenactments, because you get a feel for how life was for the soldiers at the fort during the Civil War. I loved Hands-On with the Blacksmith too; you pay five dollars and get to create your own hook with the blacksmith to take home. It's a great experience, and I guess I can cross blacksmithing off my bucket list! Also, make sure you take the short walk to the barracks, because that's an essential part to the history of Fort Delaware. Everything was well done, and my entire family enjoyed every part of the visit. I'll be back soon to go on one of their ghost tours. I highly suggest going to Fort Delaware, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to absorb all the history inside its tall walls. You won't regret it.

    The blacksmith "Abraham"

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Clean. Fresh. Scenic. It's a lovely place and it's a must while being in the Delaware area

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    8 years ago

    Worth the price! You could spend hours there! Def do the bat tour.. very informative. Bring bug spray!!!

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Fort Delaware is a great place to visit for its beauty, its history, and its paranormal side too.

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    13 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Fort Delaware State Park

    You have to take a ferry from Delaware City to get to Pea Patch Island where the fort is located.

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    Kilgore Falls - The waterfall!

    Kilgore Falls

    4.0(41 reviews)
    45.4 mi

    Kilgore is a lovely place for an easy to moderate hiking trail. It's open daily but you need a…read morepermit on the weekends from Memorial day to Labor Day I believe. To get to the waterfall you have to walk a path that's about 10-15 minutes. You will have to climb over some rocks in the water in your travels, but once you get to the waterfall you will absolutely love it. *Please note* Wear comfortable shoes because there are some areas that could be potentially dangerous if you don't take your time.

    [Coronavirus review] This is a small site auxiliary to Rocks…read moreState Park. Notably, the parking lot requires an advance reservation on peak dates, and this policy has been expanded to cover more dates due to the pandemic lockdown pushing people to spend their days outdoors. The trail is a short loop to the falls. Great Falls this isn't, but it's significant enough to generate a nice spray. A rather upset-looking fish flopped down shallow water as I approached. Upstream of the falls was a challenge. Few fords were viable, perhaps owing to heavy rain, and signs suggesting the area was blocked off were ignored by expeditions looking for better crossings. I made it across the stream and back, but I did get a little wet. The scenery isn't worth a long drive on its own, but paired with the other local park sites, it makes for good viewing, and in particular this space with its parking limitations can't get too crowded.

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    Kilgore Falls
    Kilgore Falls
    Kilgore Falls

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    Fort Delaware State Park - hiking - Updated May 2026

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