Walpack Inn for sale by family that has owned it for 75 years

The Walpack Inn, a staple of Sussex County's oldest and least populated municipality, is up for sale after 75 years under the same ownership.

The Heigis family announced the news on Facebook Friday, saying they were taking their "first steps toward retirement" with the planned sale. The restaurant has been in the family since 1949.

"We would like to thank our many friends and loyal patrons who have kept us going throughout the years, making the long trek to our beloved establishment. You are, truly, the best," the post read. "We hope you will join us for some great food, drinks and brown bread as we embark on our farewell tour."

Story continues below photo gallery of Walpack.

Lara Darco, daughter of owner Jim Heigis, told the New Jersey Herald Monday that the family does not have a timeline for selling the property and plans to stay open until a sale is finalized.

"We're committed to providing the same Walpack experience until then," she said.

Whether the next owner continues operating under the same name or starts a new business at the site, it will mark a new chapter for one of North Jersey's most unique, isolated and popular establishments.

Restaurant history

Jim Heigis was 12 years old in 1949, when his parents, Adam and Louise, bought the Walpack Inn from two families who had opened the restaurant four years earlier, according to the restaurant website . The inn sits on 40 acres of land on a road maintained by the National Park Service, roughly an 8-mile drive off Route 206.

Heigis became more involved in the business in the 1960s following his graduation from hotel and restaurant school. He built the restaurant's stone fireplace himself and oversaw several additions over the years, from the lower bar to the greenhouse dining room to the wildlife room paying tribute to his parents.

Open Friday through Sunday, the Walpack Inn has become famous for its prime rib special — offered at $37 Friday instead of the usual $47 — as well as its homemade brown bread. The restaurant is also known for its spectacular views and the wildlife it attracts on the land, as evidenced by its slogan: "We feed the deer, and people too!"

Walpack declining population

Today, Heigis is on the three-member Walpack Township Committee and is one of the few residents remaining in the municipality. The 2020 census listed Walpack's population at seven, though more recent reports indicated the number had increased to about 14.

The drop-off is the result of a failed mid-20th century project in which the federal government bought much of the land from homeowners to build a dam at nearby Tocks Island. The project never materialized, and the property was transferred to the National Park Service as the population continued to dwindle.

There were 384 people living in Walpack as of the 1970 census, according to the township Historical Society . The population dropped by more than half in each of the next two decades — falling to 150 in 1980 and 67 in 1990 — and continued dropping to 41 in 2000 and 16 in 2010.

Heigis was one of the few who stayed amid the dam project after convincing developers that it made more sense to keep the thriving Walpack Inn open than for them to buy it out, he explained in 2018 . The township today is mainly concentrated a half-mile from the restaurant on Main Street, which includes the post office and church along with a residence or two.

Walpack Inn future

While there is little information to share regarding the Walpack Inn's next steps at this time, the restaurant's Facebook post noted that it would keep the public updated on any developments in the coming weeks and months.

"It’s been a great ride," the post read. "We are forever grateful for all the ways you have supported our business over the years."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Walpack Inn for sale by family that has owned it for 75 years