The Sherwood Chalet

In the 1920s, Sam and Anna Asarnow acquired a huge and lovely property in Somerset County, New Jersey, with the intention of using it as a summer vacation home for their family. Yes, you guessed it: this is the parcel of property that would subsequently be transformed into The Forest Lodge. Those who have visited in the past, and who still do so on occasion, are enthusiastic about the place's history. In addition to entertaining, the Asarnows liked inviting guests to come here for a day of leisure and entertainment. When friends had such a good time at the Lodge, they spread the word, and friends who came to visit quickly became friends of friends, and ultimately strangers began turning up to enjoy the grounds. By 1933, the grounds had grown in popularity to the point that the Asarnows felt it was only natural to begin collecting a $.25/person entry fee to the general public. This was the impetus for the establishment of a family-owned business that is still in operation today under the Forest Lodge brand name. It was the Esso Corporation (now Exxon Mobil) that hosted the first company picnic, which took place in the mid-1930s. The Asarnow family sold the property to Robert Evans in 1968, and Evans continued to operate the company until 1980, keeping the picnic grounds available to the public for a fee and diversifying services by converting the venue into a Country Rock Bar at night. Robert Evans died in 1980. The Forest Lodge property was bought by Charlie Alberto in 1980, and he has since worked to preserve the original concept of the Asarnow family by providing a location for guests to unwind and enjoy the fresh rural air. In addition, he revived the venue by modernizing the menus, amenities, and entertainment to meet the demands of the present and future generations of guests. The Alberto family took the choice to lock their doors to the public shortly after acquiring the firm from the previous owners. Guests arriving without a reservation were being turned away from their business functions, which were becoming increasingly popular. Aside from that, the Alberto family shuttered the Country Rock Bar in 1981 to build the Sherwood Chalet, which today serves as a venue for events ranging from weddings and bar mitzvahs to business meetings and seminars. Forest Lodge has grown from a picnic site to a Full Service Event Coordination company, specializing in all types of corporate events, including seminars, meetings, company picnics, team building events, morale boosters, and elegant outdoor events, in addition to the social events held in The Sherwood Chalet. Forest Lodge is owned and operated by the Alberto family. Aside from that, Forest Lodge acts as a first employment for many young individuals in the local region, with up to 150 part-time staff members working there. The management team consists of Charlie Alberto III, President, Vice President Linda A. Taylor, CMP, General Manager Brian Howard, and Sharon Pier, Assistant Events Manager. Other members of the management team include: As a team, we have decades of combined expertise that can help you make your event absolutely exceptional!