The Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck, formerly known as the Sweetwater Casino, located in

Mullica Township, New Jersey Mullica Township is a township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,816, a decrease of 331 (−5.4%) from the 2010 census count of 6,147, which in turn reflec ...

on the

Mullica River The Mullica River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 river in southern New Jersey in the United States. The Mullica was once known as the ''Little Egg Ha ...

and established in 1927, is known for its riverside deck, catering, event hosting, local nightlife, as well as being a gathering place for families to spend meals for generations. Never a real

casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...

however, the Sweetwater was established by a local family as a restaurant in days before distance travel was common. The Sweetwater was destroyed by a fire on June 30, 2008, ignited by a lightning strike in the early morning hours. Plans to reestablish the Sweetwater had been mired in legal and logistical delays. Currently the site is used for local festivals and other outdoor gatherings. In 2016, the former Sweetwater Casino was purchased by locals Mike and Kimmie Iles. The Iles family began operating the property under a new name, the “Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck.” From 2016-2019, the property was described as “a glorified party tent” with a large bar underneath and about 50 picnic tables out on the lawn. Shortly after closing for the 2019 season, the Sweetwater crew began demolition and construction. The property now features two brand new, permanent structures. The smaller building is larger than the original tent to accommodate more people. The building also features multiple roll-up glass doors to merge the indoor and the outdoor dining areas. The larger building on the property houses the kitchen, offices and marina clubhouse. The second level of the building will be used as a large banquet facility, featuring views of the Mullica River.

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* Mullica Township, New Jersey Tourist attractions in Atlantic County, New Jersey 1927 establishments in New Jersey 2008 disestablishments in New Jersey Restaurants in New Jersey {{NewJersey-struct-stub