“Two Waters Became One…And So Did Peapack and Gladstone”
“Marriage of the Waters”
Long before Peapack became a village, the Lenape named this place for what they saw and felt in the land: two waterways meeting and
becoming one. The Peapack Brook flows down from the hills and joins the North Branch of the Raritan River right at the heart of the settlement. To the Lenape, rivers were living beings, and the points where they joined were more than geographic features. It was a union, a natural partnership, a moment where two forces blended their strength. The phrase “marriage of the waters” is a poetic translation of that idea, a name rooted in observation, respect, and the belief that the landscape itself tells a story. That natural union set the tone for everything that followed. Peapack grew as a mill village powered by those same waters.
Gladstone: “Global Spirit, Local Heart”
At the same time, Gladstone, named in an unexpectedly worldly gesture after British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, developed its own distinct character along the rail line. Naming towns after admired European figures was surprisingly common in the 19th century. It added a sense of sophistication and worldliness. While the village was being established, they needed a post office in the 1890s, exactly when William Ewart Gladstone was one of the most famous political figures in the world. 
He served several times as British Prime Minister between 1868 and 1894 and was constantly in the newspapers, widely respected in the United States for his intellect, reform work, and oratory. He had no personal relationship with the village founders, but the naming reflected a mix of admiration, timing, and a desire for prestige. This was especially appealing in a region that was beginning to attract wealthy New Yorkers building country estates.
“Where Nature Inspires Community”
Peapack-Gladstone was incorporated as a borough on March 28, 1912, from two villages of Bedminster Township. When these two communities formally joined, they mirrored the landscape’s original symbolism: two separate identities becoming one. It’s one of those rare moments where geography, Indigenous naming, and civic history align perfectly. The borough soon became a countryside retreat for New Yorkers seeking rolling hills, stone walls, and grand estates, including the iconic Natirar, once owned by the King of Morocco.
For sellers, the twin‑village structure becomes a powerful advantage. It allows every home to be positioned not just within a borough, but within a story: The mill‑side warmth of Peapack or the rail‑side refinement of Gladstone. It’s a dual identity that adds depth, desirability, and a sense of place, standing out in the Somerset Hills.
Natirar on the Raritan
Natirar is the most extraordinary estate in Peapack-Gladstone. It is the 1,000‑acre estate, whose Tudor mansion and rolling fields were purchased in 1983 by King Hassan II of Morocco as a private royal retreat. Original Owners Kate and Walter Foster, wealthy New Yorkers, in the early 20th century, wanted the property to be more than just a house; they envisioned a self-contained, scenic retreat with gardens and orchards, rolling meadows and pastures, horse stables and riding trails, and access to the Raritan River for leisure and beauty. Instead of calling it “Raritan Estate,” they chose “Natirar”, Raritan read backward. This gave the estate a distinctive, sophisticated identity and sounded better than just calling it Raritan Estate.
Ownership of the King of Morocco added an unexpected layer of global prestige to the region, a reminder that these quiet hills have long attracted people who value privacy, beauty, and significance.
“Natirar was selected for King Hassan II by his diplomatic and security advisors because the Somerset Hills offered total privacy, natural protection, and proximity to New York City. Most estates near NYC are visible from a road. Natirar is hidden in the folds of the hills. You can drive past it and never know a royal estate is there. Natirar is about an hour from Manhattan, but worlds away in terms of quiet and safety. When a monarch’s security team chooses a place, it tells you everything about the quality of the landscape.”
It’s subtle, elegant, and powerful.
“The Peapack–Gladstone Advantage: Then, Now, and Always”
Today, Peapack–Gladstone blends equestrian culture, preserved farmland, walkable village streets, and discreet luxury. Homes here aren’t just properties — they are part of a landscape with depth, story, and enduring value. The Somerset Hills have always attracted people who want privacy, land, elegance, proximity to NYC, and no need to show off.
