Tidbits on the History of Echelon Mall/Town Center and Tilt Studio (Makes me want to raise my kilt)

Voorhees Town Center in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Looking for something to do on those cold and rainy days in South Jersey? Well, look no further! Tilt Studio is located in the Voorhees Town Center. Since not many folks frequent the mall any longer, this place avoids the crowd which The Yummygal loves!

The Tilt Studio makes me want to raise my kilt…..

The Voorhees Town Center was once called the Echelon Mall. It opened in 1970 and was built on an old air field called, Echelon for which it was aptly named.

In 1939, Jeanette and Rogers Smith purchased 150 acres for only $1,000 dollars. It contained a small farmhouse built-in the late 1800s. Their first hangar was the barn. The Smiths first used flares at night for the runway. Rogers made brakes from Jeanette’s aluminum kitchen bowls for his planes! The airfield was mostly used for crop-dusting of nearby farms and for recreational flying. It eventually held over twenty planes.

As per a Philadelphia Inquirer article in 1986, Jeanette and Rogers Smith also attempted to break the record for flying the most outside loops, their stunts sometimes frightening their friends. “My family used to say, ‘Rog and Jean are crazy, and they’re going to kill themselves,’ ” Jeanette said.

Tilt Studio at Voorhees Town Center.

Lets play with some balls!

Bowling balls that is!

The Smiths were a couple resembling a real-life Mr. and Mrs. Smith movie. The Echelon airport eventually grew to three unpaved runways, several hangars, a café and fuel station. Eventually, the Smith’s purchased an extra fifty acres. By the time the Airfield was sold it was over 200 acres.

After Jeanette’s husband, Rogers, died in a horrific and bizarre plane crash in 1950, she leased the land to a friend. In 1962, Jeanette sold the Echelon airport for $1,000 an acre to developers, who later built the Echelon Mall.

The developers were the Rouse Company. The company was founded by James Wilson Rouse. He was a pioneer of urban planning and real estate development. He lost both his parents when he was sixteen years old. The home he grew up in was being foreclosed on. He was determined to not let this stop him. He enrolled in college and faced many financial pitfalls in graduating. However, eventually he made it!

After graduating in 1937, he worked for the Federal Housing Commission. By 1939, he was a partner with Hunter Moss at a mortgage banking enterprise. It later was called, the Moss-Rouse Company, which would eventually become the Rouse Company.

After World War II, he became heavily interested in rehabilitating Baltimore. Rouse’s company fixed up many buildings and thus, started his empire. He purchased up many properties in the United States and started developing and planning malls. He was a pioneer in this effort.

Vintage Echelon Mall postcard.

No wait for the ride!

More games? Yes, please!

In 1970, the Echelon Mall opened to the public. It was the 2nd largest mall in South Jersey (Cherry Hill was the biggest at the time.) By 2000, the mall traffic declined. Its decline was due to the lack of direct route access. If you look at the Deptford, Cherry Hill and Moorestown Malls they all reside on somewhat busy highways; Cherry Hill and Moorestown have Route 38 and Deptford is right off of Route 42. The Voorhees Town Center is a bit out-of-the-way for most traveling. It requires driving on a few back roads to reach the Town Center.

Glow in-the-dark miniature golf.

In 2007, the Echelon Mall’s name changed to Voorhees Town Center. A few anchor stores were knocked down and condos and apartments put in its place. Developers also added a tree-lined outdoor mall. The Town Center is still struggling a bit to find its niche. Most days are pretty quiet. Which is what makes this place rock!! No crowd!

Tilt Studio opened its doors in 2011. The Yummygal arrived on a cold and wet winter day, which is next to the food court. Their accoutrements include; a restaurant, arcade games, rides, bowling alley and a glow-in-the dark miniature golf course. The kids had a great day and Yummygal did as well!

This place rocks and I highly recommend it if you want to stay warm and get out of the house. It will not break the bank. Just twenty buckaroos kept two kids entertained for two full hours!

My the mall is sooooo packed!

Tilt Studio is a great addition to the Voorhees Town Center.

Until our next adventure, my friends! ~ The Yummygal