West Orange is located at the peak of the Watchung Mountains. This vantage point over the valleys east to Manhattan - had a strategic value for Lenni Lenape warriors, and later George Washington's troops during the American Revolution. The wooded South Mountain Reservation has rocks shaped like the backs of large turtles. The area is now known as Turtle Back Rock Picnic Area and gives its name to the Turtle Back Zoo. The Turtle Back Rocks were considered sacred to the Native Americans.