The typical view of the New Jersey Coast: a shoreline of seemingly continuous concrete and man made structures marching on as far as the eye can see. Have you ever wondered what the Jersey shore looked like before develop­ment? There is a place where you can still see it the way nature cre­ated it.

Despite the premium placed on ocean front real estate, and the likelihood that any such real estate would be developed, a beautiful example of an untouched barrier island still exists on the NJ coast. Due to an interesting history and a plenty of good fortune, we still have 10 miles of essentially untouched shoreline to enjoy. It’s known as Island Beach State Park.

Prickly Pear Cactus dots the landscape among 30-foot tall sand dunes. Native vegetation provides habitat for a large diversity of wildlife. It’s the home of the largest Osprey rookery in NJ. It’s a Mecca for surf fisherman. Among its other charms, it’s also one of the few places where you can drive your 4x4 vehicle on the beach.*

A Little History

Island Beach has a colorful history. It’s been the home of Lenape Indians, pirates, fisherman, shipwrecks, and was even the site of the first successful “Ram-Jet” rocket flight in 1945.

The fact that what is now Island Beach State Park is in its current unde­veloped state is mainly due to the stock market crash of 1929. The owner at the time, one Henry C. Phipps, purchased the land in 1926 with the intention of developing it into a high-end shore resort. Only 3 homes were built before the crash, which brought construction to a halt. Phipp’s died in 1931 and the project died with him.

The state of New Jersey bought the land (about 2700 acres) in 1953 with the inten­tion of preserving it. The park officially opened to the public in 1959.

The Park Today

Today the park is a place where you can experience the Jersey shore in a unique way. Every season has some­thing different to offer, so don’t just limit yourself to the busy summer months. There are sev­eral wildlife observation blinds, where you can see wading birds, foxes and birds of prey such as Northern Harriers and Ospreys. There are many trails that wind through the wetlands where you may get a glimpse of the declin­ing Diamondback Terrapin turtle.

One of the most interesting aspects of the park is the dunes. They’re covered with unique vegetation such as Prickly Pear Cactus and Beach Heather, as well as mature trees twisted by wind and weather.

If the beach is your thing, there are several swimming beaches set up with bathroom facilities and lifeguards in season, but parking is limited there, so it’s a good idea to come early during the busy summer weekends.

You’d be hard pressed to find better surf fish­ing anywhere in the northeast. Coupled with the often hard to find opportunity for relative soli­tude, it’s no wonder that Island Beach is considered by many to be a fisherman’s paradise.

There is a canoe launch that gives access to nearby Sedge Island wildlife management area, the sight of the osprey rook­ery as well as many other wildlife viewing opportu­nities. Guided tours are available 3 times a week and the park furnishes all equipment.

All in all Island Beach State Park is a place that everyone should experience. It’s a real eye opener to see what the Jersey Coast looked like hundreds of years ago in its natural state. With development constantly changing our landscape, it serves as a reminder of the importance of setting aside land to preserve as part of our natural heritage.

www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html