The beach communities of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park sit on a long stretch of barrier beach, now known as Barnegat Peninsula. The peninsula separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.
Prior to 1812, an inlet divided this strip of coastline from the mainland, creating a barrier island that was referred to as Nine Mile Beach, or Island Beach.
The first settlers to the area named it Park City, before it became Seaside Park. In 1881, the first train arrived in Seaside Park. Before long the rail line would extend north up the coast, to Ortley Beach. Lavallette, Chadwick, Bay Head, and Point Pleasant. Local fishermen and pound fisheries found the native waters to be plentiful, shipping much of their fresh catch to fish markets in New York City.
in 1898, a boardwalk was constructed in Seaside Heights. In 1915, a new merry-go-round and building opened along the beachfront. Amusement rides were added, and in 1932 casino pier opened, featuring a magnificent new Denzel-Loof carousel.
Toms River was growing, and in 1950 the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge was completed, carrying thousands of new visitors across Barnegat Bay. In 1953, Lucky Leo's opened on the boardwalk, followed by the Berkeley Sweet Shop. FunTown Pier opened in 1957, and by the 1960s clubs like the Chatterbox and Parrot Club were hosting top name acts.
South of Seaside Park, 10 miles of pristine beach was preserved and became Island Beach State Park in 1959, . By the 1970s and 80s, beach blankets, towels and umbrellas were lying end to end on Seaside's warm, summer sand.
In 2012, Superstorm Sandy devastated this stretch of coastline. Boardwalks, piers and amusements in Seaside Heights were torn apart. Despite the damage caused by the storm, the entire area continues to rebuild and thrive. Maintaining its place as one of the most popular summer destination on the Jersey Shore.
Some of the video footage courtesy of Joe Verderosa/Greenrose Media
Music Credits:
Blue Dot Sessions – Betty Dear
Bird Creek – Barton Springs
Track Tribe – Now I Know You
Bortex – Sun
Hiedlas – A New Day
Gary Wolk Productions – Baja Brass
Winter into Spring