This is MY Jersey Shore

I don’t care what anyone says, Jersey Shore beaches are one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I took these pictures this weekend.

Island Beach State Park is a preserved barrier island that protects a number of natural shoreline and nearshore habitats. The park contains close to ten miles of sandy beach, an extensive shoreline along Barnegat Bay, dense maritime forests, rolling sand dunes, and tidal marshes.

In 1926 the land was purchased by the millionaire, Charles C. Phipps, a partner of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Phipps’ plan was to build an exclusive sea side resort with private homes for the mega rich. Three of which were built before the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression and Phipp’s death ended the project. Phipp’s original “beach house”, located in the Northern Natural Area is now the Governor’s “Mansion” but it is really just an above average size house.

The area “…became the Boro of Island Beach until World War II when the US Army and John Hopkins University used the area for experimental work in anti-aircraft rocketry. A supersonic ram-jet rocket made its first successful flight at Island Beach in June 1945.” In 1953 Island Beach was acquired by the State of New Jersey from the Phipps family, the Boro was dissolved in 1954 and the new state park was opened in 1959.

Recent estimates are that Island Beach has a property value in excess of Ten Billion Dollars!!