New Jersey has quite a few abandoned towns, but none offer the scenic views of Sea Breeze. The beautiful bayfront escape is accessible to the public and hosts haunting reminders of the past. Let’s explore the story behind the abandoned beach town of Sea Breeze, New Jersey, and how it became an eerie ghost town.
Sea Breeze, part of Fairfield Township in Cumberland County, was once a thriving resort town.
It gained popularity in the late 1880s when ferry service began between Sea Breeze and Philadelphia. Tourists flocked to the area and soon a hotel was built. The Warner Hotel, constructed in 1887, offered 40 rooms, a bar, bathing facilities, and recreational activities to guests. The community came together for clambakes and boat races until the hotel burned down in 1890.A second hotel was built just over a decade later - The Seabreeze Hotel. Guests could rent boats to take out on the Delaware Bay and, rumor has it, they could also enjoy a stiff drink...even during Prohibition. Like its predecessor, the hotel burned down in 1940.A popular tavern and several dozen summer homes could once be found in the area. The Sea Breeze Tavern, opened after Prohibition, operated exclusively as a bar until the 1940s when food was added. Though it started out as a small spot on a barge, this NJ tavern eventually grew into a thriving eatery.
Run by the family of the original owners until 1985, it was unfortunately destroyed by Hurricane Gloria.
Many homes in the area met the same fate, though quite a few remained. A sea wall was built to protect what was left but with little success.
As the years went on, homes were lost to floods, and fires and demolished by the EPA. In recent years, several private residents remained, along with abandoned properties.
Eventually, the residents decided to sell the properties to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) after there were many unsuccessful attempts to try to save the houses from further devastation.
Today, some of the land has been designated as a wildlife refuge, and though it has been ravaged by the elements over the years, many people still visit the gorgeous beach.
A dedicated few enjoy the spectacular sunsets, solitude, and opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing. Enjoy, but use caution. You're around 3 miles from any sort of civilization and the area is still prone to flooding.
If you should decide to visit Sea Breeze, remember to respect the area and obey "no trespassing" signs.
Isn't it a bit eerie to see a once thriving neighborhood now loaded with debris, with little more than the sound of waves crashing against the shore?
Here’s a short video filmed by YouTuber iGeneralist showing the devastation of the town of Sea Breeze, NJ, and how this ghost town in New Jersey now sits empty:
Have you had the opportunity to visit Sea Breeze, New Jersey? Or any other abandoned ghost towns near you? Share a story with us in the comments.
For more abandoned New Jersey places, check out this factory off the Turnpike. It is another reminder of how time does not stand still. If you happen to find yourself near Atlantic City, NJ, try the Banshees of the Boardwalk guided tour.
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