WELCOME TO THE TOWN OF CHESAPEAKE BEACH
The
Town of Chesapeake Beach began as the dream of developers of the
late 19th century who planned a grand resort on the shores of the
Chesapeake Bay. Otto Mears, a Russian immigrant and railroad
tycoon, moved east from Colorado in 1895 with a vision to build a
resort on the Chesapeake Bay and a railroad linking it to
Washington, D.C. The vision became reality on June 9, 1900, when
thousands of excursionists disembarked from the train at Chesapeake
Beach station and were saluted by a uniformed brass band at full
volume.
In
the early years, the fare for the round trip train ride from
District Line station at the eastern corner of Washington to
Chesapeake Beach was 50 cents. Express trains took about 60 minutes
to make the trip; “locals” took about 90 minutes. At
the resort, there was a mile of boardwalk lined with concession
stands and amusement booths. Other attractions included a carousel
complete with Wurlitzer organ, a roller coaster, a band shell,
various other “popular entertainments,” and dancing in
the pavilion to the music of J. Worthington Krunkley’s
orchestra. But the greatest attraction was the water of the
Chesapeake Bay, where hundreds of bathers took the plunge every
day.
From 1900 until 1930 Chesapeake Beach was a
thriving independent community. People would mainly come for day
trips by railway and steamboats like "The Dixie" and "The
Dreamland." Extending out into the Bay was a long pier that
visitors used for strolling, fishing, and crabbing. Steamboats
carrying excursionists from Baltimore docked at the end of the
pier. Only 28 miles from Washington, D.C., people with more leisure
time would flock to Chesapeake Beach for the cool breezes and salt
water.
Overnight visitors could stay in the luxurious Belvedere Hotel,
which was built about 1900. It was located on the north side of
17th Street overlooking the bay before it was destroyed by a fire
on March 30, 1923. The resort consisted of a boardwalk over the
water and a pleasant park and picnicking area on the nearby land.
On the boardwalk, one could find a bandstand, performing bears,
games of chance, a carousel, casino, theaters, and many
restaurants. A roller coaster, called "The Great Derby," was
constructed over the boardwalk about 1900 and operated until the
late 1920's.
Seaside Park opened in 1930 and all the amusements
were moved to land. In 1933, a hurricane irreparably damaged the
resort’s facilities. On April 15, 1935, the last train left
Chesapeake Beach. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Company shut down,
and the rails were torn up. In the late 1940s the management of the
park once again changed and so did the name; the park would be
known as Chesapeake Beach Amusement Park until it finally closed in
1972.
The
town of Chesapeake Beach was left behind, but it survived. Charter
fishing gained popularity. In 1946, a group of entrepreneurs
refurbished the amusement park and added a salt water pool. In
1948, slot machines were legalized in Southern Maryland, and
business boomed. Remnants of the old resort are still visible
today. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Station on Mears Avenue, for
example, has been renovated to house the Chesapeake Beach Railway
Museum.
In
the summer of 1995, the town opened the Chesapeake Beach Water
Park, complete with water slides and a hydraulically controlled
flowing river. The Northeast Community Center has been built to
provide regional recreation and meeting facilities. The faces have
changed and buildings have been rearranged, but Chesapeake Beach is
still a pleasant home for its residents and a welcome sight to
visitors arriving by car or boat.
The
neighboring towns of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach grew up
together in conjunction with the resort. Both towns supported
popular bayside activities and entertainment. For many years the
fire hall for both communities was located in North Beach while the
public school was in Chesapeake Beach. Seasonal and year-round
homes were built in both communities, and the population of the
area grew.
This MML cache will lead you to Bay Front Park,
locally known as Brownies Beach. This beautiful little park lies at
the northernmost tip of the famous Calvert Cliffs and is a fossil
hunter's paradise.
After locating the cache, return to the paved trail and make
your way to the beautiful beach area. There are plenty of fossils
awaiting discovery! Enjoy your time at the beach but please
DO NOT DIG, CLIMB OR WALK ON THE
CLIFFS!!
Thanks to Calvertcachers for helping with the original MML
hide!
