2010-06-12 - NY walkman walks in NJ

A few weeks ago (the week before Memorial Day) I was on vacation in Brigantine Beach. While there I managed to walk nearly every day. It was great for beach walks, especial to the north to the North Brigantine Wildlife Area. This wildlife area is part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. To the south, across an Absecon Inlet, is Atlantic City. I understand that Brigantine Beach is a bedroom community for many people who work in the Atlantic City Casinos. There is 24 hour bus service to Atlantic City. The fare was approx. $2.50.

The starting point for the walk is the Brigantine Inn. The Inn is a historic resort that was built in 1927. According to local lore the Inn was frequented by Al Jolson and Al Capone. I couldn't confirm this (using a casual internet search). However, there was a famous meeting of Mob Bosses in nearby Atlantic City in 1929 (2 years after the Inn was open). The Brigantine Inn has some historic memorabilia in their lobby. The hotel was build by the Brigantine Island Development Company in 1927. I included a photo of the Grand Opening program and an aerial view of the Inn (from 1929) in my slide show. The Grand Opening was presided by Ashbrook D. Snelbaker (who also owned a Monument Company in Woodstown, NJ). The program also mentions the Woodstown Fellowship Club. The great depression had a serious impact on the Brigantine Island Development Company. By 1940 ownership of the Brigantine Inn transferred to Father Devine, a somewhat flamboyant and controversial figure. Eventually ownership passed to a famous black business women, Sara Spenser Washington. Today the Brigantine Inn is a timeshare resort run by Celebrity Resorts.

The slide show was snapped one morning. The walk started at 7AM. I would guess that I walked for a half an hour before I ran across a couple of people walking south on the beach. For the next two hours I ran across a couple of dozen people at most. A few surfers, but mostly surf fisherman. At the Brigantine Inlet I looped back, until the sea wall. Then I returned by Brigantine Ave. On the way there is a small restaurant, Pirates Cove, that's great for breakfast (or lunch and dinner).

The walk outlined is over seven miles long. I also walked a shorter loop around a Lookout Platform in the Nature Preserve (3 1/2 miles). The slide show includes photos of both walks.

• Map My Walk - Brigantine Inlet
• Map My Walk - Nature Preserve Platform