White Crystal Beach / Crystal Beach / Crystal Beach Manor
Remember going to the beaches of the Chesapeake Bay? Much has changed since the 1950s and 1960s. White Crystal Beach, the public beach, had a short boardwalk with a 22 cal. shooting gallery, games, concessions and a bath changing house. Crystal Beach Manor was considered to be private with rental beach cottages and private homes.
Today, the opposite occurred. White Crystal Beach is now private with entrance given only to members and their guest through an automatic iron gate. Crystal Beach Manor still has cottages and housing, just more so. Entrance to this beach is opened to the public with a charge for parking and swimming.
The drive down to the beaches changed a little, also. You still make the switch back turn at Hack Point onto Glebe Road after crossing the Bohemia River Bridge. Then, looking for the church to turn right onto Crystal Beach Road is where the road changes. It is now a wider road with shoulders, but a small portion of the old road still exists. After passing Cabin John Road and Buttonwood Beach Road, you approach the Crystal Beach Roads.
The photos below were taken on July 19, 2009. Click on each one to enlarge.
Intersection with the old |
The old Crystal Beach Road |
Crystal Beach Road sign |
White Crystal Beach Road sign |
Crystal Beach Manor |
Crystal Beach Fees |
Once public, White Crystal Beach is now a private beach |
Looking north from Crystal Beach, White Crystal Beach is beyond the pilings |
This fence protects White Crystal Beach |
Peering through the fence, this is White Crystal Beach where many from Wilmington once enjoyed the sand and the Bay |
A panoramic view of Crystal Beach Manor |
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Above 5 photos submitted by Charles Grugan |
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| Below are 8 Post Cards of Crystal Beach & Manor, 1940s, 1950s & 1960s | |
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