Augustine Beach: One of Delaware's Earliest Resorts
Augustine Beach looking south In the 1800s, travel was difficult and expensive. For ordinary people in Philadelphia and Wilmington looking for a summertime getaway, their best option was to take a boat down the Delaware River to a riverside or bayside beach resort (see, for example, my blog posts on Collins Beach and Woodland Beach ). Many of these resorts had boardwalks, dance halls, and other amusements. Some had hotels. Augustine Beach, just south of Port Penn , was one of these beach resorts. The Augustine Beach Hotel was built around 1814, which makes it one of the oldest resorts on the river. A hundred bath houses were added in 1867, and the resort was most popular between 1870 and 1920. Vacationers reached it by taking a steamer from Philadelphia or Wilmington. Augustine Beach Hotel, now Augustine Inn Seafood & Chop House The beach, across the street from the hotel, is very clean and pleasant. Augustine Beach looking north The view is sadly marre...