Beach Haven

Beach Haven is a resort town and summer colony on Long Beach Island (LBI) in Ocean County, New Jersey, with a permanent population of about 1,200 (2019).

Understand
Beach Haven is a rather affluent community, although it is certainly more affordable than other places on LBI. Much like the beginnings of the town, a majority of the homes are summer homes. You may notice that there is an abundance of newly constructed homes in Beach Haven. This is due in part to Superstorm Sandy, which in late 2012 brought a historic storm surge, flooding, and damaging winds. The community has all but healed from the damage.

History
The area of what is now Beach Haven was a desolate, treeless barrier island. Using wooden canoes, Lenape natives harvested clams for food and gathered shells for trading and jewelry. Much later, colonists occasionally set up rudimentary fishing and whaling camps, and farmers let their cattle graze the sand dunes. A few small boarding houses were set up in the area to house wealthy sportsmen who visited with their families to hunt and fish. A small community began to form, which was aided by railroads reaching down to the mainland. Wealthy families from Philadelphia built summer cottages, many of which were inspired by Quaker architecture. Later, larger Victorian mansions were constructed. Because of the limited access to the island, the vast majority of these were summer residences, leaving the town mostly uninhabited in the off-season. Finally, in 1886, the Pennsylvania Railroad company constructed a railroad across Manahawkin Bay and down the island, connecting Beach Haven (and other early LBI communities) with the mainland for the first time. This led to a construction boom, and much of the town's notable historic buildings were completed. An automobile drawbridge was completed in 1914. A few years later, a storm wiped out the railroad, which ceased operation. Sadly, many of these buildings have been lost to history, destroyed in coastal storms or bulldozed. A notable example was the Engleside Hotel, which was one of the most decorative and beautiful Victorian hotels ever built, an icon for the community. It was razed during WWII. Beach Haven's Victorian architecture remains prominent within the Beach Haven Historic District, stretching across most of the town east of Bay Ave.

Orientation
Beach Haven is near the southern end of Long Beach Island. It is a small community, taking up 2 miles of the 18-mile-long island. The main shopping district is on Bay Avenue (CR 607). This is where you'll find most of the hustle and bustle. Bay Avenue divides Beach Haven into the "bay side" and "beach side." You'll hear locations described as on these two sides. On the bay side is the Beach Haven Historic District. On Atlantic Avenue there are a few beach resorts, hotels, and condominiums. The bay side of Beach Haven features three marinas and boat docks for fishing charters and private ventures, and some retail shops. Most of Beach Haven is a high-density suburban landscape.

Economy
Beach Haven, like most Jersey Shore towns, relies almost completely on tourism. Although not as prevalent as it used to be, the fishing industry is also an important part of the economy. Nearly all of the retail workers live off the island.

Climate
Beach Haven has a humid subtropical climate with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters, and year-around precipitation. During the summer months in Beach Haven, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values over 95 °F (35 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0 °F (-18 °C). The average seasonal (November-April) snowfall total is 12-18 inches (300-460 mm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Get in
Getting to Beach Haven is a simple process. Coming from Route 72, cross over the causeway and once on the island, make a right (South) on Long Beach Blvd. Beach Haven is 3–5 miles down the road.

You can get to Route 72 via the Garden State Parkway or Route 9. You can also follow it in from Four Mile Circle in Pemberton.

Another option is to take the pedestrian-only Beach Haven Ferry, which departs from Tuckerton Seaport on the mainland. It's perfect for day trips.

Get around
Most people get around by car, bike or walking. Public transport is not widely used here, but the LBI Shuttle wave-down service runs 18 miles along the entire island, charging a small fee. Many use Uber or Lyft ride-hailing services as well. Be advised that Beach Haven's roads become rather busy each Saturday and Sunday as these are the changeover days for vacation rentals. Beach Haven is small enough that you can walk to and from most destinations in under 20 minutes, or less than 10 minutes by bike.

Beach Haven doesn't have a gas station, but there is one just north in Spray Beach.

Beach Haven provides ample biking infrastructure like racks and bike lanes. If you are under 18, by law you must wear a bike helmet, but this rule is not well enforced. It's always smart to stay safe, though! Beach Haven roads can be quite chaotic at times. Don't have a bike? No worries. The Boardwalk, a bike rental shop with an ice cream parlor and beach store attached, is located at 2306 S Bay Ave, at the southern end of Beach Haven.

If you have disabilities, the town provides free beach wheelchairs at the Centre Street Beach Pavillion, which can also be delivered to where you're staying.

Sleep

 * There are many privately-owned vacation rentals available. However, most of their listings require a minimum week's stay. Consider also checking other vacation rental sites such as Vrbo and Airbnb.