Over the last couple of seasons, Cape Charles Beach has been shrinking. Some of it due to erosion, another part due to increased dune encroachment. The town has done little in the way of beach replenishment, and the Wetlands and “Dune” Board seem to be enjoying more dune and less beach.
Mr. Lockwood is one of the few left around here that actually gets it. In previous conversations, he told the Mirror that he felt the beach was the town’s crown jewel, “Look, this is why people come here, why families come here. It’s for the beach…if we maintain it, and continue to make it enjoyable, it will only get better, and everything else will follow…businesses will continue to thrive, the harbor will benefit, and tax revenue will continue to increase…”
Maintaining and rejuvenating the beach for the summer visitors has fallen on the shoulders of John Lockwood and his Public Works Department.
Public Works rented a bulldozer and loader, and during low tide, used the equipment to move sand from the south end of the beach to the north. The north end has been hit hardest by erosion.
Lockwood’s crew was able to stretch and widen the north beach by approximately 75 feet and the level was raised 3 feet. This will give the tourist crowds a little more room to enjoy the beach.
“We didn’t get much of a tan, but we moved a lot of sand” – John Lockwood.
Herbert Edwards says
Keep up the great work Mr. Lockwood! 👍
Thank you for the efforts of the Town’s Public Works Dept. under your leadership.
Grumpy Old Man says
This will give the tourist crowds a little more room to enjoy the beach. This sentence should be followed by “ and with more room we can allow residents to use the beach occasionally” currently they are not allowed to take space away from summer people.
Slide Easy says
Wasn’t this the same careless outfit that broke your precious concrete dolphin? I do not think they even made the individual pay for his carelessness.
Melissa Mears says
Did the dolphin get replaced? We definitely need more statues at the beach and whatever happened to the volleyball tournament? We need our things back at the beach alot of history n memories bring back our hometown beach
Note: The dolphin was repaired and re-painted. We believe it is in between Madison and Monroe??…in the grass.
Douglas Luther says
What a joke the town of Cape Charles has become! The beach IS the jewel of Cape Charles! It has been neglected for a long time. Doesn’t the town realize, that when the quality of the beach is ruin, the only thing left are the over price houses!
This crew that moved the sand last summer is the same crew that destroyed the wooden structures! Good job! (Nice pic of the structures from the past)
Everything for the tourist, remember when the Army Corp of Engineers wanted to dump sand on the beach. You know to extended the Channel for more “boat tourist”? Yea, the town council wanted the same sand dumped on a private beach. You know, didn’t want to disturb the tourist in town. They wanted to boost real estate sales in the private community.
I know it is hard to believe, but that beach that has been neglected, is man-made. It requires maintenance.
Sorry to vent, but I remember a time, when that beach was enjoyable. Now RVs park their riggs taking up valuable beach parking and the golf carts. Well, golf carts are allow to park anywhere there’s a spot. Whether it’s in the median strips or on the entrance to the beach.
The town will become another tourist trap. Business will close after the kids go back to school and the home owners, that stay year around will be left with a ghost town until next summer.
Cape Charles will now be competing with Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach, Virginia Beach and Nags Head. Oh wait, those other locations have a beach! Now to you see the importance of the beach?
Brand says
“Cape Charles will now be competing with Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach, Virginia Beach and Nags Head”
LET”S HOPE NOT..!
Brand says
LET”S HOPE NOT..!
Paul Plante says
Cape Charles is giving Wildwood a run for its money, as well!
Grumpy Old Man says
I have been secretly lobbying in Richmond to allow Cape Charles to establish a gambling casino. I have to report, I’m recieving a warm response. If the license is granted, I will be looking for investors
Grumpy Old Man says
I’m receiving a warm response but I have a receding hairline
Brand says
Again…..LET”S HOPE NOT..!
Brand says
Again…LET”S HOPE NOT..!
Paul Plante says
Cape Charles needs a HUGE amusement park to draw in the kids, who bring their parents along with them, which means Cape Charles also needs a long boardwalk and a slew of casinos, maybe some sidewheeler gambling boats as well, elsewise, it is going to become a cultural backwater in the grand scheme of things.
Grumpy Old Man says
This is the most intelligent and insightful post I have seen in the Mirror
I would only add strip clubs to the list
Paul Plante says
If that is the case, they should go whole-hog and make it a full service economy by including some “leather bars” like Nancy Pelosi has out in San Francisco to accommodate the needs of the liberals out there who need some domination in their lives.