At the end of Route 491 (Thoroughfare Neck Road) is Collins Beach. This was a popular summer resort in the 1870’s and a regular stop on the excursion route of the steam-powered side-wheelers serving Philadelphia and Wilmington. The great tidal wave of the 1878 hurricane destroyed the pier, buildings, roads, and the allure of the resort. Now there are three boat ramps, parking lots, and a short boardwalk through the marsh.

The same tidal wave that destroyed buildings and roads drastically altered the character of Cedar Swamp. Prior to the hurricane, Cedar Swamp was abundant with Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides). The tidal wave breached the barrier in four places, inundating the swamp with saltwater. The new saltwater environment brought about a change in the types of vegetation that grow there. The Cedar Swamp property is owned jointly by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and a private conservation agency.

This page last updated