Delaware Has a Lost Town Most People Don’t Know About

Delaware's history is long and storied, and much of it gets passed over in our history classes. With so much to cover, it's easy to see why most people don't hear about major events in Delaware history until they do some digging on their own. A perfect example is below. While most of us remember the destruction from the Ash Wednesday Storm, a vast majority of locals may have no idea that the tiny community of Woodland Beach, Delaware, was once a major resort town before two turn-of-the-century storms took their toll.

The History Behind Woodland Beach’s Rise and Decline

Located in Kent County on the shores of Delaware Bay, Woodland Beach was once a top Delaware destination, and visitors flocked from all over to spend their summers at this seaside resort. Today, however, Woodland Beach is not exactly a population hub. So, what exactly happened to this once-booming seaside getaway?

The first blow to Woodland Beach occurred in 1878 when an October Hurricane leveled the town. Much of the Woodland Beach was washed away by an enormous tidal wave. Nearly ten feet of water rushed onshore, from Collins Beach to Bombay Hook, destroying everything in its path. Woodland Beach was not spared. Still, this beach community was a desirable location, and the area was rebuilt.

The town soon included a boardwalk, pavilion, amusements, and everything else needed to make it one of the top coastal resorts in Delaware. Now, observant readers may realize that the Woodland Beach of today is nothing like a local resort town. Sadly, nature took another swing in 1914. Woodland Beach's location made it a prime target for yet another storm. This winter nor'easter in 1914 truly finished off what the 1878 storm did not, and nearly every building in town was damaged or destroyed. Woodland Beach never quite recovered and remains a lost town in Delaware to this day.

Of course, these two storms are not the most famous to destroy the Delaware coastline. Sadly, that honor still belongs to the terrifying, deadly storm that struck Delaware in 1962. Fortunately, Delaware has plenty of natural beauty and beachy goodness to enjoy and make joyful family memories!

What You’ll Find When Visiting Woodland Beach Today

Today, Woodland Beach, Delaware, is best known as a fishing and crabbing spot and a photographer's paradise for its stunning sunrises, as well as for birding. This tiny unincorporated community is home to a handful of residents, a small beach, and a fishing pier that is the main reason visitors drive all the way out here. Anglers can catch a number of fish species, including catfish, striped bass, and bluefish.

But it's not just beach and fishing in this picturesque coastal area — it's also home to the 6,300-acre Woodland Beach State Wildlife Management Area. Here you'll find trails, including a boardwalk, catch-and-release ponds, a boat ramp, and more. Not only are hiking and fishing wonderful ways to spend a day here, but also biking and horseback riding.

What Makes Woodland Beach Feel Like a Lost Town

Most people who stroll the sand at Woodland Beach have no idea that they're standing on Delaware's lost town — a once mighty resort, reduced by two storms into a tiny fishing village that still, somehow, seems frozen in time. It's an out-of-the-way destination, a few miles from the larger town of Smyrna, but it feels worlds away from civilization, a lost town just waiting to be discovered.

The history of Woodland Beach, Delaware, isn't as widely known as that of some of our state's other historic towns. Have you ever heard of the Woodland Beach history? If you haven't yet visited this tiny, serene beach town along the Delaware coast, take a weekend getaway, spend the night at a vacation rental in nearby Smyrna, and see for yourself how wonderfully peaceful Woodland Beach truly is.

For quieter coastal destinations away from the crowds, check out the little-known beaches in Delaware, ideal for a relaxing summer escape.