Fenwick Island State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fenwick Island State Park
Looking south at Fenwick Island State Park beach
Fenwick Island State Park Location in Delaware
Location	Sussex, Delaware, United States
Area	344 acres (139 ha)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Established	1966
Named for	Thomas Fenwick
Governing body	Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Website	Fenwick Island State Park

Fenwick Island State Park is a cool place to visit in Delaware. It's a state park that covers about 344 acres. You can find it between Ocean City, Maryland and South Bethany, Delaware in Sussex County.

The park is open all year, from 8:00 am until sunset. It started in 1966 as part of Delaware Seashore State Park. Later, in 1981, it became its own park and got its current name. Fenwick Island State Park is on a thin strip of land called Fenwick Island. This land sits between the big Atlantic Ocean and the smaller Little Assawoman Bay. Unlike the busy towns around it, this park is mostly natural and undeveloped.

Park History

How Fenwick Island Got Its Name

Fenwick Island is named after Thomas Fenwick. He was a planter who moved to the Thirteen Colonies from York, England. In 1682, he was given rights to this land by Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore was the second governor of the Province of Maryland.

Thomas Fenwick never actually lived on Fenwick Island. But he became an important person in Sussex County. He worked as a Justice of the Peace, a Sheriff, and a register of wills until he died in 1708.

Pirates and Legends

There are some old stories about Thomas Fenwick. One legend says he swam to Fenwick Island after pirates threw him overboard. Most historians don't think this story is true.

However, it's very likely that Fenwick's future son-in-law did swim ashore! His name was William Fassett. He was also thrown off a ship by pirates. After that, he married Fenwick's daughter, Mary. Then, he claimed the land of Fenwick Island for himself.

Land Disputes and Borders

For a long time, there was an argument about who owned Fenwick Island. The families of William Penn (who governed Province of Pennsylvania and Delaware Colony) and Cecil Calvert (who governed the Province of Maryland) both claimed the land.

This argument was finally settled in the 1750s. They drew a line called the Transpeninsular Line. This line marks the southern border of Delaware. It starts right on Fenwick Island, near the Fenwick Island Lighthouse.

Pirate Hideouts

While the governors were arguing about borders, pirates were using the harbors of Little Assawoman Bay. This bay is west of Fenwick Island State Park. It was a safe place for them to hide. For 100 years, these pirates attacked ships passing by. They used Cedar Island in the bay as their main base.

Why Fenwick Island Stayed Natural

Fenwick Island has mostly stayed undeveloped. This is because it's a very narrow piece of land, only about 3 miles wide. The dunes here are always moving, which made it hard to build homes or businesses. The town of Fenwick Island is just north of the Delaware/Maryland border.

Even though some people call Fenwick Island a "barrier island," it's not a true island. Maps show that the border between Maryland and Delaware below Fenwick Island is actually land. Ocean City, Maryland is at the southern tip of the same land where Fenwick Island is.

Becoming a State Park

In 1926, the land was given to the state of Delaware. During World War II, it was used for coastal defense. An old observation tower from that time is still standing at the park's northern end.

In 1966, the Delaware Highway Department handed over the land to the State Park Commission. Fenwick Island State Park was first the southern part of Delaware Seashore State Park. But in 1981, they became two separate parks. Today, Fenwick Island State Park is managed along with Holts Landing State Park, which is on Indian River Bay to the north.

Fun Activities at the Park

Beach at Fenwick Island State Park

Fenwick Island State Park has two different coastlines for visitors to enjoy. It borders both the Atlantic Ocean and Little Assawoman Bay.

Ocean Side Fun

The beach on the ocean side is great for many activities. You can go swimming, surfing, and surf fishing. Lifeguards watch over the beach from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The park has a modern bathhouse. It has showers, changing rooms, a gift shop, and a place to buy food. If you want to go surf fishing, you can drive your car onto the beach. You just need to buy a permit at the gift shop or from the offices at Delaware Seashore State Park.

Bay Side Adventures

The bay side of the park is perfect for other kinds of fun. You can go fishing, crabbing, clamming, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking.

If you want to try water sports, you can rent different types of boats. You can also get sailing lessons from a company across the bay at the Assawoman Wildlife Area.

Nearby State Parks

Here are some other state parks close to Fenwick Island State Park (within 30 miles or 48 kilometers):

• Assateague State Park (Maryland)
• Cape Henlopen State Park (Sussex County)
• Cape May Point State Park (New Jersey)
• Delaware Seashore State Park (Sussex County)
• Holts Landing State Park (Sussex County)
• Killens Pond State Park (Kent County)
• Trap Pond State Park (Sussex County)