Horseneck Beach State Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horseneck Beach State Reservation |
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Horseneck Beach in August 2015
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 Horseneck Beach State Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Westport, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 815 acres (330 ha) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Established | 1956 |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Horseneck Beach State Reservation |
Horseneck Beach State Reservation is a super popular spot for fun and relaxation! It's a big public area, over 800 acres, located right on the Atlantic Ocean in Westport, Massachusetts. This amazing reservation welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is looked after by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Contents
What Makes Horseneck Beach Special?
This reservation sits on a "peninsula," which is a piece of land almost surrounded by water. It sticks out from Westport's main land. To the southwest, you'll find Rhode Island Sound, and to the southeast, there's Buzzards Bay.
The reservation has about 2 miles of "barrier beach." This is a long, narrow island of sand that helps protect the mainland. You'll also find "marshland" (wet, grassy areas) and an "estuary habitat." An estuary is a special place where fresh water from rivers mixes with salty ocean water. Most of the marshland is in the northern part of the peninsula, near Horseneck Channel and The Let.
A cool part of the reservation is Gooseberry Neck, also called Gooseberry Island. It's connected to the main peninsula by a road called a "causeway." Gooseberry Neck is the southernmost tip of Horseneck Beach State Reservation. It helps separate Rhode Island Sound from Buzzards Bay.
A Look Back: History of the Beach
The name "Horseneck" might come from an old Algonquin word, hassanegk. This word means "a house made of stone."
People started building summer homes here after a bridge connected the beach to Westport Point in 1893. Sadly, two big hurricanes, one in 1938 and another in 1954, destroyed all the homes. After these storms, the state of Massachusetts bought Horseneck Beach in 1956. The nearby Gooseberry Neck was added to the state's land in 1957.
Fun Things to Do at Horseneck Beach
There are so many activities to enjoy at this state reservation:
- Fishing: Cast a line and try to catch some fish.
- Windsurfing: Ride the waves with a board and a sail.
- Boating: You can use both motorized and non-motorized boats, and there's a boat ramp.
- Trails: Go for a bike ride or a walk on the paths.
- Showers: Clean up after a day at the beach.
- Hunting: In designated areas during specific seasons.
- Bird Watching: Spot many different kinds of birds in their natural home.
The main beach area is on the southern side of the peninsula, next to Rhode Island Sound and Buzzards Bay. You'll find restrooms, a management office, and a food bar. Lifeguards are on duty in designated towers to keep everyone safe. There are also paved walkways for easy access.
If you love camping, there's a campground with 100 sites. It's located behind the sand dunes at Gooseberry Neck, on the eastern side of the reservation.
How to Get to Horseneck Beach
Getting to Horseneck Beach State Reservation is easy! You can reach it from the Bascule Bridge by taking Route 88. Route 88 is a road that branches off from Interstate 195. It's the main and most direct way to get to Horseneck.
Route 88 ends right on Horseneck, where John Reed Road begins. John Reed Road is the main road that goes through the reservation. It ends at East Beach Road on the eastern part of the peninsula.
Another way to get to Horseneck is by taking East Beach Road. You can reach this road via Horseneck Road, which is on the peninsula's connector. This area is near the border between the towns of Westport and Dartmouth.
Once you arrive, you can park in one of the several large parking lots. You'll go through toll gates to enter the parking areas.
