NEW for 2023 Season!
“5 Tides” Restaurant and Retail Shop
- Join us in welcoming Assateague State Park’s new concessionaire, Assateague Outfitters, featuring an all new restaurant and retail shop “5 Tides”
- Hours of operation: Open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day Restaurant: 7am- 3pm Retail Shop & Grab-n-Go Food: 9am- 5pm Limited Offseason Hours
- Check out the delicious
new menu offering cooked to order breakfast and lunch, premium coffee, hand dipped ice cream, smoothies, snacks and more!
- Committed to a more sustainable environment we use compostable materials and limit food and product waste and packaging.
Why “5 Tides”?
Did you know that the
Great March Storm of 1962 led to an increased public awareness and started the movement to preserve Assateague Island? The nor’easter starting on March 5th bombarded the coast over five days devastating beaches and communities from North Carolina to New York. Prior to the storm, plans had been in place to build a private resort community on Assateague Island called “Ocean Beach”. By the early 1960’s, 5850 lots had been sold, although only 30 buildings were ever built, along with one paved road dubbed “Baltimore Boulevard”. The storm washed out most of the road and wiped out nearly all of the houses, and along with them, any further plans for development.
In 1964, the Citizens Committee for the Preservation of Assateague Island was formed to garner support for the establishment of Assateague Island as a National Seashore. And as part of the negotiations, Assateague State Park was established in 1965. Some development has happened over the years including the campgrounds and facilities that nearly 2 million visitors enjoy today, however Assateague Island remains largely undeveloped, providing visitors with access to natural and beautiful public lands.
