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Tent City on Wildwoods Beach
Russ Strittmatter, Board Member
Every year, the Boy Scouts of America head to the Wildwood beach to do their thing in tents on the sand.
This is nothing new, as the Wildwoods have had two tent cities in its history. The earliest Tent City was erected in the mid 1920’s, located on 15th avenue at the beach in North Wildwood. Realtor Charles W. Burn, with a year-round office in Millville, had an idea. This led to the creation of the first Tent City. For $25 per week, a renter received a tent bungalow. The tent could sleep four or six people on cots with a wooden floor. Dishes, silverware, blankets, and towels were all included. Mr. Burn claimed he was not in the business for the money. Rather, Burn wanted his lessees to become acquainted with all North Wildwood offered. He said, “Don’t Delay. You can buy a beautiful lot of sand at a sacrifice price. A healthy vacation awaits you!”
Within the Tent City of North Wildwood existed numerous amenities for renters. A Tent City restaurant located on the premises delivered a special dinner for only 35 cents. Other amenities included horseback riding, the famous boardwalk, sun, sand, ocean, and an escape from the heat and humidity of Philadelphia.
Sadly, in August of 1927 a hurricane destroyed North Wildwood’s Tent City, causing owner Charles W. Burns to go out of business. But like the mythological phoenix, Tent City re-emerged from 1939 to 1953. This Tent City was located in Wildwood Crest near the jetty just below Diamond Beach. More than 100 tents covered the beach during these years.
In June of 2023, Wildwood Historical Society board member Russ Strittmatter interviewed Sandra Moyer from Makungie, PA. Together they discussed Sandra’s time spent in the Tent City of Wildwood Crest. Here is some of what she had to say about the tents used by renters: “The tents were World War II army surplus tents. The tents were transported from Quakertown, PA to the Wildwoods in a stake body truck that looked like a truck with a wooden coral around the body of the truck.”
Sandra stayed in the Crest Tent City from 1947 to 1952. Her family transported their own wood floor all the way from Pennsylvania. They would sleep on army cots and use a stove for heat. Electricity and refrigeration was available, and light was by a kerosene lamp and flashlights. The renters had to purchase a $2 beach permit to secure their stay.
Cooking was provided to Sandra’s family, and spam and canned foods were often served. A dinner treat for Wildwood Crest Tent City renters was fresh fish, caught that day from the surf fishermen. Striper, flounder, weakfish, and blue crabs were abundant. Dessert was hand picked blackberries baked into a pie. Renters washed with heated saltwater. Freshwater came from a nearby artesian well located on two mile island, which had to be carried to tent city.
Kids activities included building sand castles, ocean wave frolicking, and bonfires to roast potatoes and marshmallows. The Boardwalk was the Boardwalk. The Strand Theater provided movies, and swimming daily in the Sportland Pier pool was a must.
The negative side of Tent City living included mosquitoes, green heads, mice, poison ivy foliage, blowing sand, and rain, rain, and more rain.
The Crest Tent City came to an end around 1952. The WIldwood Crest Civic Club complained to the Board of Health and the United States Coast Guard. They argued there were improper toilet facilities and fresh drinking water. The construction of new Wildwood Crest motels was the final blow to Tent City. The federal government took over the land to promote wildlife. It is now known as the Coast Guard Wildlife Preserve.
If you have a Tent City story you would like to share, visit the Wildwood Historical Society located at 3907 Pacific Ave, Wildwood, NJ 08260. Please stop in between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M. Monday thru Saturday. You can visit wildwoodhistoricalmuseum.com to plan a visit!
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