Sandy Hook Opens its Entrance Gates

The roadways are rough, the Sea Gulls' Nest restaurant and beach stations are still closed, and the multi-use trail is covered in sand in a few parts. But look past that, and Sandy Hook is back, in all its natural glory.

People who came on the opening day to soak in the sun and smell the sea air arrived by bike, with kayaks, fishing poles and beach chairs. 

"The serenity, the scenery, the quiet, the view of the hills of Monmouth County," said Linda Ambruzs of the Locust section of Middletown, who was settled in on the bayside to spend the sunniest part of the day with her husband, Steve, dog Darla, and a cooler containing liverwurst-and-cheese and ham sandwiches. "It's just so pretty." 

From the unmanned entrance to the Fort Hancock area four miles away, Sandy Hook was dotted with people in motion at lunchtime Wednesday. There was a gaggle of cyclists, a man with a kayak on his truck, folks fishing, and a woman running on the sand-strewn shoulder of the road. 

A group of fourth graders on a school trip from Lanoka Harbor donned wading boots and pulled a seining net to see what they could find. With naturalists from the Sea Grant Consortium, they discovered curious shells, hermit crabs, pipefish, and teeny shrimp. Margaret Mitchelli, 9, was among the young scientists exploring the tidal pool. "The water is definitely cold," she said.

Not far away, Susan Fairgrieve took a moment on the water's edge. Still recovering from the death of her 42-year old husband, Scott Fairgrieve, just three months ago, she found herself hopping in his truck to go stand along the water in the quiet cove where he fished. "I know, today, that if my husband were alive he'd be taking the day off to be here," she said. 

Not far away, Mike Boyd of Chatham, a regular at Sandy Hook, casually hunted for sea glass along the lapping waves. "I don't know what I'll find, I guess I'll find out," he said, just happy to be back at his favorite haunts. 

Pattie Mathieson of Caldwell brought her daughter, a photography student, to capture spring on Sandy Hook's oceanside. She had a beach chair strapped to her back and intended to settle in at the beach and clear her mind. "It's a place where we can relax, unwind and also, we always say, detoxify." 

Going to Sandy Hook? Some things to know: 

Bring plastic bags for your garbage. 

Bike trails are clear in the Fort Hancock area, but interrupted by sand drifts in other parts.

Beach centers are scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend. While the sewage system undergoes repair, beach centers will use portable toilets.

Beach parking permits are on sale and cost $75, same as last season. 

Beach parking is free until Memorial Day weekend, when beach parking will again cost $15 per day.

Beaches B, Gunnison and North will be open to the public. North and Gunnison are lifeguard-protected beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day during the hours of 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Beach B is not lifeguard protected. Beaches C, D, and E will also be guarded during the summer season.

Electric, telephone, water and sewage services were all knocked out by storm. These services are largely, but not entirely, restored.

Food service is available, but it will be limited for the summer. According to the Sea Gulls' Nest webpage, the popular outdoor restaurant will likely not open this summer. The Sea Gulls' nest says Areas B, C, D (where Sea Gulls’ Nest is located) and E will have mobile food trucks and umbrella/chair rentals likely by July 1, 2013.

Ray’s Bike Rentals will be returning to Sandy Hook again this summer, however bikes will only be available for rent at Fort Hancock.

The Visitor Center at Spermaceti Cove was one of several buildings damaged by the hurricane and will remain closed at this time.