Prior to 1775, the property was originally part of Hart’s lands, an early land grant. Sometime after the Revolutionary War (1776-1783) a tavern and hotel were built at “Thorn Point”, near the original Cedar Creek Outlet and the Mispillion Harbor. It became a local landmark for vessels trading along the Delaware Bay coastline. It was noted on Beer’s 1868 Atlas as a landmark, circled in purple below.

The hotel was also part of an Orphan’s Court map in 1883 to define the surrounding area. It is noted that the Thorn Point tract is 9 acres, and includes the following description: “Stone in the road. Beginning of deed for Thorn Point and said herein to be corner for Bald Eagle.” The area outlining the hotel is in red in the map below.

The hotel was operational for approximately 150 yrs into the early 1900s. It was a regular steamboat stop during Prohibition (1920-1933). In its later years this was a thriving resort and hotel with 40 rooms, famous for its fine shore dinners. Mud deposits due to the jetty, and the encroachment of the sea caused the closing of the originally wide bathing beach. The development of the town of Slaughter Beach in around 1922, two miles south, caused it to lose popularity and it fell into disrepair.  It was destroyed for the third and final time by another fire in 1932.

Pix below: Then and Now:

Cedar Beach Hotel at Thorn Point, c. 1900

View of the location on what is now Beach Plum Drive.

Information compiled by Diane McFaul Hindman.