Welcome to the Town of Chesapeake Beach

The Town of Chesapeake Beach began as the dream of developers of the late 19th century who planned a grand resort on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The State of Maryland granted a charter to the Washington and Chesapeake Beach Railway Company in 1891, and in 1894 the W&CBR was granted a charter to incorporate the Town of Chesapeake Beach. The grand schemes of the W&CBR were never to be implemented, however. A new company, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Company, took up the idea in 1896. This company completed the railway, and on June 9, 1900, the resort staged its grand opening. As the years progressed, the adjacent community of North Beach continued to develop as a neighboring cottage community.

From 1900 until 1930 Chesapeake Beach was a thriving independent community. People would mainly come for day trips by railway and steamboats like "The Dixie" and "The Dreamland." Only 28 miles from Washington, D.C., people with more leisure time would flock to Chesapeake Beach for the cool breezes and salt water. Overnight visitors could stay in the luxurious Belvedere Hotel overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. The resort consisted of a boardwalk over the water and a pleasant park and picnicking area on the nearby land. On the boardwalk, one could find a bandstand, performing bears, games of chance, a carousel, casino, theaters, and many restaurants.  A roller coaster, called "The Great Derby," was constructed over the boardwalk about 1900 and operated until the late 1920's.

Seaside Park opened in 1930 and all the amusements were moved to land. In the late 1940s the management of the Park once again changed and so did the name; the park would be known as Chesapeake Beach Amusement Park until it finally closed in 1972.

Today approximately 6,000 residents call the Town of Chesapeake Beach "home"; however, the Town still attracts visitors both nationally and internationally. Chesapeake Beach is known for fresh Chesapeake Bay seafood, such as Maryland Blue Crabs, Rockfkish, Blue Fish and Oysters, Kellam's field offering recreational athletic fields to the community, public boat ramps and water access, the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, local tackle shops and Charter Fishing. 

Welcome to the Town of Chesapeake Beach, we hope you will call this sweet Town "home" too.