Lakes Bay Preserve

27 Acres Egg Harbor Township Atlantic County

Down a sand and clamshell road, away from the bustle of nearby Atlantic City, there is a secluded stretch of beach and marsh that juts into Lakes Bay. This is the 27-acre Lakes Bay Preserve, a haven for both nature lovers and enthusiasts of water sports like windsurfing, board-sailing and kayaking.

The preserve contains a mix of saltwater marshes, bayberry thickets and sandy beaches strewn with sea lavender and the shells of mussels, clams and blue crabs. Seagulls and brown pelicans rest on wooden pilings, while wildlife like raccoons, muskrats and foxes make their homes in the marsh.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation saved the property from development in 1998 and now operates it, with the help of the non-profit Lakes Bay Recreation Association, as a nature preserve and launching point for non-motorized water sports. Lakes Bay point has been rated as one of the best windsurfing venues in the United States for its strong, steady winds.

In addition to being a great location for nature observation and water sports, Lakes Bay has a strong maritime history. The bay was named after Simon Lake, a Pleasantville native who invented the first submarine in 1894. The tip of Lakes Bay Preserve once housed the Ventnor Boat Works, which manufactured wooden cruisers and speedboats. All that remains of the old plant are a layer of bricks and stones, and some wooden pilings in the water.

For more information about the Lakes Bay Recreation Association, visit www.lakesbayrec.org.