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The 1940s brought on expansion in a different way.
With the declaration of war in 1941, Ft. Story,
on the north end of the oceanfront, doubled in size.
The U.S. Army moved in at Camp Pendleton,
south of the Boardwalk, and the Naval Air Station
at Oceana was built in 1943. German U-boats mined
the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay and declared war
on all shipping, military or commerce. Several ships
and tankers exploded with massive displays of fire
and smoke, all within sight of the Boardwalk. Even
though watch towers were built along the oceanfront
to observe any possible U-boat activities, residents
would witness the sinking of ships, within 4 miles
of the shoreline. After the war, the soldiers and
sailors stationed in the area retained fond memories
of the oceanfront resort town and began bringing
their families back to visit the "beach".
The "Fabulous Fifties" brought on
a boom that would define the character of the resort
city for many years to come. Erosion had damaged
the beaches, but in 1952 a commission found a way
to correct the situation by dredging sand from Rudee
Inlet onto the beach. A "million dollar beach"
was born! Virginia Beach became a tourist destination
to rival any along the east coast. The building boom
was on, and hotels and housing starts were at an
all time high. Infrastructure was keeping pace, with
new roads and public services added. The "city"
then built the Virginia Beach "Dome",
one of the first convention centers in the region.
The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 was the most
devastating storm to hit the area since 1933. While
not a hurricane, this northeaster merged with a second
storm and caused millions in damages with the second
highest recorded tidal elevation. The Ash Wednesday
Storm and the Hurricane of 1933 are the modern benchmarks
to which all current storms are compared. Nothing
has yet to rival these two storms in the resort area.
In 1963, the city of Virginia Beach, which was mainly
an oceanfront resort town, annexed Princess Anne
County and became what the city fathers claim to
be the largest resort city in the world. Virginia
Beach also became the largest city in Virginia, a
title it still holds to this day.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was completed
In 1964, providing a direct link for southeastern
Virginia to the major cities of the northeast. The
17.6–mile bridge-tunnel complex replaced a ferry
system that ran between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles,
Virginia. Thus, a two hour, one-way ferry ride became
a 20 minute road trip across the mouth of the Chesapeake
Bay. The bridge with its two tunnels was an engineering
marvel and included four man-made islands. The most
southern island has a restaurant, gift shop and a
free fishing pier that puts the angler exactly where
he wants to be – out where the fish are! Currently
the two lane span is being upgraded for the 21st
century with the construction of an additional two
lane bridge alongside the original crossing.
In 1965, the U.S. Department of the Interior
officially designated First Landing State Park
as a national landmark, forever protecting
its primeval forest, dunes and waterways from development.
With almost 3,000 acres, it's a hiker's paradise
with 28 miles of trails. Also known as First Landing
Seashore State Park, it is a natural habitat
with rolling wooded dunes, wildlife and hanging Spanish
moss.
The city continues to devote energy and resources
to maintaining its good reputation as a world-famous
resort city. In the past few years, money has been
directed into redesigning the oceanfront area into
a comfortable, attractive resort with a more cohesive
ambience. The work has paid off with the opening
of the Beach Street USA venue. The landscaping and
refurbishing is due to spread beyond the Boardwalk
and Atlantic Avenue onto Pacific Avenue, creating
a tourist district that has become an oasis for visitors
and local citizens alike. The city is diverse, with
the oceanfront as the major tourist draw, but each
corner of the Virginia Beach offering something for
everyone. Shopping centers and outlet centers abound
with great buys. For concerts and other cultural
activities, check out the Pavilion Convention
Center Complex, Beach Street USA's summer offerings
and the GTE Amphitheater. And don't forget
the museums and historic landmarks located throughout
the city. Opportunities for soccer, surfing, jet
skiing, sailing, fishing, golf and marathons will
keep the sports fan busy. Come share this seashore
with its rich history and exciting future. You'll
never run out of things to do at the Beach!
Reserve Early...while
your preferred accommodations are still available.
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