Baltimore Boulevard: The Road to Nowhere

Part of Baltimore Boulevard.

Assateague Island, a windswept barrier island in Maryland and Virginia, now a beautiful national park, was once targeted by developers in the 1950s for ambitious development plans. Developers wanted to transform this landscape into a sprawling resort destination complete with a central artery and a grid system of more minor roads connecting 9,000 structures. This central roadway was named Baltimore Boulevard, a paved roadway intended to run the island's length.

Developers aimed to create a significant resort town with hotels, restaurants, and amenities rivaling Atlantic City. Lot lines were drawn, and soon, investors purchased land and began constructing homes along the shores. Baltimore Boulevard itself started to take shape.

However, nature had other plans. In 1962, the dreams of a resort town ended when a significant storm hit Assateague Island, destroying Baltimore Boulevard and reversing ongoing construction projects. Developers discovered that Assateague was not suitable for such a massive development project.

In 1965, the U.S. government stepped in, recognizing the island's ecological significance, and established the Assateague Island National Seashore, protecting the island's dynamic ecosystem.

Baltimore Boulevard was abandoned, and nature reclaimed much of the area. Today, traces of Baltimore Boulevard still exist as cracked, overgrown paths leading nowhere that perhaps resemble dark volcanic rock from a distance—a contrast to the white-looking sands of the island.

The island, now largely untouched by human hands, is a sanctuary for wildlife, including the famous Assateague wild horses. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the island's unspoiled beaches, marshlands, and forests and appreciate the natural landscape that narrowly escaped destruction. DO NOT TOUCH THE HORSES! I mean, really, what is wrong with you?

Anyway, as you explore Assateague Island, you can see firsthand the stark contrast between what might have been a resort town and the preserved wilderness that now thrives. Let Assateague be a reminder of the importance of protecting these delicate ecosystems for future generations and a testament to the enduring beauty of nature left to flourish. Also, maybe don't build houses on sand. I read that somewhere.

Sources:

1. ”Part Of Assateague Island Was Poised To Be ‘Ocean City South’ When Ash Wednesday Storm Hit,” The Baltimore Sun, 2024.

2. ”The Becoming of the Seashore,” National Park Service, 2003.