Our Town Revisited: Town of Dewey Beach
DELAWARE- continuing our trip down memory lane, were back at Dewey Beach, this time to look at the town.
Dewey Beach: 1999
Former anchor and reporter Kelly Rouse first took us there in 1999, had this to report: Our town Dewey beach was pounded with a series of nor’ Easters that took away tons of sand in February of 1998. In the summer of 1997, the shoreline underwent restoration to replace what Mother Nature had taken away. town officials said the beach was in great shape and should remain that way for another five years.
There were plenty of people enjoying the town’s sand and water this summer. Town manager Bill Rutherford said part of Dewey’s popularity comes from what they don’t have, like fewer restrictions.
“We don’t have a boardwalk, and we find that a lot of families prefer going to a resort where you can walk down the street and walk right out to the beach… We don’t have a boardwalk, and we find that a lot of families prefer going to a resort where you can walk down the street and walk right out to the beach.”
Dewey Beach: 2025
25 years later, the current town manager, tells us what this little town has turned into. “I think most people would say how Dewey Beach has gone from a quiet little town back in the 80s, into the 90s, it was more of a rowdy town. And now we’re settling back down into a nice family town.”
In Delaware, Dewey Beach is a nice place to live and visit. Town Manager Bill Zolper has lived here all his life, and says many people travel through this town- and when summer hits it can get hectic! “The last census that was done put it around 400 people year-round, and that was in 2018. But since covid, we think it’s more like 1000 people living here year-round… According to the Chamber of Commerce during the summer, on the weekends, in July we get over 23,000 people in town.”
There are many activities you can participate in here on the bay, like movies on the beach, jet-skiing, and kayaking. “We also have a very active night life, where you can come see live bands- but we also have a lot of family activities. We have bonfires on the beach; you can do them through the town.”
Zopler says what makes Dewey Beach so great is that there are a few things you can do here you can’t do at the other surrounding beaches like taking your dog on the beach, and water rafting.
He says the Hyatt Hotel has brought a lot of foot traffic to the area. Overall says this little town, has a lot to offer. “We have the ocean on one side. We have the Bay on the other, we have the best of both worlds.” For more information about the town and the various activities they have to offer, just visit their website.
