Briny Breezes “The Best Location in the Nation”

By Lynn Thomas

Happy 50th Birthday, Briny Breezes!

Brief History of the beautiful, tropical and distinctive Briny Breezes

Briny Breezes 1958:
A 34-man Committee, headed by a 12-man team, organized the purchase of Briny Breezes Park. The purchase price was $1,500,000.00.

The purpose of the purchase was to insure the continued operation of the property as a trailer park. The Committee devised an action plan to assure that this purpose was met.

My father was part of that 1958 12-man team. In fact, my father was instrumental in forming the resident owned corporation that purchased the 42-acre ocean side park. It was my “Uncle” Bert Aiken (my grandfather’s best friend) who became the town’s first Mayor.

Briny Breezes Trailer Park was truly a paradise… one to return to year after year. A place to enjoy and cherish no matter the length of the stay.

Briny Breezes 2007:
82% of the Briny Breezes stockholders voted in favor of selling their park to Ocean Land Development for $510,000,000.00.

So, how could 82% of the stockholders vote to sell this Paradise of a Park?

And how do the other 18% feel about this decision to leave “The Best Location in the Nation”? How many feel the emotional pull of the park no longer being in existence?

With a closing target date in March of 2009, the purchase collapsed by August 2007.  However, there continue to be (rumors?) of additional suitors.

Briny Breezes 2008:
As Briny Breezes celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary in 2008, what will become of the Park?

Briny Breezes Trailer Park Memories: Timeline

• 1920′s. My grandparents escape the northern winters to what would become Briny Breezes Trailer Park.
• W.W.II. My father returns to Briny Breezes to heal from wartime injuries.
• Briny Breezes Winters in the 1940s, 1950s, early 1960s and 1970s.
• 1958. My father is instrumental in the purchase of the Park.
• Pre-1920-1970. My grandmother lived at the Park every winter until her death in 1970.
• View Briny Breezes Park timeline…

Briny Breezes brings back some of the most happy memories of my youth.
It was such a grand time. Our family would leave for Briny in early January and not return to New Jersey until Easter. We had so much time to play and explore and enjoy life. It was a wonderful time. All of our Briny neighbors were also on vacation and the relaxed atmosphere was precious and priceless.

The slogan “Best Location in the Nation” still holds true in heart and memory.

Yes, Briny Breezes was a wonderful place to spend my youth. I will always treasure the memories there.

And if you spent years — or just one vacation — there, you are invited to share your Briny Breezes memories here.

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