Bethany Beach, Delaware, is home to many antiquated buildings and houses that have served multiple purposes throughout the town’s early history. While some have since been demolished, a surprising number have remained preserved and well intact, even to this day.
The Town of Bethany Beach has compiled a well-composed Heritage Trail guide for anyone looking to tour the town on a self-paced, independent journey through the past. More than a dozen featured stops are listed, each one presenting a personalized account of fun facts and tidbits into its uniquely specific significance. There are also callouts to four sites that are no longer standing, but featured just the same.
For this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m taking you along the Bethany Beach Heritage Trail, highlighting each stop along the way as presented.
A Brief Background of Bethany Beach
Before diving into the tour stops, it’s worth mentioning a bit of background surrounding Bethany Beach’s founding. The town was incorporated in 1901, although the story of the land and early settlers goes back even further.
The original intent for the town wasn’t even to create a town at all. Its founders, who were members of the Disciples of Christ, were seeking to establish a seaside summertime location to be utilized annually as a retreat for Christian churches throughout the nation. It would be a “Haven of Rest”—a phrase that would later be designated the town’s motto.
As for the official naming of Bethany Beach, that was the result of a nationwide contest. The winner, one H.L. Atkinson, was even gifted a lot at the newly formed Bethany Beach as the ultimate contest prize.
It was in 1902 that six businessmen who were originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, moved to Bethany Beach, having bought out the Bethany Beach Improvement Company. They were W.R. Errett, W.S. Kidd, Dr. T.E. Cramblet, John Addy, R.S. Latimer, and W.A. Dinker. Many of the historic homes featured on the Heritage Trail were built to house these men and their families. At the time, the community was so small that family homes were distinguishable by names rather than house numbers (which came later and now apply to the featured homes).
Townsend House
The very first stop on the Heritage Trail will lead you to the Townsend House. As the name suggests, it was built by Priney Townsend sometime during the 1920s. Three decades later, in 1950, the house was turned 180 degrees from its original position, and a full-length deck was added on the ocean side.
You can find the Townsend House located at 98 Parkwood Street.
Scott House
Up next is the uniquely named “Sco-Hi-Tay” House. The home is credited with having been built by the three Scott sisters— Anne Scott, Belle Scott Heiber, and Maize Scott Taylor in 1928.
The Scott House stands at 99 Parkwood Street.
Journey’s End
The third stop on the list will bring you to a family home that’s worn many different hats. Originally built in 1927 by Bess Christian, the house underwent expansions during the 1930s when it served as a boarding house. During the World War II era, the house was used as a headquarters for the U.S. Army Signal Corpsmen. At the time, it was affectionately dubbed “Fort Maggie” by the soldiers in tribute to proprietor Margaret Hughes, sister to Bess Christian.
Journey’s End is located at 101 Parkwood Street.
Drexler Cottage
Here you have the family home of former Delaware State Senator Louis Drexler, who represented Sussex County as the G.O.P. leader in 1912 and the House of Representatives in 1924. The home, notably named “Drexler Cottage,” was built in 1905.
The house has needed to be physically moved back from the ocean three times and has since been rotated 90 degrees from its original placement. As a result, the front door now faces south on Campbell Place rather than east as it was first.
Discover Drexler Cottage at 99 Campbell Place.
Errett Cottage
Built in 1903, Errett Cottage has always served as the home of its namesake founding family. As a reminder, William E. Errett was one of the aforementioned original six Pittsburgh businessmen credited with the incorporation of the Town of Bethany Beach. The home remains in the Errett family today.
You can see Errett Cottage at 109 1st Street.
Addy Cottage
John M. Addy was another of the original six and is renowned for having built several local homes in the immediate area. His Addy Cottage was constructed in 1902.
The cottage was converted into the William’s Inn back in the 1930s. Rooms were rented out in the ongoing inn operation until 1975.
The Addy Cottage is located at 104 Second Street.
Lattimer Cottage
Lattimer Cottage is another of the first town constructs, this one by R. S. Lattimer in 1904. The house has seen many different additions and modifications throughout the years. It was formerly covered in clapboard siding with decorative lace spandrels in each gable pitch, for instance. Now it features hand-hewn wood shingles. Ethel Palmer inherited the site from Lattimer directly, and it remains in the family to this day.
View Lattimer Cottage from the street at 48 North Atlantic Avenue.
The Fassitt Cottage
Fassitt Cottage was originally built in 1935 and had been previously owned by two other families prior to 1941, when Sally and Mary Fassitt purchased it. Mary Fassitt would eventually go on to marry James Bennett, who would later serve as a member of the Town Council.
You will find Fassitt Cottage at 53 N. Atlantic Avenue.
Addy Sea
Here is another notable construct of John M. Addy, and what may arguably be his most popular, as it serves as a famed bed and breakfast today. Built in 1902, the Addy Sea was the fourth of Addy’s five houses and the very first one to boast the modern convenience of indoor plumbing. It was later made into a guest house in 1935.
Explore the Addy Sea in person at 99 Ocean View Parkway.
Seaside Inn
The next four featured stops on the Heritage Tour are markers to locations that no longer exist physically, owing to various reasons. The first one is the Seaside Inn. It was originally built in the early 1900s, where it operated as the Bellevue-Atlantic Hotel. Here, folks could rent out rooms and enjoy three meals a day. The notorious Storm of ’62 is what eventually destroyed the inn.
The Seaside Inn was located at 2nd Street and the Beach.
Bowling Alley
Once upon a time, a hopping bowling alley ruled the roost in youth entertainment throughout the Town of Bethany Beach. It was built in 1930, but again met its ultimate demise as a result of the Storm of 1962.
The Bowling Alley stood on the Boardwalk between 1st and 2nd Streets.
Warren’s Restaurant
Constructed in 1933, Warren’s Restaurant was a beloved community go-to staple for two decades. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1953. The site was eventually rebuilt, receiving new life as “the Holiday House.” That was short-lived, however, as it was another casualty of the Storm of 1962. The location is now the site of the currently operating Mango’s Restaurant.
Come visit the operation north of Garfield Parkway on the Boardwalk.
Ringler’s Theater
In addition to the Bowling Alley, another entertaining town endeavor was Ringler’s Theater. It was built by its namesake, Raymond Ringler, in 1923 and was in operation for two decades. Here you could see movies, live bands, and dance. Sadly, it was destroyed by the sinister Storm of 1944. It is now the site where the Blue Surf condos stand.
The site’s location was at on Garfield Pkwy South on Boardwalk.
Dinker-Irvin Cottage Museum
Built sometime between 1902 and 1904 by William A. Dinker, Dinker Cottage was originally located on the south side of First Street. The building also briefly served as the former local post office between 1923 and 1924. It’s been physically moved twice in its tenure, and currently sits on the southwest corner of the intersection of Route 1 and Garfield Parkway.
The official site address for the Dinker-Irvin Cottage Museum is 318 Garfield Parkway.
Bethany Beach Nature Center
Now utilized as a learning, explorative nature center, this building was another Addy construct—the rightly named “Addy Cottage.” It was established around 1903 and sits along the Indian River Estuary.
You can visit the Bethany Beach Nature Center publicly at 807 Garfield Parkway.
Bethany Beach is home to so many other historical heritage callouts in addition to those homes and landmarks listed on the Heritage Trail. For those interested in the best way to see Bethany Beach-based cottages (historic and modern alike), you may also want to take note of the Beach & Bay Cottage Tour 2025. A tradition 33 years in the making, this year’s live event kicks off Wednesday, July 23, and continues through Thursday, July 24. You may also take part in a virtual option ongoing now through August 3. To learn more, visit the website at www.beachandbaycottagetour.com.
Click here to learn more about Bethany Beach’s history, heritage, or to download your own digital version of the Bethany Beach Heritage Trail map.