Exploring Champagne Island - North Wildwood

When I talk about Champagne Island in my KZbin videos I always get people asking "what is Champagne Island?"
Situated within Hereford Inlet in Cape May County, Champagne Island is a small sandbar island that changes in size and shape from year to year, sometimes disappearing altogether.
I decided to throw my drone up in the air to give you a tour of Champagne Island.
Reference Video - • New Islands In Herefor...
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[@robwahl6288]

I remember being out there in 1985 for a sandbar party with my brother the day before heading off to graduate school. Put a nail into the bottom of my foot. What a send off!

[@maxinedavieds8102]

Coming to N.Wildwood since 1981,never heard about Champagne Island! Maybe because we don’t have a boat to get to it. Looks great.

[@leetate2709]

Hi Joey. As a former long term Wildwood resident and graduate of WHS Class of 1980, I can tell you we always called it simply “the sandbar” and all the locals knew what and where it was. When the tide was just right and the locals had the opportunity to have some down time, it would become the place to meet up with other locals and have some “respite” (if you catch my drift) lol. Of course summertime was the time when all the locals had to work their tails off, so those opportunities didn’t present themselves often enough, at least not for me! But I do remember September was the best time to be there. The name Champagne Island is a new name to me and must have been coined in the last 30 years or so. I moved away almost 40 years ago, and watching your videos has been a real treat!

[@rushgeddy8375]

Strubel, Sladek, Betz, McCracken, Mueller, 77 here

[@stevencosky4035]

Joey - This ‘Grassy Sounder’ used to boat from Turtle Creek in the late 1960s and early 1970s to the sandy point extending from Stone Harbor. There was no Champagne Island. Though at low tide, boats had to be cautious exiting Hereford’s Inlet to the ocean. Sand bars were prevalent and sometimes exposed at low tides. Currents where the inlet met the ocean were strong. And swimming on the ocean side of that sandy spit required caution.

[@stevencosky4035]

Geology happens!

[@jamesbarry6979]

Outstanding info! Sounds like old Fisherman Ghost! Thanks

[@aerochicc]

I'm guessing in the beginning, it was a nice spot to chill and have a glass of champagne? That's what I've always theorized.

[@mookintookin]

One of the most fun places to spend a day

[@jamesbarry6979]

Correct Joey* Please Don't Swim to island! Boat Danger, undertow, Riptide's Scale to Distance, and Cramps! Not to mention,, Life Jacket! Hope it Helps!🏊🚣🏄

[@captaintigger2657]

The tide riots thru there. Every bit of 6 knots. Especially watch out for the moronic jet skiers. The most rude group.

[@jamesbarry6979]

@@captaintigger2657 agreed, we Can here jet skis all over the Beach Not Good!

[@KaiTakApproach]

Ive seen the tide turn the water under the bridges into white water rapids. Definitely not a place to swim.

[@kevinkern4661]

Very nice I had a nice time this past weekend at Wildwood 🙂

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

One of these days I'll post all my 1960 and 70 videos of Wild Wood when I used to live there.

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

please please please send them to me and I will be digitize them. I am always trying to build up our film collection. Let me know if you are interested.

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

@@WildwoodVideoArchive I'm interested & I will go through my pictures and figure out a way to send copies to you.

[@Cheryl-em1ed]

Champagne island WOW I'm so interested ❤

[@craigconn7424]

I have never been there either looks like a fun place to go too. Thank you for the great video. Looked like an awesome day to be in Wildwood my parents are there now.

[@johnconnolly6011]

That sand bar has been there for as long as I first went to WW in the late 70's

[@donnaj5464]

I’ve been going to Wildwood for over 30 years and never heard of that. Beautiful drone footage! I loved that! Keep up the great work, really enjoy your videos!

[@edward.jantonelly3183]

I call it the hands off island, or wanna be island 😆. 🏝 remember in the early eighties going over there but wind up smelling like fish 🐟 😆 thanks again Joey 👍 Indian summer is here until November! Enjoy it !!

[@margaretbrown4966]

I have been going to Champagne Island since the 80s. The Island used to be high with sand dunes. What a great place!

[@williamsmith6192]

Wow. Even that sandbar is overpopulated now..

[@donnamariepszoniak6101]

Love being on Champagne Island💙💙🏄

[@shirleynitka5030]

nice drone footage. Does Anglesea have life guards? I worry whether anyone is watching for swimmers in distress. Weekenders may have a few beers & oops Im in trouble. I do feel bad for lifeguards. How much do they have to keep an eye open for? Looks like fun, but thats an accident waiting to happen. Cheers.

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

there are no lifeguards in Anglesea

[@crazycarl00]

There is an insane amount of jet-ski traffic running between the island and the beach. There was a dude trying to stand-up paddle board in that area today. Not a great place to learn how to paddle board.

[@JackT_Music_on_Vinyl]

Never saw that before! Thanks for the drone shot.

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

no problem!!!

[@betsyturner8351]

I have been going to Stone Harbor since 1960. Champagne Island had been around, probably since the 40's because my dad talked about friends who spent the night on the island after the war. It comes and goes with the dredging. A group of family members & friends went to the island a few times in 1984.

[@obyrne224]

This is awesome I'm here for the week from Passaic Co. I'm gonna go check this out with my daughter! I won't swim I promise! BTW huge fan love these vids all year long!

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

awww! Than kyou!!!

[@bamm160]

wow I use to boat here in the mid 90's I have video of on the way there. having fun cruising along; suddenly we hit a sandbar. shells and sand everywhere. luckily no damage and we enjoyed the day on the island. lots of friendly boaters. btw: i'm from MD too. i would tow the boat all the way there. some of the best sound water boating around. keep up the videos they are really enjoyable.

[@enjaygaltee252]

Used to live on the sea wall across from champagne. It was a breading ground for skimmer gulls in the spring. Really loud lol

[@ralphschueler9437]

Joey you are 100% class oh, you do an outstanding job on all your videos!

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

Thank you so much!!!

[@daveyoder9231]

Another fun video with great drone work! Thanks as well for the safety reminder- and I'll add for everyone thinking about going out there, remember that sandbars don't have lifeguards (even those with cool names!). Any idea where the name came from? I always thought it was ironic since the usual beverage was beer . . . Thanks again, Joey! Have a great Labor Day weekend!

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

As history goes, the name Champagne Island goes all the way back to prohibition. The island was a drop point for alcohol to be dropped off at. In the night folks would make their way on to the island to grab the booze and get out of town.

[@daveyoder9231]

@@WildwoodVideoArchive I didn't know the sandbar was present then- makes perfect sense! Thanks

[@dianebuckler1649]

Great video. Never been there, but have heard of it & seen it coming to Wildwood. It got it's name from bootlegging

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

correct!

[@bearinthebigbluehouseftwfan200]

Cool 😎

[@bobwst]

One day Champagne Island may extend all the way from Stone Harbor to North Wildwood. So much for Herford Inlet.

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

I think the current might be too strong for it to connect

[@j1st633]

Interesting. Thanks. Since I have a summer place at the Wildwoods, I will be taking this weekend the sunset cruise that you profiled a few vlogs ago. You present worthwhile reviews of places to observe and participate. A suggestion. Your music is indeed appropriate for the place you profiled however, my suggestion is that since Wildwood is the 50 / 60 theme getaway, why not use music that addresses that time period?

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Doo wop

[@j1st633]

Now that's what I'm talking about!

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

I wish I could but it's all copyrighted. Thank you though!

[@timglick2993]

Thank you for all you do iam a retired teacher ,you earned anA+ 5:13

[@jdog2022]

Wow it's cool how that was formed. A whole island just like that. Why "Champagne " and who got to name it? I also agree, please be smart and only boat across. NO SWIMMING! Another cool video about something I never knew. Thanks Joey.

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

As history goes, the name Champagne Island goes all the way back to prohibition. The island was a drop point for alcohol to be dropped off at. In the night folks would make their way on to the island to grab the booze and get out of town.

[@jdog2022]

@@WildwoodVideoArchive Very interesting. I never knew this. You see how far people would go for a drink and to make some quick cash!

[@johnconnolly6011]

Oh yes boat only to get there

[@gamingismyname714]

is it still there

[@crazymaloco5890]

Crazy Maloco crashed his boat there. I was heading out the inlet and hit a sandbar. Why did they stop dredging?

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

The state required that we stop dredging it

[@theresaeisenhard8251]

Interesting!! But why the name champagne?

[@TraceKillTv]

Can you take a kayak out there?

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

yes, but the current is strong

[@mythicgamingmk1105]

I see my of my friends boat

[@Cheryl-em1ed]

Why is it called Champagne island? Just curious does anyone drink Champagne 🍾 there? Sounds silly but would love to know Joey

[@WildwoodVideoArchive]

Check out the Wildwood video Archive website for that answer

[@rushgeddy8375]

did you know Tag?

[@StatueMarvelsHYF]

What happened to the folks that used to sell hot dogs on the island???

[@donaldeife851]

Nice secret place.Not now.lol