CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK, Del. - As beachgoers make their way through the McBride Bathhouse walking toward the shore at Cape Henlopen State Park, many don't know that the McBride Bathhouse has been standing since 1976 with no major upgrades.
Footage from November shows the current state of the bathhouse, which the DNREC has described as outdated.
DNREC told CoastTV in November, environmental concerns at the state park could impact or alter future plans. (Nov. 2024.)
"It’s a gem of Delaware. We bring lots of friends here," one visitor told CoastTV. "But the bathhouse definitely needs work. It’s kind of almost shameful at times. It’s so loaded with flies and sand, and people don’t have any place to put their garbage, so they leave it on the floor."
Not everyone shares the same concerns. Local Charlie Hensch said he sees no issue with the facilities.
"I think it's very adequate the way it is," Hensch said. "I never see people waiting in line."
Initial plans proposed building a new bathhouse on a nearby dune, just a few hundred feet from the current structure. (DNREC.)
Initial plans proposed building a new bathhouse on a nearby dune, just a few hundred feet from the current structure. That project received $1 million in funding for fiscal year 2025. However, DNREC has not yet announced a timeline for potential renovations or a rebuild.
DNREC told CoastTV in November, environmental concerns at the state park could impact or alter future plans.