Two stays on Delaware Bay: Heislerville and East Point Lighthouse
Photographs from two waterfront stays, with a look at East Point Lighthouse and useful questions for a bayshore trip.
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Two visits to the waterfront.
Anne and I have stayed on the Delaware Bay waterfront in Heislerville twice: in May 2025 and again in September 2026. We stayed in neighboring houses, and we remember both trips as excellent stays.
The photographs bring the setting into focus: open water, a low horizon and, in one of my 2026 images, orange light spreading beneath a bank of cloud. This is New Jersey’s Delaware Bay shore. Keeping that location clear helps when choosing a place to stay and deciding what kind of coastal trip you want.
Returning to the bayshore.
Our two visits fell in different parts of the year. The first was in May; the return was in September. The homes were next door to one another, giving the trips a shared waterfront setting even though we stayed in different properties.
The sunrise photograph is one moment from the September trip. The strip of warm light along the horizon and its reflection across the water do the work here; the picture needs very little explanation.
East Point Lighthouse.
My photograph of East Point Lighthouse comes from our 2025 trip. Its white walls, red roof and lantern make a distinct companion to the wide bay view.
Built in 1849, East Point combines a keeper’s dwelling and lighthouse tower in one building. It historically guided vessels entering and leaving the Maurice River, connecting the landmark to the working waterways around it. New Jersey Historic Trust
That photograph records the exterior during our visit. If you are planning your own stop, check the current access notice before making a tour part of your itinerary.
As of , the Maurice River Historical Society’s website says the lighthouse is closed and its grounds remain open to the public. The society also says it no longer manages the property. An interior visit should not be assumed. East Point access notice
A few useful questions before booking.
For a waterfront stay, I would ask the host to explain the access as carefully as the view. Is there an accessible outdoor sitting area? How many steps are involved? What shoreline access comes with the booking, and what activities are permitted there? A photograph of water, a deck or a pier does not answer those questions by itself.
Check the arrangements that matter to your own trip, including pet rules, parking, kitchen facilities and distances to the places you plan to visit. Confirm them against the current listing or directly with the host.
If your plans include bayshore beaches or wildlife areas, check the current access rules for each location and follow posted signs. NJDEP publishes maps of Delaware Bay areas with seasonal restrictions to protect shorebirds. NJDEP restricted-area maps
Two visits have given us two sets of photographs from this part of New Jersey’s coast. The bay view and East Point Lighthouse are where this story begins. They also make a useful starting point for planning a visit with the setting, season and current access in mind.
About this story
This story draws on my photographs and confirmed recollections of our May 2025 and September 2026 stays. Photography: Jim. The linked New Jersey Historic Trust, Maurice River Historical Society and NJDEP pages supply the lighthouse history, published access notice and seasonal-access references.
Visitor information checked . Check current notices and your accommodation’s details for your own travel dates.
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