"What people used to do was pull up on the beach, nose in or bow in, and kind of get themselves wedged on the sand, then sit in the back of their boat to fish, play on the sand beside it. That's still available," Peter DeWitt, the Bureau of Land Management site manager, told Stet News in September.
That sentence explains most of the $16 million shoreline restoration at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area. The old habit of nosing a boat onto the sand survives. The difference is how many boats fit. The new shoreline was built for a typical day at the site. On a typical Tuesday or Saturday, very little changes for a boater. On the Fourth of July, a lot does. Most of the reclaimed space now goes to people who arrive on foot or by paddle.
The Number Behind the New Shoreline
A BLM study found the site averaged 17 boats a day. The finished shoreline can hold 15 to 20, depending on boat size and how close boaters are willing to sit to their neighbors, Stet News reported. The Palm Beach Post puts capacity at about 17 boats at a time, first come, first served. It contrasts that with holiday weekends that sometimes brought 40 to 60 boats at once. DeWitt told the Post, "That use is no longer permitted."
The boat count could have been zero. An early plan DeWitt inherited in 2013 called for a solid breakwater along the entire shoreline, which would have ended boat access altogether. He told the Post it took him four years to get his management to look at a new design, which he called "a compromise." More than 800 individuals, businesses, partners and recreational users sent in comments as the plans changed. The Marine Industries Association and the Florida Inland Navigation District, which later helped fund the project, also had a hand in the direction.
Here is how the water side works under the new design, based on project coverage so far:
- Beaching: Bow-in beaching on the shoreline continues for roughly 15 to 20 boats. The Post describes it as first come, first served.
- The new dock: It is for permitted uses only. DeWitt's examples were a visiting historic ship or a wedding party leaving by boat. General public docking won't be offered.
- A police presence: A Tequesta police boat will sit on a lift at a dock the Post expected to be finished within two weeks of its Oct. 9 story.
- Still unpublished: None of the coverage lists beaching hours, a beaching permit rule or a map of beaching zones. Check with the BLM before a holiday outing.
Why the Water Side Gave Up Space
The shoreline was disappearing. The Post reported erosion of about 7 feet a year, and the 120-acre site has lost more than 5 acres over five decades. DeWitt said the erosion was destroying habitat and collapsing sand dunes. It was also washing vegetation into the Intracoastal Waterway, where it got in boaters' way.
The repair has several layers. Limestone riprap gives coral a place to take root and creates habitat for seagrasses and sea life. That work was finished just before the seasonal high tides the Post expects to last through the end of October. Artificial reef structures and a living shoreline go with it. More than 7,000 mangroves have been planted toward a goal of 10,000, with four more plantings to go. The project was designed around a 75-year flood event. DeWitt told the Post that some of the timbers are rated for 100-plus years, and the breakwaters can be built higher if conditions change. When construction crews leave, Florida Atlantic University will track whether the beaches are stable, growing or shrinking, and the results will guide future management.
When a shoreline is held in place with rock, reef and mangroves, fewer bows can land on it. The reclaimed ground and water have gone to other uses.
Where the Space Went: Walkers, Paddlers and Snorkelers
The biggest addition is an 835-foot boardwalk along the Loxahatchee River side. A new ADA-accessible trail loops around the lighthouse and connects to both the pier and the boardwalk. Stairs lead down to a nature path and to small beaches carved into the shoreline below. You can walk the boardwalk out and back, or climb the stairs and take a trail back around to the lighthouse, DeWitt told Stet. Katrina Heller, executive director of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Museum, told the Post the loop is "a really great benefit for some locals who each morning just want to do a beautiful walk around the property or a climb of the lighthouse."
Paddling gets more room too. Two recreational vendors will work from opposite sides of the park, one on the Loxahatchee River and one on the Indian River Lagoon. "Hopefully a little competition between the two keeps the price nice and low," DeWitt told the Post. Stet reports that Get Up and Go Kayaking and the Palm Beach Outrigger Canoe Club will operate from a new tiki hut near the Indian River shoreline. Get Up and Go Kayaking runs guided clear-kayak tours of about 1.5 to 2 hours in small groups, focused on wildlife and mangroves. It does not rent kayaks or paddleboards.
The snorkeling area is the newest use of the water. Stet reports the snorkel trail will run under Cato's Bridge, a popular local hangout on the northeast edge of the site. On land, a new pavilion will host programs and private events. A formerly restricted section is becoming lawn, which gives the museum more room for events like its March art festival. Heller told the Post she hopes to bring in 100 artists, up from 70 last year.
The Calendar From Now to the Spring Festival
The project was first supposed to finish in August. A government shutdown early in the contract and late material deliveries pushed it back. The remaining dates are planned, not guaranteed:
- Now through November: The BLM lists boardwalk and breakwater work in its final phase for September through November 2026. In early October, DeWitt described the infrastructure as 95% complete with the restoration "still very much underway." The BLM project page warns of intermittent area closures, a temporary reroute of about 500 feet of trail, and limited boat anchorage during construction.
- Dec. 3, 10 a.m.: An invitation-only ribbon cutting.
- Dec. 3, 1 to 5 p.m.: A public grand opening on the site.
- Dec. 20: The snorkeling area is expected to open to the public.
- March 20 and 21, 2027: The museum's vendor terms list these dates for the River to Reef Art Festival.
What Already Runs on the Lighthouse Schedule
The museum keeps receiving visitors during construction, and its October calendar is active. The museum's hours and tickets page currently lists these hours and prices. It also notes that weather, holidays and visitor safety can change them:
| What | Details as currently posted |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse and site hours | Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Gift shop | Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| General admission, includes climb | $15 adults, $12 U.S. veterans and seniors 60+, $8 ages 6 to 18; free for 5 and under, members, and active military with immediate family |
| Climb rules | 48-inch minimum height, adult required under 16, climb unassisted, no bags, tripods or selfie sticks |
| Guided tours | Noon and 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, limited space |
| Homeschool Mornings | Usually the first Thursday of the month, 10 a.m. to noon, $20 per adult and child pair, registration required |
The timed climbs are the fastest way to see the new shoreline from above while crews finish. Sunset and moonrise tours run about 60 minutes and require an RSVP. The program page lists $25 per person, but prices on individual events can vary. The October calendar has a Sunset Tour on Oct. 14 and a Sunrise Tour on Oct. 17. The sunrise climb runs about an hour, needs an advance ticket, and is rescheduled if the weather turns.
When a local landmark changes, the homes nearby feel it in small ways, from morning walk routes to what a buyer asks about on a showing. If you live near the Loxahatchee and want to know how that shows up in your home's value, The Burroughs Team can walk you through the numbers. Request a Free Home Valuation.
