The Jupiter Lighthouse Shoreline Was Rebuilt Around an Ordinary Day on the Water

"That use is no longer permitted." Peter DeWitt, the Bureau of Land Management site manager for the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, said it to The Palm Beach Post in early October. He was talking about the holiday weekends when 40 to 60 boats crowded onto the lighthouse shoreline at once.

The shoreline now holds about 17 boats at a time, first come, first served. That matches the average daily use from before construction. The $16 million project was sized to a normal day on the water. Much of the shoreline that used to erode or fill with peak-day boats now goes to a boardwalk, two kayak huts, an event lawn and monthly fishing days, all part of the Dec. 3 opening, plus a snorkeling cove expected to follow on Dec. 20.

The Number the Shoreline Was Built Around

According to WLRN's reporting with Stet News, the finished site has room for 15 to 20 boats, depending on boat size and how close boaters want to be to their neighbors. A BLM study put the old average at 17 boats a day. The familiar routine survives. DeWitt told the outlet that pulling up bow-in, wedging onto the sand, then fishing from the stern or playing on the beach beside the boat is "still available."

Beaching was never guaranteed to survive. An early plan called for a solid breakwater along the whole shoreline, which would have ended boat access entirely. DeWitt took over the project in 2013 and pushed for a compromise. More than 800 individuals, businesses, partners and recreational users commented, and the Marine Industries Association and the Florida Inland Navigation District helped shape the direction. He told The Post it took four years to get his management to consider a new design.

The 17-boat figure comes from that reported capacity and historical average. The new dock has its own rule. DeWitt described it as "for permitted uses only," such as a visiting historic ship or a wedding party leaving by boat, and said "General public docking won't be available." The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum's visitor information page separately says there is no boat launch or shore anchoring. The BLM office at 561-295-5953 can confirm the current rules for the new beaching areas before you plan a beach day.

Where the Reclaimed Shoreline Went

Erosion was the reason for the project in the first place. The shoreline had been losing about 7 feet a year, and the 120-acre site has lost more than 5 acres over five decades. Here is what the rebuilt edge holds now, roughly in the order a walker would come across it.

• The boardwalk. It runs 835 feet along the Loxahatchee River side, 8 feet wide, on 200 pilings over limestone that protects the shore. Some sections widen to 16 feet and will have interpretive plaques about the inlet's history and ecosystem.
• The loop trail. A new ADA-accessible trail circles the lighthouse and connects to both the pier and the boardwalk.
• The terraced east side. On the Indian River side, a path runs between two retaining walls. It's lined with native plants that were dug up before construction, kept at nurseries including The Nature Conservancy's Blowing Rocks Preserve, and then replanted. Stairs lead down to small beaches carved into the shoreline.
• The event lawn. A section that used to be off-limits is becoming lawn. That gives the March River Cherish Art Festival more room, and Museum executive director Katrina Heller told The Post she hopes for 100 artists, up from 70 last year.
• The pavilions. A new pavilion will host Museum programs such as its monthly homeschool morning. The Museum is also booking private events, and its new Palm Pavilion fits up to 50 guests.

Heller described the payoff in plain terms to The Palm Beach Post: "It's 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."

Two Kayak Huts, One Snorkel Cove, Monthly Fishing Days

People in paddle craft gain the most from the redesign. Two kayak operators 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. On the Indian River side, Get Up and Go Kayaking has run glass-bottom kayak tours from the site for years. It now works from a large tiki hut it shares with the Palm Beach Outrigger Canoe Club. A second company will run tours from a smaller hut on the west side, near the rebuilt U.S. 1 bridge.

The snorkeling area sits on the south side of Cato's Bridge, at the far northeast edge of the project. DeWitt described a cutout bay behind the rocks and the start of a snorkel trail that runs up and under the bridge. New pilings keep boats out, and a kiosk will post snorkeling information. "This is locally renowned for being just a great place to hang out, snorkel and see a lot of Caribbean-type fish and corals. So, we're going to lean into that," he told WLRN. On Sept. 9, the first experimental Reef Arches structure went in on the Loxahatchee side. It's the start of an artificial reef system meant for both research and visitors.

The wide sections of the boardwalk are set aside for anglers, and DeWitt plans public fishing days every month. He told WLRN he has heard from people who grew up in Jupiter that the old Coast Guard docks on the site had "some of the best snook fishing."

The greenery along all of this is still filling in. More than 7,000 mangroves have been planted so far, toward a goal of 10,000, and four more plantings are scheduled. Volunteer planting days with groups like the MANG Foundation are expected to continue after the opening.

The Lighthouse Calendar From Now Through Dec. 20

The opening was first set for August. The Post reported that a government shutdown early in the contract and late material deliveries pushed it back. These are the dates as currently scheduled.

BLM's event listing for Dec. 3 promises public tours, interpretive talks, family activities and an evening celebration. Luminary Nights is new to the Museum's holiday lineup. Its four evenings land a week or more after the boardwalk opens, which makes for a first nighttime look at the new waterfront. Museum visitors park free on site near the entrance. BLM sends trail visitors to a small lot north of S. Beach Road.

How Long the New Edge Is Meant to Last

The design is built for the long term. It was planned around a 75-year flood event, and DeWitt told The Post that some of the timbers are rated for more than 100 years. The breakwaters can also be built higher if storms or sea levels require it. The limestone riprap, where coral can take root and seagrass and sea life can settle, was finished just before this month's seasonal high tides, which run through the end of October.

Monitoring will continue after the crews leave. Florida Atlantic University will track whether the new beaches are stable, growing or shrinking, and DeWitt said those findings will guide future management.

From a morning loop past the tower to a December evening at Luminary Nights, the lighthouse grounds will have more to offer this winter than at any point during construction. If questions about Jupiter's waterfront and the homes near it come up this winter, Kristen Reilly is glad to talk them through over coffee or on a walk along the new boardwalk. Let's Connect.