Besides the beach and ocean, it offered dancing and billiard rooms to the visitors of its more than 400 rooms, and for years it was the northernmost attraction in Ocean City. The Atlantic Hotel, the first major hotel in the town, opened July 4, 1875. Prior to 1870, what is now Ocean City was known as “The Ladies’ Resort to the Ocean.” The corporation stock of 4,000 shares sold for $25 each. A decision was made to develop it and 250 lots were cut into it, and a corporation was formed to help with the development of the land. They came not so much to visit as to survey the spit. Soon after, other simple boarding houses were built on the strip of sand, with the activity attracting prominent businessmen from the Maryland Eastern Shore, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Wilmington. They came to fish off the shore, to enjoy the natural beauty of the Atlantic Ocean pounding against the long strip of sandy beach, to collect seashells, or just to sit back and watch the rolling surf. During those days, people arrived by stage coach and ferry. In 1869, businessman Isaac Coffin built the first beach-front cottage to receive paying guests. The land the city was built on, as well as much of the surrounding area, was once owned by Englishman Thomas Fenwick.

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