Liam’s at Nauset Beach was taken down last week because of the incredible beach erosion from the 3 Nor’easters we had this past winter. The water at high tide was up to its foundation.
Someone asked me to post a photograph of what it looks like now. There is now a huge pile of sand where Liam’s stood. I took this photograph from a little trail across the parking lot because 2/3s of the parking lot is still closed. They were continuously bringing in huge trucks full of sand. You can see the bathrooms to the left. They seem to still be intact.
I did not get to walk on the beach but I will try to do that in the next few days and get a photograph from the water’s edge. It looks so different…
Liam’s at Nauset Beach, the iconic clam shack on Nauset Beach in Orleans on Cape Cod, was demolished on Tuesday due to heavy beach erosion from the 3 Nor’ easters this past winter on Cape Cod. I was not able to be there but I screen-saved a shot from the Cape Cod Times video. You can also go to their website and see the entire video. We will all miss your world-famous onion rings and fried clams!
We took a drive to Nauset Beach yesterday to see what was going and 2/3s of the parking lot was blocked off. You could see a large excavator loading what looked like black top from next to Liam’s into a dump truck. Liam’s was still there. We’ll take a ride down there again today to see what progress has been made. You can also see the old septic tanks which they must have brought up from the beach.
In the 2nd photograph you can see they take brought in LOTS of sand where the gazebo stood last week. You can also see how close it is to the parking lot. Wow!
It will be very interesting to see what the town does with the beach and surrounding area and also how much the beach changes before summer…
For those who do not know the history of Liam’s at Nauset Beach: Liam’s at Nauset Beach has been a popular summer restaurant for 63 years, originally known as Philbrick’s Snack Shack. Jon Ohman took it over in 1990 and renamed it Liam’s. It is now teetering over the edge of the ocean at high tide on Nauset Beach due to the many Nor’ easters that we’ve had this winter.
The birds were loving the huge feeding frenzy at Nauset Beach, part of the National Seashore. There were birds everywhere, diving into the water, so there must have been fish everywhere in the water. It was really beautiful to watch.
I couldn’t decide which photograph I liked better, What do you think?
Nauset Beach, one of the most popular beaches on Cape Cod and part of the National Seashore, has changed dramatically since the Nor’Easter last weekend. We were able to take a little walk on the beach from the trail at the end of the parking lot where the ocean went over the dune.
The first photograph is looking back at Liam’s on the left. The 2nd photograph is looking down Nauset Beach toward Chatham. It doesn’t look anything like the Nauset Beach 2 weeks ago. You can see how high the tide comes in. This is about midway between low tide and high tide.
Just totally amazing how things can change so drastically in so short a time period.
Update: We stopped at Nauset Beach yesterday afternoon and the gazebo between the parking lot and the beach has been removed.
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
