Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach, also known as Crystal Sands Beach and Bay Beach, is a popular sunny beach and bustling lakeside community on the shores of Fort Erie, just 10 minutes drive west of Fort Erie.

Visitors flock to Crystal Beach for a day of relaxing on the beach, enjoying swimming and water sports and visiting local shops, welcoming restaurants, bars and nightlife.

For up-to-date information and details on Crystal Beach, we recommend you visit their website. For information about other places of interest to explore nearby, keep scrolling to see what Destination Ontario recommends.

Birds eye view of a beach with a large pier and houses along the waters edge.

More about Crystal Beach

The Crystal Beach community has a long history of tourism dating back to the Crystal Beach Amusement Park that was opened in 1888 and operated until 1989. Its roller coasters, dance halls, concert venues and other attractions put this small town on the map.

The public beach was established in 1926, by John E. Rebstock and was originally called Bay Beach Park. At the time, the beach contained rental units, a snack bar, a dance hall and The Lobster House. After Rebstock’s death in 1941, his estate managed the park until it was sold to Fort Erie in 2001. Fort Erie modernized the area with beach facilities and amenities in 2014 and officially reopened the beach park in 2019.

The Crystal Beach Waterfront Park opened in 2005 and remains open today, welcoming visitors to the location east of the Crystal Beach Tennis and Yacht Club. Entry to the beach is free and some free parking is available along Erie Road.

The vast, sandy area near the clear waters has undergone even more renovations in recent years, providing visitors with a clean, accessible beach to enjoy, whatever their age or physical needs. Some of the new features include a playground donated by the Ridgeway Lions Club and a Pavilion and Festival Square for sheltered community events. New changerooms and washroom facilities are fully accessible and access ramps are available to provide easy movement to the beach itself. There is also a long viewing deck over the beach.

Last updated: August 18, 2023

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