James Farm Ecological Preserve

James Farm Ecological Preserve is a 150-acre nature preserve located on Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View, Delaware, along Indian River Bay near Bethany Beach. Managed by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays since 1998, the preserve offers three miles of marked hiking trails, observation platforms, a beachfront boardwalk, and opportunities for wildlife observation across seven distinct habitats. The property was donated to Sussex County in 1992 by Mary Lighthipe, a descendant of the James family who farmed the land for generations, with the condition that it be used for environmental education and recreational purposes. The preserve is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset at no charge and hosts educational programming for school groups, scout troops, and community members year-round.