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Gray Path
Public Access: Access if from South Road, and, if visiting by boat from Back Shore.
Parking: Park vehicles on South Road. No other parking available
Description and History:
Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Sheila Jordan and her brother, Garland Gray, who have granted a "forever wild" easement to the land trust, this property is now the only public access to the Back Shore on the East End of Chebeague Island. It is a beautiful access to a quiet beach for recreation and sunset viewing.
The property is located at One South Road. It is sited on the western shore of Chebeague's East End and consists of approximately 1.2 acres. Although reasonably small, it contains a diverse environment including woodlands, vernal pools, a meadow and a shoreline of about 150 feet on Casco Bay. From the shoreline one is able to enjoy scenic vistas and sunsets including views of Little John Island, Moshier Island and the entrance to the Royal River in Yarmouth.
For many years this beach was used by fisherman who lived nearby and moored their boats off this sheltered stretch of shoreline. To this day, there still exists the remnants of two old fishing shacks on adjacent property to the south. This shoreline, on the west side of the East End is generally known as the Back Shore and also as Fisherman's Beach. The Gray's purchased the property from Mildred Crafts and her son Waldo. Waldo was a very popular caretaker on the island and had developed a close relationship with the Gray's.
The residents of and the visitors to Chebeague Island along with boaters on Casco Bay are indeed fortunate that the Gray's have chosen to protect their land in this way.