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The name HOPEWELL CAPE is believed to come from Hopewell in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. or for the ship which brought settlers from Ireland in 1761. It was established as a granted Township on 24 Sep 1765 and became a parish in 1786. Each year our small village swells in size as we welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors who travel from around the world to Hopewell Cape.
The Birthplace of R.B. Bennett a former Prime Minister of Canada. The world famous Hopewell Rocks are located here and each day, you can walk the ocean floor and return a few hours later to see the beach area covered by up to 40 + feet of water. The Bay of Fundy tides pull in millions of gallons of water up the Petitcodiac River and through this area.
Our picturesque village offers spectacular views of the "Chocolate River", a nickname (as well as the book name) given to the river because of the colour created by the clay type riverbed base. Although the world famous Tidal Bore has diminished in height due to man made factors, the wave still travels the river, twice a day, as it did during the times of the schooners that traveled up the river.
Historic homes abound here and several were former homes of the river pilots, who took their vessels out to meet the large ships that traveled the mighty river. They would help guide the schooners up or down the river to avoid running aground. Many of these homes still remain, along with other heritage homes, a testament to the quality craftsmanship of the past centuries. Their clapboard siding still protects these historic properties.
The Albert County Museum & Courthouse are other architectural marvels. Dating back to 1845, when Hopewell Cape was the Shiretown of Albert County. The Museum complex of six buildings is located in a restored County Gaol (with cells and dungeons) built in 1845 and County Courthouse was rebuilt in 1905 after fire destroyed the original building. In 1980, a modern Display Barn and Exhibit Building was added for viewing additional items and exhibits.
Bird watchers will be amazed by the species at the Hopewell Rocks. Remnants still remain here of the Acadian dykes and wharf areas. Bird watchers can thrill at varied species who also glide in the gentle winds at the Hopewell Rocks. The Shepody area offers more breathtaking views looking out to Grindstone Island, where mighty stone was quarried and used in the building of mighty stone buildings and homes. The stone can be seen in many buildings in the province as well as in the New England states, such as Boston.
The Hopewell Rocks Tidal Exploration Site was taken over and transformed into a world class center for interpretation of the mighty rock formations on the beach as well as an interpretation center for the geological and cultural history of the area. Tours are available during the operating season for this amazing discovery beach. Walk the ocean floor and gaze up at the towering formations created millions of years ago, carved by the power of factors including the prehistoric glaciers and the tides from the Bay. Return at high tide to see these rocks surrounded by an average tide height of over 50 feet. For a true adventure experience at The Hopewell Rocks, you can book a kayaking adventure and at high tide, paddle around the rocks where, three hours previous, you walked the beach.
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