The bunker was once 900 feet inland, surrounded by earth and covered by sod, it once looked as if it were a hill from the sea or air. Time and beach erosion have taken its toll on the bunker which now sits much closer to the shoreline. A major Army Corps of Engineers beach and dune reconstruction project has rebuilt much of the beach. It cost $15 million initially, and will cost an estimated $73 million over the life of a 50-year periodic maintenance program.
On land you can see the various pond, coastal dune, marsh, and forest habitats of the park where wildlife can be viewed from observation platforms. This natural area is significant along the East Coast for its resident and migratory birds and includes habitat suitable for northern and southern species of fauna and flora.