Lofthus

The remnants of the Lofthus now rest approximately three-quarters of a mile north of the Boynton Inlet and 175 yards offshore from Manalapan. The wreck lies in 15 to 20 feet of water, with parts of it rising as much as six feet off the sea floor, depending on sand movement. Waves, currents, and storm conditions continually shape its visibility. Salvagers dynamited the hull, resulting in the wreck being scattered across an area roughly 290 feet long by 50 feet wide. The bow, midships, and stern are separated into three distinct sections. Over time, the wreck has become a habitat for native marine flora and fauna. Visitors may encounter Caribbean spiny lobsters, cubbyu, grunts, jacks, porcupine fish, porkfish, snapper, stingrays, and wrasse. The Lofthus was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 2004. It was also designated as the eighth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve during a ceremony at Boynton Beach Intracoastal Park. Interestingly, Harvey Oyer, whose great-great grandparents helped salvage the ship’s cargo before it sank, shared a brief history during the ceremony. Access: To access the wreck from Lantana Beach in the north, head east on East Ocean Avenue across Lake Worth Lagoon to Hypoluxo Island. East Ocean Avenue ends at the Lantana Beach access, where the Lantana Municipal Beach Parking lot is located. There is ample paid parking here, at a cost of $1.50 per hour. The wreck of the Lofthus is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) south along the beach - a walk of about 30 minutes. Alternatively, the wreck can be accessed from the south by parking at Ocean Inlet Park. There is ample parking and it is free. The beach can be accessed immediately to the north of the bridge that spans the Boynton Inlet. The wreck is located about 1.25 miles (3 kilometers) north along the beach - a walk of about 25 minutes