There is always a little bit of magic in the air during summers at the Jersey Shore. Between beach days, boardwalk nights and the feel of the sunshine on your skin, it’s easy to understand why we love our area so much.
While summertime is magical on its own, one local adds even more magic to the season. “The Sandman,” Rich Bates, is a local man who creates elaborate sculptures out of sand on the beaches of Ventnor.
“Back in the early 2000s, I would dig holes for the kids to play in. When they got bored of that, I started making sandcastles,” Bates said. “I eventually went to a couple trainings with Matt Long in Wildwood at one of his clinics during his Sand Sculpture Contest weekend, and that’s when things started getting better.”
The name “The Sandman” comes from his wife, Grace. In 2016, she started sharing his sculptures on Facebook with the community, dubbed him “The Sandman,” and his kids made T-shirts to really seal the deal.
Each sculpture takes about three to four hours to create. Bates either comes up with an idea on his own, or people will sometimes ask for certain creations. You can typically find The Sandman’s sculptures on the beach between Suffolk and Surrey avenues, usually around the high tide line.
Bates shared that the community is who he does this for.
“The people in Ventnor are very supportive and I love when they come to see my work. They reach out through social media to see where I am and what is on tap for the day. Normally if I am out and about, dressed like I would for normal activities like our outdoor concerts, people find out I am ‘Sandman,’ and they are so happy to meet me and talk with me. It’s really nice to have the recognition,” Bates said. “There are some regulars that come each day to see what I’ve done, and some walk quite a few blocks to get to me.”
A lot more goes into these sculptures than just the creating part. Bates always has to keep in mind the tides, wind and other weather conditions that could affect his work.
Bates shared that he generally stays above the high tide line and usually doesn’t build when it’s raining. He said a gentle wind and a warm day are perfect conditions for his creations.
“When kids go ‘wow’ or when you get someone who traveled all the way up the beach to see it are my favorite times,” Bates said. “My wife posts as soon as I start, so many of my followers will walk down to see me and ask what today’s sculpture is going to be. This year, we had someone travel from Canada to see me, and that was pretty cool. We also had some of the locals move their beach sitting spot so their kids could watch me as I was creating the sculpture of the day.”
Some of his favorite sculptures over the years have been the mermaid, Donkey Kong, Mike Wazowski from “Monsters, Inc.,” and the knight chess piece he created this year.
Upcoming projects still to be seen this summer include an Eagles banner, mermaid and maybe something entirely new.
“I build for fun, and as long as people like them, I’ll keep making them.”
For everyone who walks the beach in Ventnor, Bates’ creations have become more than just impressive sand sculptures. They’ve become part of the summer tradition, giving beachgoers something to stop, admire and remember. As long as “The Sandman” keeps showing up with a shovel and an idea, there will be a little extra magic waiting in the sand.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
