This US island was set to become a resort until 2 storms changed everything

The island was protected as a National Seashore in 1965. (Picture: NPS) Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland is known for its undeveloped beaches, wildlife and natural coastal habitats. But plans were once in place to turn large parts of Assateague into a resort community with homes, roads, commercial areas and other infrastructure.The island's story took a different turn after two major storms, National Park Service says. A hurricane in 1933 changed the shape of the land by opening an inlet between the southern end of Ocean City and Assateague. Nearly three decades later, the Ash Wednesday storm of 1962 destroyed roads and structures that had already been built on the island and disrupted plans for large-scale development.The island soon became a protected area and the Assateague Island National Seashore was officially established on September 21, 1965, by President Lyndon B Johnson.Today, the National Park Service manages most of the Maryland portion of the seashore, while other parts of the island are managed by Maryland State Park and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The protected area has also become a major destination for people who want to visit beaches and see ...