Grand Beach - The Beach, is the largest and most beautiful beach in the Province of Manitoba. Discovered in 1783 by the French Explorer La Verendrye, the region was named - le Grand Marais - French for The Grand Marsh. Grand Beach itself is located within the boundaries of a Provincial Park - Grand Beach Provincial Park. The beach itself is a 3-kilometre strip of some of the finest, pristine, white sand in North America, and some consider the world. Grand Beach was once voted one of the top ten beaches in North America (by Playboy Magazine).
The region itself, running along the eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg is the host of no less than five first class beaches: Patricia Beach, Grand Marais, Grand Beach, Hillside Beach and Victoria Beach. Lake Winnipeg itself is North America's sixth largest freshwater lake.
The popularity of Grand Beach as a resort was so strong at the turn of the century that Canadian Northern Railway laid track to it, and developed a resort in 1916. For 15 years the resort and area enjoyed post-war construction - resulting in a very well- developed cottage country. Even during the Depression, the resort was the only one to realize a profit in Manitoba. A Dance Pavilion was constructed, which at one time was the largest dance hall in the Commonwealth. Until it was destroyed by fire in 1950, the Dance Hall was the major source of entertainment and the central meeting point for the resort community. Since 1950 there has been no major entertainment venue that has replaced the Dance Hall.
In order to protect the precious resource of Grand Beach, the Provincial Government of Manitoba created the Grand Beach Provincial Park. Within the Provincial Park, there have been established 356 basic campsites with electricity. This campground is regularly filled to capacity throughout the camping season. There are two main beaches within Grand Beach Provincial Park, which is the result of geography: The East Beach and the West Beach. The campground in the park is located close to East Beach, and attracts families and those wishing to enjoy the giant sand dunes in a relaxed and quiet atmosphere. The West Beach across a cove provides a play structure, Beach Volleyball Courts, food and clothing vendors, and lots of people on a hot and sunny weekend. Access to both the East and West Beach is through the controlled gates of the Provincial Park.