The Rickenbacker Causeway was built in 1947 in order to connect the islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne to mainland Miami. For the patrons of Virginia Beach, the only way to get to their beach was to take a boat or ferry from the Miami River all the way to the island. If you missed the last ferry, a regular beach trip, became a camping trip. 

Virginia Beach did not have a lot of amenities when it first opened. In the early days, there would be boxing matches at the beach as an early form of entertainment. 

The shoreline at Virginia beach stretched a mile long. While the beach did have lifeguards, swimming out too far was extremely dangerous for the beach goers. The offshore current of the beach would tend to claim many lives in the early days of the beach. 

Virginia Beach was the first beach for Miami's communities of color, the beach was packed everyday. The beach would continue to be packed until the integration of the United States in the mid 1960's.  The beach offered beach side parking for patrons with close access to the parks amenities. 

Standards for Virginia Beach historical aerial