Click here to complete your 2025 application!

The Lottery Process:

• Each member is part of a temporary 'class', as in school. Your class consists of those waiting exactly as long as you have for a shack.

• All "classes" are tracked in PHT's database. The lottery process is scripted and executed electronically.

• The lottery is designed so the class that has waited the longest gets the first shot at shack time; all their names go into the hat at once and get pulled out randomly until everyone has been given a chance. The class waiting for the second longest goes next and is pulled out individually until all the weeks are filled.

• "Waiting the longest" means that the member has maintained a constant membership and has asked for shack time each year.

Those who “win the lottery” will receive a letter offering them a specific week and shack. If you want to stay in the dunes for the week provided, you will need to send payment. If you don't want the week, please let us know so we can offer it to someone else. If we don’t receive payment by April 30th, we will assume you mean "no.”

In recent years, we have received many requests for every week available.

Shacks 101:

The shacks are small, primitive structures scattered throughout the dunes (not directly on the water). While most have two beds, one (Thalassa) has only a single bed. There is no plumbing (but each has rather nice outhouses), and none are insulated. Each shack includes a dry sink and hot plate. All shacks are now solar and have electric refrigerators. A few have wood-burning stoves. There is a hand pump for water (you haul). There is an assortment of wildlife in the dunes, including birds, butterflies, rabbits, mosquitoes, mice, snakes, voles, and ticks. Once there, you are on your own. It rains occasionally, but mostly the sea and sky are your friends. NO DOGS OR CATS…EVER (sorry).

Click here to learn about the different shacks: Euphoria, Margo-Gelb, Ray’s, Thalassa, Zara’s

In your plans and preparations, remember that our PHT truck provides you and other residents shared transportation to and from your shack at designated times only. Your volunteer caretaker will introduce you to what you need to know to live lightly in the dunes. You will receive more detailed information prior to going out to the shack, including what to bring, and what not to bring (the shacks are rather well equipped with kitchen things but due to the ongoing uncertainty of COVID, you are required to bring your own bedding). By accepting an offered week, you agree to be responsible for the shack for that period of time. Accordingly, when you leave, the shack must be in good or better shape than when you arrived. Cleaning protocols will be outlined. Guests who fail to meet this expectation will not be invited back.