When indie-darling Stardew Valley welcomed patch 1.5 nearly a year and a half ago, fans were greeted with a brand-new post-game area called Ginger Island. Getting there, however, was no small feat, and the prerequisites remain unchanged to this day. The island comprises several regions named after the four cardinal directions, and players initially arrive upon its southern shores. A stone's throw away from the landing dock lies a small area where players can run a Beach Resort as soon as they unlock it.

To even think about setting sail for Stardew Valley's perfect virtual getaway, players have to restore the Community Center to its former glory or tackle the quests surrounding JojaMart's development first. Only then will they be tasked with repairing Willy's dilapidated boat, after which they should prepare their wallets. Since all good things come with a price, every trip to the secluded paradise in the Fern Islands archipelago will set the players back 1,000 gold.

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How to Unlock Ginger Island's Beach Resort & Who Are Its Patrons

Screenshot depicting a bustling Beach Resort on Ginger Island, as seen in Stardew Valley.

After arriving at Ginger Island, players should head west until they reach a house that's in a visible state of disrepair. Unlike other buildings in Stardew Valley, this Island Farm does not require wood or stone to be repaired. Instead, presenting a nearby Parrot with 20 Golden Walnuts will initiate an unusual sequence in which a flock of rowdy birds quickly delivers a perfectly functional farmhouse. While this might seem straightforward at first, getting the Walnuts needed for the repairs is a whole different story.

During their time in this part of the archipelago, players will barter Golden Walnuts for the Parrots’ services. This currency is unique to Ginger Island, and there are a total of 130 Walnuts scattered across the landmass. While some of them hide in plain sight, others can be acquired through farming, fishing, killing monsters, partaking in mini-games, solving puzzles, tilling the soil or even breaking crates found within the Volcano Dungeon.

Upon successful restoration of the farmhouse, another Parrot will appear at the beach near the Island South’s dock. To have the feathery handyman flock work its wonder, players must part with another 20 Golden Walnuts. Once they do, however, a Beach Resort will grace the island with its presence, and players can look forward to running a new business. Players can adjust the Resort's availability to visitors for the following day by interacting with the sign between the two doors of the changing room bungalow.

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Various villagers from Pelican Town will become the Resort’s patrons, diligently arriving at 11 a.m. and leaving at 6 p.m. on each non-rainy day without a holiday event. When Gus occasionally joins the random set of visiting villagers, he will take on the role of a bartender and allow players to purchase beverages, including a gold-star Mango Wine and an exclusive Tropical Curry Recipe.

The Benefits of Unlocking Ginger Island's Beach Resort

Screenshot depicting a Mermaid near the southeast shore of Ginger Island, as seen in Stardew Valley.

Aside from the unique opportunity to unlock new conversations and see patrons sporting their beach outfits, the reconstruction of the Beach Resort includes other, more practical benefits. For one, the previously locked area that leads to the southeast region of Ginger Island will become accessible. Within it, mysterious events and fun mini-games take place during a specific timeframe.

The first section that players will come across when exploring Island Southeast is an unusual beach with a star-shaped pond in the middle. On rainy days, a Mermaid will appear on a large rock by the shore, situated on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. Solving her puzzle and playing the Mermaid song will reward players with five Golden Walnuts to use elsewhere on the island. Fishing in the star-shaped pond and digging the nearby patch of soil surrounded by gold starfish will yield another two Walnuts.

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Adventurous players can discover a secret entrance to the Pirate Cove in the northeast corner of the beach, just past the gold starfish. While it's possible to enter the Cove's premises at all times, not much can be seen within its walls during the day. However, the Cove is home to Stingray and the Gourmand Statue, which can be obtained only by fishing in its southeast pool. A Golden Walnut also lies in wait, buried between two seemingly random barrels.

If players decide to pay a visit to the Cove on a non-rainy and even-numbered day past 8 p.m., they will be treated to a bustling pirate party. Should players feel particularly supportive of the local scallywags and put on an Eye Patch, Pirate Hat or Deluxe Pirate Hat, the bartender will gift them with a flask of Mead. Beating the pirates' score in Darts three times will result in three Golden Walnuts, and the mini-game remains accessible even after the lucrative prizes are long gone.

While the exploration aspects of an unlocked Beach Resort clearly cater to Stardew Valley’s replayability, one of the more pertinent reasons for pursuing its restoration lies in fast travel. Along with a rebuilt farmhouse and a newly purchased mailbox, an operational Beach Resort is a prerequisite to building a Farm Obelisk. With the help of its mystical powers, Beach Resort owners can travel to the mainland whenever they need a break from their getaway adventures.