Virginia's Scenic Coast Hides Its Most Eerie Ghost Town With Trails And Historic Charm
Virginia is filled with underrated national parks and scenic hikes. But on the shores of Virginia, where the land meets the crashing Atlantic Ocean, lies a ghostly town once inhabited by the survivors of a shipwreck. These shores became the unplanned residence of those who lived through the life-shattering shipwrecks of the USS Huron and the Metropolis, which happened a few miles from False Cape State Park in the late 1800s. The few survivors of the wreck who washed up on this Virginia beach collected cypress wood from the remains of their floating schooner and used it to begin construction on their new settlement.
Wash Woods, which they aptly named their new home, existed under the unruly and unpredictable lawlessness of nature — a true testament to the region's ever-changing weather. Though the settlement grew to be home to 300 residents during its peak, relentless storms and flooding eventually forced the community out of the area, leaving behind a desolate ghost town entirely empty of inhabitants by the 1930s.
Turn of the century life at Wash Woods
It is now possible to step into the remains of the Wash Woods community, as the newly developed False Cape State Park allows visitors to experience what life was like for this small community at the turn of the 20th century. Few remnants of this early settlement remain (a church and a graveyard are some of the last remaining evidence of life in the area), making a trip to False Cape State Park a visit to one of the most haunted places in the area.
You'll find False Cape State Park adjacent to the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach. You can reach the park from Interstate 64, taking Exit I-264 onto Birdneck Road and following the signage from there. Once there, the "Welcome to Wash Woods History Tour," organized by the state park, allows visitors to learn all about the Wash Woods settlement, its origins, and its downfall, with guided hikes to the graveyard and church. Admission is $8 for adults ($6 for children), with Sunday tours from 9 a.m.
Virginia's rich coastline
False Cape State Park opens daily from sunrise to sunset, and you are free to visit the Wash Woods community unguided. Pets are allowed in False Cape State Park, but not allowed at the nearby Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is a common way to access False Cape. Tram tours are in operation, leaving from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge on a regular basis, but require booking in advance. This four-hour guided tour through the state park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge teaches visitors the history of the area and sometimes also includes a ride to Wash Woods with a guided walk.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is worth a visit itself. This huge 9,200-acre large marshland, woodland, and farmland is located on the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach. It was created in 1938 to provide a habitat for migrating waterfowl but is also home to hundreds of other animal species. The terrain is varied, made up of beaches and sand dunes, which are perfect to hike through. With walking trails aplenty, bicycle routes, and boardwalk trails, the refuge is also a great place to birdwatch and kayak. All in all, Wash Woods is an eerie but hauntingly beautiful ghost town, especially when you combine it with a trip to False Cape and Back Bay.