Virginia’s state parks are filled with beautiful landscapes, natural wonders, and oftentimes, a fascinating perspective of days gone by. That’s certainly the case at False Cape State Park, whose name signifies the confusion travelers felt when mistaking the coast for Cape Henry. This grave mistake would lure ships into shallow waters, where they would become shipwrecked. In fact, one of the first settled communities of the area, Wash Woods, fell to that very destiny. Today, you can see the remnants of this shipwrecked ghost town hidden away in the woods.
Welcome to False Cape State Park, Virginia’s southernmost state park that protects one of the last stretches of undeveloped shoreline along the Atlantic coast.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
The park is positively brimming with natural beauty, and those fond of maritime environments and marshy landscapes will find a lot to love about False Cape.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
During your time at the park, you’ll also want to delve into the history of the land. From Native American tribes to shipwrecked sailors, this stretch of land has seen its fair share of community and hardships.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
One particularly well-known settlement is that of Wash Woods. It’s unclear exactly when these settlers arrived, but it is certain that it was unplanned.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
Sometime in the late 1880s, survivors of a shipwrecked vessel waded their way to shore and built a community from scratch. Using cypress wood from the schooner, they built a grocery store, two churches, and a school.
Lago Mar / Wikipedia
Today, a small cemetery is all that remains of this resilient community, which was was home to 300 people.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
By the 1930s, the town was completely abandoned, its structures left to decay.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
Have you ever experienced the abandoned town of Wash Woods at False Cape State Park? If so, we’d love to hear all about your time there! For more information, be sure to check out the official Virginia State Park website.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
Lago Mar / Wikipedia
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Address: False Cape State Park, 4001 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA
