False Cape State Park

4001 Sandpiper Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456 USA

Independent

“Between the Bay and Ocean”

Nestled between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, False Cape State Park is one of the last remaining undeveloped areas along the Atlantic coast. As the former home of Native Americans, the historic Wash Woods community and a Coast Guard life saving station, False Cape honors the hardy souls who made a living from the sea. The park offers an opportunity to experience nature in a unique, primitive setting. Be prepared for weather conditions. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent. False Cape features guided kayak trips, primitive camping, interpretive programs, hiking and biking trails, and six miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach. The park is accessible only by foot, bicycle, beach transport, tram or boat. There is no public vehicular access. Tram transportation is available April 1 through Oct. 31 through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where there is an entrance fee. Between Nov. 1 and March 31, access to the park is restricted to hiking or biking along the beach, by boat or by the park's beach transporter. To make reservations for the beach transporter, known as the Terra Gator, call 800-933-7275.

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Reviewed by
Nancy Sewell

1,228 Reviews
414 Helpful

February 01, 2017

The former town of Wash Woods is currently part of False Cape State Park. The community was established under the most unlikely of terms: a shipwreck along the Atlantic. While the time frame is not certain, it is believed this wreck happened as early as the 16th century.

Surviving passengers repurposed the cypress wood that washed to the shore after the wreck for building some of the town’s earliest structures, including the church. The foundations for this community were strong, as the town survived well into the turn of the 20th century. At one point, Wash Woods housed a United States Coast Guard station, grocery store, a school, and two churches. More than 300 people called this coastal site home.

Storms were a constant threat, causing waves of saltwater to interrupt much of the farming. This, in fact, is why the name “Wash Woods” was chosen. By 1920s, most of the town had evacuated and the Hurricane of 1933 essentially cleared out the town. A few graveyards and church steeple are still there.

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