False Cape State Park
Encyclopedia
False Cape State Park is a state park
in the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia
. It is a mile-wide barrier spit between Back Bay
and the Atlantic Ocean
. The park adjoins the state border with North Carolina
and lies shortly north of Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
. It is one of the last undisturbed coast
al environments on the East Coast
.
At the south end of the park is a monument
with "Va." on one side and "N Ca" on the other. Although it reads "A.D. 1728" on the top, it was probably erected in 1887 when the boundary was surveyed.
Park access is through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
, and is limited to hiking
, bicycling or boating
. The park also offers tram
and beach crawler (known as the Terra Gator) transportation for day visitors during certain seasons. The park features primitive camping and an extensive environmental education
program
The area was named for its resemblance to Cape Henry
when seen from the ocean
. This false impression lured ships and boats looking for the real Cape Henry (about 20 miles (30 km) to the north at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
) into the shallow waters, where they could more readily run aground
.
According to popular legend, the now lost community of Wash Woods
was developed by survivors of such a shipwreck in the 16th or early 17th century. The village’s church and other structures were built using cypress
wood that washed ashore from a wreck. In the early 20th century, False Cape was a haven for a number of prestigious hunt
clubs, which took advantage of the area's abundant waterfowl
. The park's Wash Woods Environmental Education Center is a converted hunt clubhouse.
In 2004, The Virginian-Pilot
reported poor conditions at a trash dump area in the park which were subsequently resolved by a cleanup project park employees, volunteers and private firms. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=85864&ran=32334
Undeveloped portions of the park were rededicated as the False Cape Natural Area Preserve
in 2002.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. It is a mile-wide barrier spit between Back Bay
Currituck Sound
Currituck Sound is a protected inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern part of North Carolina. Thirty miles N-S and 3–8 miles wide, this shallow, island-filled sound is separated from the ocean by Bodie Island, part of the Outer Banks...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The park adjoins the state border with North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and lies shortly north of Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1960 to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, primarily the greater snow goose. Located between Back Bay in Virginia and the Currituck Sound in North Carolina, the refuge is primarily made up of marsh habitat...
. It is one of the last undisturbed coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al environments on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
.
At the south end of the park is a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
with "Va." on one side and "N Ca" on the other. Although it reads "A.D. 1728" on the top, it was probably erected in 1887 when the boundary was surveyed.
Park access is through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia is located in the independent city of Virginia Beach. Established in 1938 in isolated portion of Princess Anne County, it is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service....
, and is limited to hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, bicycling or boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
. The park also offers tram
Trackless train
A trackless train is a road-going articulated vehicle used for the transport of passengers, comprising a driving vehicle pulling one or more carriages connected by drawbar couplings, in the manner of a road going railway train.-Terminology:Trackless train or land train...
and beach crawler (known as the Terra Gator) transportation for day visitors during certain seasons. The park features primitive camping and an extensive environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
program
The area was named for its resemblance to Cape Henry
Cape Henry
Cape Henry is a cape on the Atlantic shore of Virginia north of Virginia Beach. It is the southern boundary of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.Across the mouth of the bay to the north is Cape Charles...
when seen from the ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
. This false impression lured ships and boats looking for the real Cape Henry (about 20 miles (30 km) to the north at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
) into the shallow waters, where they could more readily run aground
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
.
According to popular legend, the now lost community of Wash Woods
Wash Woods, Virginia
Wash Woods was an unincorporated town located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Princess Anne County in the extreme southeastern corner of Virginia. The site of the former town is currently located within False Cape State Park in the Virginia Beach area....
was developed by survivors of such a shipwreck in the 16th or early 17th century. The village’s church and other structures were built using cypress
Cupressaceae
The Cupressaceae or cypress family is a conifer family with worldwide distribution. The family includes 27 to 30 genera , which include the junipers and redwoods, with about 130-140 species in total. They are monoecious, subdioecious or dioecious trees and shrubs from 1-116 m tall...
wood that washed ashore from a wreck. In the early 20th century, False Cape was a haven for a number of prestigious hunt
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
clubs, which took advantage of the area's abundant waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
. The park's Wash Woods Environmental Education Center is a converted hunt clubhouse.
In 2004, The Virginian-Pilot
The Virginian-Pilot
The Virginian-Pilot is a daily newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, southeastern Virginia, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The flagship property of Landmark Media Enterprises, The Pilot is Virginia's largest daily...
reported poor conditions at a trash dump area in the park which were subsequently resolved by a cleanup project park employees, volunteers and private firms. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=85864&ran=32334
Undeveloped portions of the park were rededicated as the False Cape Natural Area Preserve
False Cape Natural Area Preserve
False Cape Natural Area Preserve is a Natural Area Preserve located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just north of the state border with North Carolina...
in 2002.
See also
- Wash Woods
- Virginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
- Back Bay National Wildlife RefugeBack Bay National Wildlife RefugeBack Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia is located in the independent city of Virginia Beach. Established in 1938 in isolated portion of Princess Anne County, it is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service....
- Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia
External links
- False Cape State Park
- False Cape State Park in World Database on Protected Areas
- Waterland Farm website with photos of remains of Wash Woods
- Museumsusa.org, False Cape State Park webpage