Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Virginia Beach Wash Woods Settlement

Wash Woods Settlement

The eerie ruins of a remote abandoned hamlet said to be founded by the survivors of a shipwreck.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Added By
Shellie Leete
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Methodist steeple is now protected at the park (you can still see it).   Virginia State Parks/cc by 2.0
Wash Woods cemetery.   Virginia State Parks/cc by 2.0
Reclaimed boat.   Virginia State Parks/cc by 2.0
Shells in an old tombstone at Wash Woods.   Virginia State Parks/cc by 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hidden within False Cape State Park on the Virginia coast lie the overgrown ruins of Wash Woods, a small but thriving settlement that's been abandoned for over 80 years. Little is known about this mysterious ghost town, but many say it was founded by the survivors of a shipwreck that washed up on this remote section of the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” and decided to make it home.

It was a strange place to build a community. The coastal settlement was frequently "washed" by the area's extreme storms. The secluded village had no roads in or out, and was many miles away from the nearest population. It’s believed the sailors built houses and a local church with items salvaged from the wrecked ship, which was carrying lumber.

The town grew when the U.S. established a couple Life-Saving Service stations (a precursor to the Coast Guard) nearby, and servicemen and their families lived in Wash Woods. The town was home to about 300 people at its height around the turn of the century.

The closing of service stations and a particularly bad hurricane caused the population to dwindle, and Wash Woods was a ghost town by the 1930s. Today, what's left of the settlement is an eerie place. All that remains are a disembodied church steeple, some building foundations, overgrown rusted boats, and several headstones from the old cemetery, peeking out from under the moss.

Related Tags

Ghost Towns Shipwrecks Abandoned Weather Ruins Parks

Know Before You Go

False Cape is one of the least-visited Virginia state parks because it is so tricky to access. Reaching Wash Woods requires traveling on foot, bike, or canoe for miles through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, or catching a Terra-Gator or shuttle from the park itself.  You really need to work out how to get there before you visit.

And one other thing: The area is home to many resident venomous snakes, and it is likely you will see them sunning themselves on the trails, and even the beach. You can camp at this park, but again, you really need to work out the details when you call to reserve your primitive site. 

Community Contributors

Added By

innkeeper

Published

September 25, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Wash Woods Settlement
4001 Sandpiper Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia
United States
36.629898, -75.900099
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jerrassic Park - Metal Dinosaur Park

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

Military Aviation Museum

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach

Virginia

Places 7

Nearby Places

Jerrassic Park - Metal Dinosaur Park

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

Military Aviation Museum

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club

Virginia Beach, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach

Virginia

Places 7

Related Stories and Lists

The Most Wondrous State Parks to Visit During the Government Shutdown

List

By Kerry Wolfe

Related Places

  • “Behind the big house” - former slave quarters.

    Orrville, Alabama

    Old Cahawba Archeological Park

    This ghost town houses the remains of Alabama's old state capital.

  • The ruins of the burned down mill.

    Hebron, Connecticut

    Gay City State Park

    The ruins of an abandoned 18th-century town that is slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

  • Bankhead

    Bankhead, Alberta

    Bankhead Ghost Town

    The ruins of the "20-year town" lay out among the mountains of Alberta.

  • Cabin made of old railroad ties.

    Carlin, Nevada

    Palisade

    Little is left of this formerly bustling railroad junction on the Transcontinental Railroad.

  • Malo Grablje, Croatia

    Abandoned Village of Malo Grablje

    This deserted town in the hills of Croatia’s "party island" may have a scandalous connection to King Henry VIII.

  • Argonne, South Dakota

    Argonne Ghost Town

    Once a thriving town of 100, Argonne was abandoned around 1970.

  • Madam Brett Park

    Beacon, New York

    Madam Brett Park

    Home to the abandoned Tioronda Hat Works Factory, this park is a combination of woodlands and marshlands.

  • Nye County, Nevada

    Warm Springs Ghost Town

    The only thing still moving in this town is the eponymous hot spring.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.