Virginia Beach, The First Resort
Renee S. Gordon
Native Americans, namely the Chesepians, inhabited the South
Hampton Roads region of Virginia for thousands of years prior
to first contact with English colonists on April 26, 1607.
Three British Ships sent by the Virginia Company, sailed for 4
months, landed on Cape Henry and erected a wooden cross on the
spot where they came ashore. Captain Christopher Newport, the
first English tourist, was first to go ashore to reconnoiter
and found “freshwaters, faire meadowes," and “goodly tall
trees”. A second party built a small boat and visited the
areas’ land and waterways. On May 14, the ships relocated to
Jamestown and established the first permanent English
settlement.
First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park
commemorates the arrival of the first
settlers, and in a way the first travelers who came to rest,
rejuvenate and explore the Virginia Beach region. The African
American Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park from
1933-40, it is the most visited in Virginia and offers 20-miles
of trails, 1.5-miles of Chesapeake Bay beach frontage and
educational information. The park’s waterways have been roads
for pirates, 1812 soldiers, Union and Confederate vessels and
now recreational sailing.
Activities
Virginia Beach is astounding in its number and diversity of
activities. The action is year-round and includes,
whale-watching boat tours, eclectic dining, historic sites,
28-miles of oceanfront, 3-miles of boardwalk and a 30-block
activity zone. It is the last estuary before the ocean and the
bird watching is awesome. There are numerous choices regarding
how you spend your time in this, the largest resort city in the
world. Some are the traditional options and others have
something a little exclusive for visitors to enjoy.
It is no surprise that VA Beach is one of America’s most
haunted cities because of its age and the number of deaths the
city has witnessed. The
Adam Thoroughgood House is one
of the oldest remaining brick houses in the country. It is
located on the shore of the Lynnhaven River. The exterior brick
forms an English bond pattern with 12-inch thick walls and
tours are given of the exterior, restored and furnished
interior and garden.
Tours begin in the Visitor Center with a 7-minute orientation
film. The original owner came over as an indentured servant.
Once free he purchased land 5-miles from Cape Henry and brought
over 105 other indentures, receiving 50-acres of land per
person. His original estate was 5,000-acres and he later owned
27 enslaved Africans. The original owners haunt the house.
Grace Sherwood was a farmer, healer, midwife, widow and the
sole convicted “witch” tried by water in the state. By modern
standards Grace was harassed by her neighbors as she was
chronically denounced as a witch for killing livestock,
altering the weather, destroying crops, wearing men’s clothing
when she worked, etc. She often sued her defamers and won
judgments but that did not deter them. In January 1706 She was
again accused of witchcraft and in July 1706 she was walked to
a point on the shore of the Lynnhaven River, now Witchduck
Point, where she was bound and thrown into the river. In the
ordeal if you sank you were innocent, dead, but innocent. If
you floated you were guilty and punished. Grace floated and was
then taken to jail for seven years. She became known to history
as the “Witch of Pungo”. She is said to haunt the Ferry
Plantation House where her trial took place and where she is
supposedly buried beneath a tree.
Governor Tim Kaine exonerated her
in 2006. A statue of her stands near the place of her ducking.
She holds a basket of rosemary as a reminder of her role as a
healer. A headstone has been placed in the garden of Old Dominion Episcopal Church.
Cavalier Hotel
The jewel in the crown of VA Beach’s collection of
accommodations is the Cavalier Hotel. It was constructed atop
of what was once a sand dune in 1927 at the cost of $2-million.
The Y-shaped, 600-room property offered every possible amenity
as well as an in-house stockbroker. Every major band and
entertainer played in the ballroom and ten US presidents have
been guests. In 1942 The Dept. of the Navy conscripted the
hotel for use during WWII. The government retained the chef and
the soldiers boasted how good the food was.
The hotel fell into disrepair and received a $90-million
renovation. Today it offers luxury accommodations, a stunning
menu of amenities, the top four restaurants in the area,
SeaHill, a 6200-sq. ft. world-class spa facility, the Tarnished
Truth Distillery and a host of hauntings. The most famous
spirit is that of Adolph Coors, the beer tycoon, found dead on
the grounds beneath his window on June 6, 1929, believed to
have been a suicide.
Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) is known as the “Father of Holistic
Medicine”. He began doing health readings for people in 1901
and soon concluded that our health is intertwined with our
mind, will and spirit. He completed 14,306 readings over
28-years, on a membership basis. These readings, prescriptions
for a variety of health issues are archived and accessible at
the Association for Research and
Enlightenment (A.R.E.). The VA Beach compound includes a
library of 90,000 metaphysical books, Cayce Visitor Center
bookstore, Lecture Hall, Spa, Health Center and Meditation
Garden. Daily tours are conducted at 2:30 PM.
Surfing
The East Coast Surfing Championships, one of the largest and
second oldest events in the World Surf League, will take place
over 8-days this August in five designated surfing areas. As
home of the biggest East Coast surf event VA Beach will host 28
countries and more than 800 competitors with a top prize of
$30,000. Additional activities include Surfers’ Healing, for
handicapped surfers one week before the championship and a tent
museum displaying curated artifacts throughout.
Learn to Surf Camp will be
held for those wishing to learn or improve skills and learn
ocean safety and surf etiquette.
Visitors can experience the unique and unexpected in Virginia
Beach, the first continually surprising resort city.