Ferry Plantation House
Ferry Plantation House is a attraction in Bayside, Virginia Beach, best for local-history lovers, ghost-story fans, a genuinely off-the-tourist-path stop.
Tucked into a residential cul-de-sac on the Lynnhaven River, Ferry Plantation House is an 1830 Federal-style brick farmhouse built from the salvaged bricks of the 1751 Walke manor house that burned on the site in 1828 — and the property's history runs deeper still, back to 1642, when a ferry service began crossing the river here. The all-volunteer Friends of the Ferry Plantation House rescued the abandoned building in the 1990s and earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The house leans into its connection to Grace Sherwood, the 'Witch of Pungo,' who was tried by water ducking in the Lynnhaven in 1706 — the house's Witch of Pungo programming is a local favorite. Docent-led tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 10am–4pm (last tour 3:30pm); the volunteers' rule of thumb is charming and literal — if the flag is flying, they're open. Pull the bell.
- Hidden Gem
Amenities
- Docent-led tours
- Witch of Pungo programming
Know Before You Go
- Best for: local-history lovers, ghost-story fans, a genuinely off-the-tourist-path stop
- Parking: Limited parking on the residential cul-de-sac at the end of Cheswick Lane.
- Accessibility: Volunteer-run historic house museum; call (757) 473-5182 for accessibility details before visiting.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 4136 Cheswick Ln, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Lynnhaven River NOW Oyster Roast
May 1, 2027 · annual (first Saturday in May)
Lynnhaven River NOW's signature fundraiser turns the waterfront lawn at the Brock Environmental Center into an all-you-can-eat oyster roast, marking the nonprofit's multi-decade push to bring the Lynnhaven's namesake oyster back from near-collapse. Roasted and raw oysters pulled from the restoration reefs anchor the spread, backed by barbecue, local beer and spirits, live music, and a shucking contest, with proceeds funding the group's oyster-reef and water-quality restoration work. It's a rare chance to eat Lynnhaven oysters within sight of the reefs that grew them, at a bayfront green building a few minutes off Shore Drive.
Town Center Summer Fest Music Series
May 22, 2026 – September 7, 2026 · seasonal (nightly concerts, late May-early September)
The Central Business District Association's free concert series takes over Town Center's Fountain Plaza most nights from late May through early September, with cover bands, tribute acts, and local musicians playing against the backdrop of the plaza's high-rises. Restaurants ringing the plaza put out sidewalk seating within earshot of the stage, turning a weeknight downtown into an impromptu outdoor show. It's the closest thing Virginia Beach's inland downtown has to the Oceanfront's summer concert culture -- free, walkable, and parked in the Town Center garages rather than beach lots.
Last Night on the Town
December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027 · annual
Town Center's alcohol-free New Year's Eve tradition takes over Fountain Plaza with a family DJ and light-up dance floor in the lower plaza, live headlining acts on the main stage, and a Virginia Beach ball drop at midnight. The Central Business District Association produces the free general-admission event with IMGoing, alongside a paid 21-and-over VIP experience hosted by Cantina Laredo. It's the inland counterpart to the Oceanfront's summer festival season — Town Center's high-rises and restaurant patios standing in for the boardwalk crowd.