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.
More Attractions Nearby
Lynnhaven House
Built around 1725 by Francis Thelaball, a plantation owner and ship's carpenter, the Lynnhaven House is one of the best-preserved examples of early Virginia…
- Free
- Hidden Gem
Thoroughgood House
Likely built in 1719 by Argall Thorowgood II — who died during construction, leaving his wife Susannah to finish it — the Thoroughgood House is one of the…
- Free
- Family Friendly
Whitehurst-Buffington House
Built in 1793 by the Whitehurst family — a year after the first Cape Henry Lighthouse went up — this saltbox farmhouse sits directly across from the old…
- Hidden Gem
Cape Henry Lighthouse
Completed in 1792, the Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first federally funded public works project in the United States — authorized under George Washington,…
While You're in the Area
1608 Crafthouse
Chef-driven farm-to-table gastropub in Bayside with local craft taps, small-batch bourbon, and a dog-friendly patio known for housemade pork rinds.
- Dog Friendly
- Outdoor Seating
- Hidden Gem
Aberdeen Barn Steak House
Bayside steakhouse since 1966 serving in-house aged USDA Angus beef, seafood, and Sunday brunch.
- Date Night
American Brew
Bayside's coffee-and-whiskey cafe on East Stratford Road, serving 100-plus drink options, acai bowls, and a signature Brewrito wrap since 2016.
Bay Local Eatery — Shore Drive
Daytime seafood-and-brunch spot on Shore Drive making everything in-house from locally sourced ingredients, with dog-welcoming outdoor tables.
- Dog Friendly
- Outdoor Seating
- Family Friendly
Bayside Bar & Grill
Shore Drive hole-in-the-wall running happy-hour drink pricing every day, with a rotating weekly food calendar and weekend DJ nights.
- Happy Hour
- Hidden Gem
- Live Music
Bayville Farms Dog Park
The best-equipped of Virginia Beach's five free public dog parks: Bayville Farms offers three separate fenced areas so small and large dogs can be split up,…
- Dog Friendly
- Free
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.
Autumn in the Air
November 7, 2026 · annual
A newer addition to the city's Parks & Recreation calendar, this single-day fall festival takes over Mount Trashmore Park with folk, americana, and rock bands on an outdoor stage, food and drink for purchase, and activities scattered across the lakefront lawn. Now in its third year, it's grown into the city's answer to a proper autumn street festival without the Oceanfront crowds -- bring a lawn chair or blanket, since tents and large coolers aren't allowed in the event area. Free admission and parking make it an easy afternoon add for anyone already in Kempsville.