Oyster, Virginia

As its name suggests, the tiny village of Oyster, Virginia is a quaint hamlet named for the many tangy, succulent oysters harvested from nearby salt waters. Even today, the heart of Oyster remains its deep water harbor and public boat launch ramp offering easy access to the Virginia Inside Passage, our seaside water route stretching from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel north to Ocean City, Maryland. A visit to the Oyster docks to buy fresh caught fish and crabs offers a glimpse of the modern day waterman, clad in white rubber "clamming boots", sorting the daily catch in handsome power boats called "deadrises" rather than the famous sail powered "skipjacks" of yesteryear. Scenic downtown Oyster is home to a dozen small cottages which were barged over to the mainland in the early 1900’s from Hog Island, an off-dash;shore barrier island. Also barged over to Oyster from a barrier island, Cobb Island, and restored to its former beauty by The Nature Conservancy, was the historic Cobb Island Lifeboat Station. Nearby is a new research center where scientists from universities, museums and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science are exploring the ecology of the "Virginia Coast Reserve", our unique chain of 18 undeveloped Atlantic barrier islands which has been declared a "United Nations Biosphere". Residents of Oyster enjoy a relaxed, coastal lifestyle with easy access to great seaside boating and fishing and beach, golf, marina, restaurant amenities and the Chesapeake Bay located just 10 minutes away in Cape Charles. Not far from town are several charming little seaside neighborhoods with waterfront homes or lots for sale, overlooking the Inside Passage and our Barrier Islands.