Virginia Beach Boardwalk

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a three-mile concrete oceanfront promenade running along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Stretching from 2nd to 40th Streets along the Oceanfront, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is the quintessential Virginia Beach experience. More than 2.2 million people visit the three-mile-long concrete boardwalk each year, and it is an integral part of the City of Virginia Beach's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. From its origins as a modest wooden walkway in the Gilded Age to its current status as a nationally recognized public space, the Boardwalk has served as the social and commercial heart of the resort city for more than a century. It was designated a Great Public Space in 2009 by the American Planning Association.

History

The 1883 construction of a railroad system made the trip from Norfolk to the coast quick and easy, and ushered in the dawn of Virginia Beach's resort era. In 1888, just five years later, the cottage and hotel industry saw the addition of what was considered the area's first "luxury" hotel. With its electric lights, bath house verandas and grand ballroom, the magnificent Princess Anne Hotel soon drew the attention of Virginia's social elite. Designed to accentuate the luxury hotel experience, the first boardwalk — a mere eight feet wide and built of wood decking — extended only the four blocks between the Princess Anne at Sixteenth Street and the Arlington Hotel at Twelfth.

Built originally from wooden planks during the nation's Gilded Age, the five-block promenade attracted thousands of Victorian vacationers. During the Gilded Age, the boardwalk ran next to the Peacock Ballroom, where artists including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Tommy Dorsey performed.

In 1907, tragedy struck when the boardwalk succumbed to a fire that began in the Princess Anne Hotel. Ironically, according to The Beach: A History of Virginia Beach, Virginia compiled by the Virginia Beach Public Library, a waterworks system, including hydrants and an 80,000-gallon holding tank, was in the process of being installed and was to have been in operation the next day; however, the system wasn't completed in time to save the hotel. Men and women tore up the wooden boardwalk planks to prevent the flames from spreading, according to a Virginian-Pilot newspaper report.

By 1927, the Virginia Beach Walkway Corporation had formed to launch a $250,000 bond campaign. It would pay for a concrete seawall and "boardwalk" to stretch from 5th to 35th Streets, connecting attractions in the resort area's south and north ends. Construction took place in 1928. In 1926, residents and visitors were delighted at the construction of a new, concrete boardwalk, built around the same time as the opening of the Cavalier Hotel in 1927. The Cavalier quickly became one of the most celebrated resort hotels on the East Coast. The Cavalier eventually hosted seven U.S. Presidents: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

The new walkway was three-and-a-half miles long, but because of concerns for stroller safety, bicycles were prohibited in 1937. Later, the ban was lifted after construction of a separate side-road for cyclists.

In 1962, a Nor'easter produced 20–30 foot waves that crashed into the boardwalk, breaking up the concrete and eating away many sections of the walkway. The structure was rebuilt and continued to evolve through subsequent decades. The boardwalk was substantially updated in 1988, becoming a concrete path linking forty hotels and other attractions via a pedestrian walkway and separated bike path, which in turn connects to nearby trails and surface streets.

Residents and visitors enjoy entertainment events at the 24th Street Park, a cul-de-sac turned pocket park that was part of a $100 million boardwalk facelift in 1990. That $100 million facelift during the 1990s brought a pedestrian scale to the boardwalk's 10 acres of public space; previous cul-de-sacs were transformed into pocket parks; tall, cobra-head street lights were replaced with more compact, fluted fixtures; colorful pavers replaced brushed concrete; and hundreds of strategically-placed teak benches were added.

During the late 1990s, the Army Corps of Engineers plunged a steel seawall 30 feet into the ground and placed a concrete boardwalk on top; designed to survive powerful storms, the structure prevented $80 million worth of damages from Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Separately, beach erosion had been a long-standing concern: erosion reduced the beach to 150 feet by the early 1990s, but it was restored to 300 feet by the Army Corps of Engineers, which now holds a beach maintenance contract with the City of Virginia Beach through 2050.

Physical Description

The boardwalk is 3 miles long and 28 feet wide, stretching from 1st to 40th Streets at the Oceanfront. Instead of traditional wooden planks, Virginia Beach's boardwalk is concrete. The 3-mile thoroughfare is lined with quaint benches, Colonial-style street lamps, and separate biking and walking paths. The boardwalk extends 40 city blocks between Rudee Inlet to the south and 40th Street to the north.

The boardwalk is handicapped accessible from both nearby Atlantic Avenue and the beachfront; wheelchair accessible ramps from the boardwalk to the beach occur at every block, and several accessible restrooms are located along the boardwalk. Some 4,000 public parking spaces along the beach are available in both lots and garages. The Wave trolley system also serves the area seasonally. The Virginia Beach Wave trolley operates along three routes near the boardwalk from May through September.

The modern boardwalk features designated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, providing the perfect setting for a picturesque walk or bike ride along the oceanfront. A dedicated bike path allows visitors to cycle with ease, even when the boardwalk is busiest in summer months. At Cherie's Bicycle & Blade Rentals, visitors can rent cruiser and tandem bikes, as well as surrey bikes and inline skates.

Landmarks and Monuments

The boardwalk is home to several significant public art installations and historical structures that document the history of Virginia Beach and the broader region.

The most prominent landmark is the King Neptune statue. The awe-inspiring King Neptune statue — a bronze creation designed by artist Paul DiPasquale — stands 34 feet tall and weighs an impressive 12.5 tons. The statue showcases the mythical sea god brandishing his trident, surrounded by an array of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, and an octopus. Since its unveiling in 2005, the King Neptune statue has become a popular spot for capturing memorable photos.

Also found along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a touching tribute to the past: the Norwegian Lady Statue, overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean, is a poignant reminder of the lives lost and saved during the tragic shipwreck of the Norwegian sailing vessel Dictator in 1891. This beloved landmark symbolizes the enduring bond between Virginia Beach and its sister city, Moss, Norway. A twin of the Norwegian Lady statue stands in Moss, Norway.

Reminders of the boardwalk's historic past include the 1895 deWitt Cottage — the oldest beach house along the city's oceanfront — and the 1903 Coast Guard Station, which stands on the site of the waterfront's original 1870s Seatack Life Saving Station. On the boardwalk, the deWitt Cottage is home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, which showcases original paintings and award-winning carvings.

The Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, situated in a historic former U.S. Life-Saving Service station, celebrates the inspiring stories of the courageous men and women who have protected the shores. Exhibits showcase artifacts and memorabilia spanning from the early Life-Saving Service days to the present-day U.S. Coast Guard, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region's maritime legacy. The building that houses the museum is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Public art adorns the boardwalk and adjacent parks, including a 34-foot-tall bronze King Neptune and six larger-than-life bronze sculptures with action-oriented presentations representing three historic eras in naval aviation. Some of the monuments are located at the Naval Aviation Monument Park, which was formally dedicated on May 6, 2006, by the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Naval Aviation Foundation Association. Planned since 1997 in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach, the park features heroic-scale statuary and reliefs to tell the history of Naval Aviation.

The Virginia Legends Walk features famous historical Virginians such as Pocahontas, Edgar Allan Poe, and George Washington.

Events and Entertainment

The boardwalk is home to hundreds of activities, from festivals, live entertainment, and concerts to outdoor art showcases and sports competitions. The boardwalk hosts a variety of live music events every year. With four oceanfront stages at 7th, 17th, 24th, and 31st Streets, there are ample opportunities for festivals, concerts, and other entertainment, all with an ocean view.

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk transforms into a lively hub of music and entertainment during the summer months, thanks to the Live! on Atlantic program. This series of complimentary concerts and performances takes place at various stages along the boardwalk, giving visitors the opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of musical genres and performers. The Oceanfront Concert Series hosts free live music events at several locations along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk most Wednesday evenings from early June to mid-September.

The annual Neptune Festival celebrates life and the tastes of Virginia Beach, with food vendors and music performances lining the boardwalk. Local artists also showcase their pottery and stained glass creations during the event.

Other sports have their own signature events, including the annual North American Sand Soccer Tournament and the East Coast Surfing Championships. Every year, 32 world-class sand sculptors use nearly a million pounds of sand to compete along the Oceanfront Beach for their share of a record-setting $58,000 purse.

Another notable tourist attraction at the Oceanfront is the 14th Street Fishing Pier. It is one of many fishing piers located in the state of Virginia, and the only pier accessible from the boardwalk. The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier extends 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and, apart from offering chances to catch an assortment of fish species such as flounder, trout, and bluefish, also houses a charming amusement park.

At the heart of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk lies JT's Grommet Island Park, a 15,000-square-foot beach park that is an inclusive and accessible playground providing a delightful experience for children and families of all abilities.

Recognition

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk was noted as one of America's favorite boardwalks by the Discovery Channel and as a destination by magazines such as Coastal Living, Southern Living, and National Geographic Traveler. The iconic boardwalk has received a number of accolades and awards, including being named to Travel + Leisure's list of "America's Best Beach Boardwalks." The American Planning Association designated the boardwalk a Great Public Space in 2009, citing its blend of historical significance, public accessibility, and urban planning quality.

Lined by privately owned condominiums and hotels, the boardwalk is publicly accessible and draws more than two million people each year. Its role in the regional economy remains substantial; since 1888, it has been an integral part of the tourism that helps drive the city's economy.