The Rivah has not always been so easily accessible for everyone. That is all changing with investments by Lancaster County for public waterfront access.
Over the past three years, existing boat ramps and fishing piers have been renovated, two new parks have been created and two more are on the way.
“Our strategic plan and comprehensive plan call for these parks, these access points. It’s very specific about where we want public access to waters strategically spread out across the county,” said Lancaster assistant county administrator John Bateman. When this slate of water access parks is complete in 2027, visitors will have access to the Rappahannock River and five of its tributaries throughout the county—Carter Creek, Greenvale Creek, Harpers Creek, Taylor Creek and the Western Branch of the Corrotoman River.
Westland Beach and Public Fishing Pier at Windmill Point County Maritime Recreational Campus
At the terminus of Windmill Point Road, White Stone
With its marina, hotel, restaurants and wide, sandy beach, Windmill Point Marina was a popular destination for boaters and beach bums alike back in the 1960s. Owned by Dr. Wallace W. Atwood, the resort was the place for tourists and residents to enjoy an enticing mix of sun, sand and saltwater.
At its peak there were teen dances, boat shows and the annual crowning of Miss Windmill Point Marina. When Atwood celebrated 10 years of hospitality, it was reported that in that period of time “more than 1,000 different boats” came from “California, Oklahoma, Ohio, Michigan Illinois, Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, Bermuda and of course Virginia, Maryland and all the states along the coast from Maine to Florida.”
Over the years, the resort changed hands, and in a pattern of decline and rebirth, bounced back only to face another setback. Sometimes the setbacks were at the hands of Mother Nature—a fire, storms and a hurricane claimed a few buildings and much of the beach over a few decades.
Windmill Point was, and also is, working waterfront. Oyster leases along the shores of the Rappahannock River have been tonged and dredged for generations while fishing boats with their catch of the day come in from the Chesapeake Bay. Nature proved formidable here too. MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni) and Dermo (Perkinsus marinus), two parasites first detected in the 1950s, decimated the oyster population in Virginia. Thanks to the development of disease resistant oyster strains, thoughtful breeding and oyster bed restoration efforts, wild and farmed oysters are making a comeback.
Westland Beach also is making a comeback—again. The county made a significant commitment of money and effort into restoring this jewel, which opened in November 2025. About $5 million was invested in constructing new breakwaters, dredging the marina channel and restoring the beach, as well as building a new fishing pier, new public restroom facilities and parking. While the beach has been restored much like the days of the 1960s, its rebirth is not just about recreation this time. “It is a resilience project that’s disguised as a park and we got a park as a benefit,” said Bateman.
With 330 miles of tidal shoreline in the county, protecting the waterfront against rising sea levels and damaging wave action is critical to shielding property and preserving water quality. “Shorelines are dynamic,” he said. Sand wants to move and deposit elsewhere due to wave action. While the new break waters help keep the beach in place, the beach and sand dunes with native dune vegetation will let nature mitigate the impacts of flooding.
It is why 40% of this project was funded through state and federal grants related to coastal resilience from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Most importantly, the beach and dunes will bear the brunt of storm surges and wave action during hurricanes and other severe storms. The sand and vegetation, once established, will reduce wave energy. That means any surge will travel slower and less further inland, protecting property. Coastal buffers like this also help to filter runoff before it enters the river, vital for a community so reliant on the water for its livelihood.
Bateman has plans for more at Windmill Point to ensure there is access for all. In addition to being American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant with the fishing pier design, an accessibility mat will be installed so those with wheelchairs or other mobility aids can enjoy the beach.
Education also is a piece that he is working on. “One of the reasons we called it the County Maritime Recreational Campus at Windmill Point, is we were trying to give a nod to its maritime use over the years,” he said. Interpretive signs that share the history of Windmill Point will be installed and programs on the life cycle of the Atlantic oyster and its importance to the surrounding waters are also planned.
Harpers Creek Park & Working Waterfront Complex
459 Harpers Creek Drive, White Stone
A short drive from Windmill Point, Harpers Creek Park & Working Waterfront Complex, 459 Harpers Creek Drive, White Stone, opened in April. Here, the county capitalized on a public/private partnership with a seafood business, Stay The Course LLC owned by Nathan and Kara Everett.
“We wanted an area of public access that not only served recreational vessels, but that served commercial vessels. And we got a park out of it. Yes, it’s great, but it’s also an economic development tool that serves our watermen and gives them a place to land their products,” Bateman said.
Although the current park boasts plenty of amenities—parking, boat launch, courtesy pier, restrooms and fishing pier on Antipoison Creek—Everett said this is just the beginning of his vision for the land. In the coming years he would like to see a small restaurant open on the site as well as expand to include a pavilion and an additional pier.
Meanwhile, he will remain busy with Still Kickin’ Seafood, “catching fish, crab and bait” for retail sales on site. Without regular hours, Everett says “It’s best to call ahead” to see what is available and when. Just call Nate at 252-945-2757.”
More on the horizon
An April ground breaking marked the beginning of the latest public access project, Taylor Creek Park at the terminus of Park Creek Lane, Weems. When finished, the park will include woodland nature trails, picnic shelters, a boardwalk overlooking tidal wetlands and a canoe/kayak launch. It is expected to be completed by October.
The last park currently in the works is Carter Cove Park at 212 Carter’s Cove Drive, Weems. Work on the boat ramp, fishing pier, walking trails and oyster heritage learning center is expected to begin soon and open early in 2027.
