Dragon Run Inn

August 8, 2011 will mark the Annual Buyboat Homecoming in Urbanna.  Urbanna will be the final stop on the CBBA, Chesapeake Bay Buyboat Association. cruise.  Much like other reunions this will be a gathering of old oyster buyboats that have gone into retirement.  Buyboats have been around since the early 1900's and average between 55 and 65 feet in length, with the largest still afloat being the O.A. Bloxom, measuring 84 feet.  Buyboats have been used to haul all type of goods before the onset of bridges and modern roads.  The CBBA consists of two fleets - northern and southern - and each year the buyboat cruises switches off traveling either north or south.  This year is the south's turn.  Approximately 30 buyboats remain on the Chesapeake Bay.  Some boats are owned by museums, but many are owned and maintained by members of the Chespeake Buyboat Association. 

Cruise Schedule:  August 2 will begin at Tangier Island; they will depart on the 4th for Cape Charles Town Harbor where the reunion will take place.  The reunion will be held Aug. 5 through 8 and will include boat tours, live music, food and games.  Next the boats are off to Deltaville where they will dock at the Poquoson Yacht Club before moving on to ther final stop in Urbanna.  While in Urbanna the boats will be open to the public for tours on Aug. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. and on Aug. 13 from 10a.m. to 5p.m.  Come and visit Urbanna and get the feel of a little history as you talk with the boat owners.  Hope to see you there.

Tags: Urbanna, buyboats

Visit Stratford Hall Plantation, this is a great time of year to enjoy the backcountry of the Northern Neck of Virginia and discover how the leader's of the south lived.  Experience plantation life as lived by the Lees of Stratford - colonists, revolutionaries, nation builders and secessionists. Stratford Hall offers a tranquil setting with leisure activities for families.  Check their website for a list activities such as wine tastings, concerts, fairs, war reenactments, classes lectures and beach combing for fossils.  Take a tour and hear the "back room" stores of the Lee family and how they lived almost entirely off the land in the first half of the 18th century.  The family occupied the main floor of the 10,000 square-foot home, which is still fully furnished and includes the baby crib of Robert E. Lee.  Plan a week and enjoy the accomodations at the Dragon Inn as you enjoy stepping back into history.

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Urbanna was formered in 1680 and has had a history of a center of commerce since it's beginning with tobacco being the big product at that time. The town thrived off the tobacco trade until 1830 when the custom house was closed by the state. During the colonial period, British ships off loaded goods and supplies at the port of Urbanna in march of each year. The ship then in turn were loaded with tobacco for their trip hoe.

The town was named Urbanna in 1704 for Queen Anne of England, in 1748 it became the county seat of Middlesex. Today Saluda is the county seat for Middlesex. The Urbanna Oyster Festal is a big event the first weekend in Nov. every year and 70,000+ people come to enjoy the festivities. Boaters enjoy visitng Urbanna jarbpir and others come by land to step back in time and enjoy the small town atmosphere. Come and stroll the streets and visit the unique shops, a number of restaurbants, the old drug store with the soda fountain, or just relax on a bench at Waterman's Park with a good book. The first weekend in December is a great time too. Friday night will be the Christmas Parade and kids can visit Santa at the Fire House. On Saturday the Holiday House Tour always brings a crowd as homes, churches and other historic building will be decked out and open for the holidays.

Come visit and stay awhile.

Tags: House Tour, Christmas Parade, Small Town

When was the last time you rode a ferry arcross the river? In the Northern Neck of Virginia you can still enjoy that experience. The Merry Point and Sunnybank car ferries carry their passengers on a leisurely trip. These two vessels are the last two free powered, cable car ferries in Virginia and carry about 30,000 vehicles a year. The Merry Point ferry is at the end of Merry Point Road, Route 604, and operates from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Sunnybank ferry is on Sunnybank Road, Route 644, and operated from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. These ferries save drives about a half hour on their trip. Come and enjoy a day in the country and explore the Corrotoman River in Lancaster County or the Little Wicomico River in Northumberland County. Make plans today for a day of relaxation and a step back in time.

Tags: Merry Point Ferry, Sunnybank Ferry

The Old Tobacco Warehouse was built in 1766 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the United States associated with the transportation and sale of tobacco.  Sailing vessels from England were manned by British crews and owned by English and Scottish merchants who came seeking tobacco in exchange for goods and supplies.  James Mills, a scottish merchant, purchased the and between 173and 1867 and built a public warehouse.  The warehouse sits on a gentle hillside overlooking the old tobacco rolling road to Urbanna Creek.

Virginians raised tobacco to trade for manufactured goods from the mother country, England; first using the barter system.  The Barrels - hog heads when filled would be approximately 500 pounds.

The warehouse served as a private residence for a time; and also was the Middlesex County Library until 1991 when the new library was built.  The Town of Urbanna took control of the Old Tobacco Warehouse in the mid-1990's and restored it back to its original condition and made it into the Urbanna Visitor's Center lending support to historic preservation showing its importance as a 17th century Colonial building connected with tobacco and water transportation in the develpment of our nation.  Behind the structure, the Historical Gardens Preservation group has started an English Kitchen Garden or otherwise known as an herb garden.

We would love to have you come and spend a few days with us at the Dragon Run Inn and explore historic Urbanna, www.urbanna.com.

Tags: Urbanna, historic, tobacco