By: Carolanne Korolowicz
As the snow steadily fell, the temperature continued to plummet, and the ice encased the ground, I couldn’t help but dream of warmer days. Curled up on my couch, I escaped by scrolling Zillow and envisioning myself on a rocking chair with a water view. Deciphering my future vacation home, I thought the following, “Cancun is too distant, Florida’s weather is too unpredictable, and Rehoboth is too crowded…leaving the only option; Colonial Beach, Virginia.”
Though my previous statement is mostly in jest, Colonial Beach is honestly one of the area’s best kept secrets. Located just 85 miles from Arlington, the river town is low-key enough for a day trip and activity-filled enough for a long weekend. My parents’ recently purchased their get-away just steps from the Potomac River (the body of water that the beach is off of). They have found it to be a reprieve from city-life, a fantastic place to host all ages, and home to a great community of locals, part-timers, retirees and business owners.
The quaint hamlet has gone through many iterations throughout its history. Originally farmland and fisheries, the town’s development sparked in 1893 by the Colonial Beach Improvement Company, a group established by D.C. businessmen with the hopes of making Colonial Beach a Washingtonian’s oasis. Steamboats began to regularly transport thousands of DC-area residents to a thriving boardwalk and beachside hotels.
By 1949, Colonial Beach was more akin to Monte Carlo. The legalization of slot machines in neighboring Charles County, Maryland transitioned Colonial Beach from its “resort vibe” to its “casino-era.” Businessmen, once again, saw dollar signs. Virginia-side wharves were built featuring small casinos at the end of piers in the Maryland-owned Potomac waters. A large barge, dubbed “Pleasure Island”, acted as a floating gaming house of slot machines, pulling both Virginians and Marylanders offshore to press their luck. By 1958, Virginia councilmen convinced Maryland to amend its slot-machine laws, barring any use of machines unreachable from Maryland soil. This ultimately ended this high-stakes period.
Businessmen seeing lucrative opportunities in Colonial Beach appear to be the town’s history and present. In 2021, Richmond-based Dodson Development Group set its eyes on the “Playground on the Potomac.” Unlike historically, the current redevelopment has worked alongside the area’s aesthetic, rather than a complete overhaul of business, tourists, residents and reputation. Over the past five years, Dodson and The Virginia Department of Historic Resources have remodeled original storefronts and town buildings, along with developing new housing. Trendy restaurant and retail concepts have emerged on the main drag and boardwalk.
Today, Colonial Beach is a blend of Northern Neck hospitality and a DC-er’s creature comforts. Think: where fried seafood baskets & raw bar towers meet. When walking down the boardwalk, it’s an immersive experience of all walks of life– families setting up camp on the beach, 20-somethings at the ‘tiki-shack’, and retirees getting use out of their metal detectors. Holiday weekends include impressive band line-ups (one time I saw Brett Michaels was performing!), spirited parades, firework displays, local vendors lined streets, and often, motorcycles galore. Colonial Beach always has a little something for everyone.
With the average home sale price of approx. $325,000, it is apparent why many city-slickers see Colonial Beach as an attainable secondary home. For those also daydreaming of Summer days, here are some prime-located properties available now:
704 Jackson St. (New Construction)
I love an excuse to look at houses and to spend a day in Colonial Beach! If you want to chat more about investing in a vacation home, please do not hesitate to reach out.
