1. Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Posted by admin | Posted on 09-20-2008
Recent Reviews
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May 2, 2012 - We spent one night at the free dock at the Visitors Center. The next morning we rode... read more
July 30, 2009 - We cruised the Dismal Swamp for 2 days last week spending a night at the Visitor’s... read more
July 28, 2009 - The welcome center was a pleasant overnight stop. We arrived late in the afternoon.... read more
July 27, 2009 - We stopped and tied up at the rest area for the night on our early June cruise up to... read more
July 27, 2009 - I was a tad dissapointed with the Visitors Center – perhaps expecting too... read more
1. Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
(252) 771-8333
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR
http://www.dismalswampwelcomecenter.com
Statute Mile: 28
Lat/Lon: near 36 30.324 North/076 21.308 West
Location: along the eastern banks of the Dismal Swamp Canal
Transient dockage: Available
Type of dockage: fixed wooden pier
Total number of slips/berths: 15
Transient dockage rate: Free
Provisioning Possibilities: None
Depths: 6 foot minimum depths
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We spent one night at the free dock at the Visitors Center. The next morning we rode our bikes along the adjacent bike path, then moved 6 more miles up the Canal and spent a second night tied up at a free Corps of Engineers dock (only 20 feet long, so we took up more than the entire dock but would have let others raft to us). After we tied up there, we took our
dinghy 3 miles up the Dismal Swamp Canal Feeder Ditch, right across from the dock, to Lake Drummond, which provides the water they use to keep the Swamp at constant level. It was a beautiful trip, and at the canal-lake junction, there is a tiny rail “trolley” you operate yourself to take your dinghy around the dam and into Lake Drummond, which was beautiful and no other boats were there. Great adventure!
Cathryn and Bob
aboard “Next to Me”,
42′ Jefferson Sundeck
We cruised the Dismal Swamp for 2 days last week spending a night at the Visitor’s Center. The 5 women in there were wonderful!!! We used their book exchange. Their nature center has been open only a year and it is very well done. Wish I knew the ranger’s name at the bridge that crosses the canal to the center, but he was born for that job. He has so much information, can answer all questions, and obviously has a love for what he does.
Bill & Laura Bender
M/VKindred Spirit III
The welcome center was a pleasant overnight stop. We arrived late in the afternoon. The lady at the desk was kind enough to give us a ride up the road to get pizza if we wanted. We declined because we had food on board. We signed the cruisers log they have there
Clif & Peta Lewis
s/v Immanuel
We stopped and tied up at the rest area for the night on our early June cruise up to Norfolk. We were quite fortunate in that we were able to get into the last open slot along the bulkhead; if I recall there was a total of 4 boats and that’s all. Unfortunately this night was definitely one of the hottest nights so far this summer, so without being able to use the air it was not a great night. The grounds were well kept and clean; rest rooms the same. For one night it is ok and thank goodness it is there as we were exhausted when we reached that point coming from Elizabeth City. Don’t know what we would have done if it had not been there quite frankly
Pat Kenefick
I was a tad dissapointed with the Visitors Center – perhaps expecting too much. But they really don’t have much but a far too small dock and toilets. I spent one night rafted up to another boat which I don’t really like doing but left first thing in the morning. Maybe if they had fuel and water and a small store……..
Best wishes
Arnold Parkinson
The British Club Worldwide
http://www.britishclubworldwide.com
The welcome center is rarely crowded and a pleasant and convenient stop…a nice place to meet other folks who are taking a break from the wake-makers!
Capt Jock, formerly of DREAM MAKER, presently of HOME AT LAST
Enjoyed our overnight stop here very much after the stress of so many bumps along the way. We needed the rest.
Wayne Thomas
The Welcome Center is even better than ever as there is a new Dismal Swamp museum located on the opposite canal bank. Access is provided by an interesting (and clearly very expensive) hydraulically retracted floating bridge. The museum itself is relatively small but provides a comprehensive history of the canal with many illustrative examples. When one views the panel about birds, the sounds of their varied and colorful songs emerge unobtrusively from the background. We stayed one night at the Welcome Center and were happy to become reacquainted with our friend Penny Leary-Smith who has run the the facility from its inception. We are always delighted to stop there whether by car or by boat, and always do.
Our half-dozen sailboats were joined at the welcome center by a 45 foot multi decked power boat. This is unusual, as most power cruisers prefer the Virginia Cut route where they are not limited to 6 knots and where the risk of hitting debris with their screws is less, or so it is believed.
Ted Jones