WWW.CHINCOTEAGUE.COM CHINCOTEAGUE, VA HOW WILD HORSES DRIVE THIS VIRGINIA ISLAND’S $1 MILLION TOURISM MACHINE
HOW WILD HORSE VIRGINIA ISLAND’ TOURISM MACHIN CHINCOTEAGUE, VA AT A GLANCE TOWN OF CHINCOTEAGUE WHAT: V irginia’s only resort island, famous for wild ponies and the annual Pony Swim that funds municipal fire services while driving a millionvisitor tourism economy WHERE: Chincoteague Island, Accomack County, Virginia WEBSITE: www.chincoteague.com BUSY AT WORK PREPARING FOR ITS 100TH ANNUAL PONY SWIM, TOWN LEADERS FOCUS ON PRESERVING THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN TOURISM PROSPERITY AND ISLAND AUTHENTICITY. 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
ES DRIVE THIS ’S $1 MILLION NE On a narrow strip of land where 3,300 residents share just nine square miles, economic prosperity requires a particular brand of ingenuity. Chincoteague, Virginia, has mastered the art of reinvention through necessity, transforming from seafood hub to poultry producer to tourist destination as each industry faltered in turn. “We’ve been through a couple of industry changes over the last 50, 60 years,” says Mayor Denise Bowden, who also serves as President of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. “Every time our residents have stepped up to the plate to do what’s good for the town and for themselves. We went through a pretty bad natural disaster in the early sixties and bounced back from that.” The 1962 storm she references devastated the poultry industry, forcing the 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
island to pivot toward tourism just as Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague” brought national attention to their wild ponies. Today, those same ponies generate millions in tourism revenue, supporting an economy that hosts over one million visitors annually at the adjacent wildlife refuge and beach. Council member Chris Bott acknowledges the successful transformation while recognizing its ongoing challenges. “A lot of other towns have struggled if they’ve lost their industry or their predominant source of revenue,” he notes.“Chincoteague’s done an excellent job accommodating and changing with the changing industry going into tourism. But along with that, there are a lot of challenges there with infrastructure, basic utilities, even water.” With median home values climbing from $95,900 in 2000 to nearly $350,000 today, the island faces the paradox of success: prosperity that threatens to price out the very workforce sustaining it. REVITALIZING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Main Street’s transformation is part of a broader strategy to recapture economic vitality in Chincoteague’s historic core. Once home to car dealerships, gas stations, and a commercial dry cleaner, the downtown shifted away from its role as the island’s business center decades ago. Now, armed with new infrastructure capacity, town leaders envision a renaissance. “We are in the process of doing some revitalization on Main Street, and it’s been ongoing for several years,” explains Town Manager Mike Tolbert.“Recently we’ve been able to obtain a sewage plant from a local developer, which is going to allow us to offer some sewage capacity to businesses downtown, which we hope will attract new businesses and allow existing businesses to expand.”The acquisition addresses a fundamental constraint that has limited development for thirty years. Without adequate sewage treatment, potential restaurants, bakeries, and mixed-use developments remained impossible dreams. “We’d like to see businesses downstairs and maybe some apartments upstairs,” Mayor Bowden emphasizes.“I think that really shows encouragement as far as getting people in these areas to live, play, work.” This mixed-use approach follows successful revitalization efforts in other coastal communities, where integrating residential and commercial spaces creates year-round vitality. Tolbert adds that improving pedestrian and bike access forms another crucial component: “It’s more important nowadays than it has been in years past to provide alternatives to transportation by car.” Chamber Executive Director Joanne Moore 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 CHINCOTEAGUE, VA
injects millions into Virginia’s Eastern Shore economy. “The ponies play such a vital role in tourism here,” Mayor Bowden observes.“You got animals over there that have their heads down chomping on grass, and they have no idea how much they control the economy here.” The upcoming 100th anniversary of the Pony Swim in July 2025 expects to draw 50,000 spectators, up from the typical 40,000, with Virginia featuring the event on its official travel guide cover. The economic model remains unique among American municipalities. “Our citizens here don’t pay a fire tax,” Bowden explains. “The fire company between the carnival that starts tomorrow night and Pony Swim and everything related to that generates thousands upon thousands of dollars.” Since 1925, when devastating fires prompted the formation of the volunteer fire company, the annual swim has funded essential services while building a tourism phenomenon. Marguerite Henry’s 1947 novel cemented this economic transformation.“Misty really put us on the map and started the tourism around here,” Bowden recalls.“You’ve got grandparents that say,‘I read the book, and I brought my kids and now my kids are bringing my grandkids.’” Moore adds that the cultural impact goes beyond nostalgia: “Misty is required reading in some fourth grade curriculums across the country. We get handwritten letters from the kids at the chamber asking for more information.” Every souvenir shop displays pony merchandise, restaurants adopt equine themes, and even Ms. Molly’s Inn maintains the Marguerite Henry room where the author penned portions of her famous work. YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTIONS AND MARKETING Seasonal tourism creates feast-or-famine economics for coastal communities. Chincoteague combats this cycle through strategic event planning and targeted marketing that extends visitor seasons beyond summer beach crowds. “We market it year-round, and we definitely have initiatives spanning over the years,” says Moore, confirms the entrepreneurial interest exists. “A lot of entrepreneurs do come to the chamber and ask for our support. We help folks with their business plans and help them find commercial buildings that are available,” she says, noting the community’s foundation remains its mom-and-pop businesses. PONIES, MISTY, AND THE TOURISM LEGACY Wild ponies grazing on salt marshes control more economic power than most Fortune 500 CEOs realize. These 150 animals drive an annual tourism engine that eliminates property taxes for fire services and 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
As urban growth accelerates and digital connectivity becomes essential, the integrity of underground infrastructure has never been more critical. Water, energy, and data must move seamlessly through cities and towns—yet conventional excavation often disrupts communities, drives up costs, and strains environmental resources.The industry is at an inflection point, demanding smarter, less invasive solutions. Underground Connections delivers precisely that. With a disciplined approach rooted in trenchless horizontal drilling and precision-guided installations, the company installs, repairs, and maintains critical utility lines—water, sewer, electrical, and communications—while minimizing surface disruption. Their methodology shortens project timelines, protects surrounding environments, and preserves the character of urban centers and historic coastal communities. From island towns to inland communities, Underground Connections is strengthening water and sewer infrastructure across Virginia’s Eastern Shore.The team recently completed a new sewer collection system for the town of Chincoteague—an ambitious, environmentally sensitive project executed with care, technical precision, and long-term resilience. Backed by clients like NASA, Virginia American Water, Dominion Energy, and the ESVA Broadband Authority, Underground Connections demonstrates reliability and rigor. Whether navigating directional drilling beneath major thoroughfares or threading fiber-optic networks through remote terrain, they prioritize safety, compliance, and long-term performance. As infrastructure demands evolve, their mission endures: enabling resilient, future-ready communities through sustainable innovation and engineering excellence. CHINCOTEAGUE, VA
whose organization receives town funding for global destination marketing. “A lot of times the chamber focuses on the shoulder seasons with large events like the Seafood Festival and the Oyster Festival to encourage that shoulder season visitation to bolster those quieter times of the year.” The calendar strategically spaces major draws throughout the year. Easter brings the Decoy and Art Festival, featuring carvers from across the country. May’s Seafood Festival attracts 3,000 visitors celebrating the island’s maritime heritage. October’s Oyster Festival showcases Chincoteague Salt oysters, recognized as their own distinct class. December features a Christmas parade that strengthens community bonds during the quiet season. “The Oyster Festival showcases Chincoteague Salt oysters, which we are very well known for,” Moore emphasizes.“That too brings in about 3,000 people.” Beyond chamber events, nonprofits organize music in the park, movies, and farmers’ markets, creating what Moore describes as continuous programming “that helps fill in the gaps when folks are looking for something different to do other than going to the beach and looking at ponies.” Current marketing efforts include a USA Today grant focusing on fall tourism. The proximity to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility adds another perspective, with rocket launches creating tourism surges. “We always try to have something on the calendar for folks to enjoy while they’re here to give them that full experience,” Moore notes, acknowledging that sustaining year-round appeal requires constant innovation in a market where visitor expectations continuously evolve. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES The mathematics of island prosperity creates an unforgiving equation. With 3,500 homes squeezed onto seven square miles and median prices soaring from $95,900 to $349,461 since 2000, Chincoteague exemplifies the housing crisis plaguing successful coastal destinations nationwide. 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
“We struggle with keeping housing affordable,” Tolbert acknowledges.“Prices are quite high and they continue to increase. Keeping housing affordable for the residents who have lived here now and have lived here for some time or folks that want to return to the island that grew up here is a constant challenge.” This pattern is repeated in other resort communities where vacation home purchases surged 16.4% in 2020, driving prices beyond local wage earners’ reach. Bott frames the dual crisis succinctly: “We don’t have room for expansion. We have a stock issue inventory problem as well because affordable housing is what we’re struggling with right now.There’s basically no space for it, even if we wanted to encourage it or go into joint partnership.” Unlike mainland communities that can sprawl outward, Chincoteague’s geographic constraints intensify every market pressure. The influx of affluent buyers from metropolitan areas compounds the challenge. “When we have 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 CHINCOTEAGUE, VA
LOOKING FORWARD TO RESPONSIBLE GROWTH Balancing economic vitality with environmental preservation demands careful calculation when your town sits surrounded by water and wildlife. Chincoteague’s leaders recognize that sustainable growth requires more than adding capacity, it demands preserving the very qualities that attract visitors and residents alike. “You have to have growth to continue doing business, folks moving into the area from more affluent regions,” Tolbert explains, “waterfront homes and homes that provide these pretty views of nature and everything can get quite expensive.” Virginia’s Code further restricts municipal options for intervention. “Council has come up with many ideas on how to do this and it’s difficult to do when you have a rigid framework to work within,”Tolbert notes.“Sometimes we can’t just go and do what we’d like to do and make it more affordable for folks who really could use the affordability.” 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
for lack of a better way to put it,” Mayor Bowden reflects. “But you also have to be responsible with it. We have a lot of wildlife here and you want to preserve as much of that as you can. You want to preserve some waterfront areas too, and that can be very, very challenging.” The island faces immediate environmental pressures beyond development concerns. Erosion moves Assateague Island toward the mainland at 10-13 feet annually, prompting a $15 million beach relocation project moving recreational areas 2.5 miles north. Since 2003, storm recovery has consumed over $15 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 CHINCOTEAGUE, VA
million, highlighting the financial burden of climate impacts on coastal infrastructure. Downtown development presents another delicate balance. “We’ve got the historic downtown and there’s some properties down there that if it came up for sale, I personally don’t want to see a three-story hotel in the heart of historic downtown,” Bowden emphasizes. “You’ve got to be careful with some things and at the same time, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got your economy still going strong.” Looking ahead to the next 18-24 months, priorities center on activating the new sewage infrastructure while maintaining community character.“Getting this sewage online and hopefully revitalizing downtown a little bit better with maybe some specialty places,” Bowden outlines, seeking businesses that enhance rather than overwhelm the island’s scale. For Chincoteague, success means threading an increasingly narrow channel; preserving authenticity while adapting to modern pressures, maintaining affordability while property values climb, and protecting natural resources while sustaining the tourism they attract. The wild ponies may not understand their economic influence, but their human neighbors grasp the stakes perfectly. PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Underground Connections www.underground-connections.com Underground Connections is redefining underground utility construction across the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, including Virginia’s Tidewater region. Specializing in trenchless horizontal drilling, the company delivers high-performance installations of water, sewer, electrical, and fiber-optic lines with minimal surface disruption. Their sustainable, low-impact methods accelerate timelines and reduce costs—earning the trust of industry leaders like NASA, Dominion Energy, and Virginia American Water. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
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