The Ghost of Willoughby Spit
Posted: 11.05.2024 | Updated: 11.19.2024
In Norfolk, VA, near I-64 and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel sits a peninsula known as Willoughby Spit. Surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay, the James River, and Willoughby Bay, this small tract of lane took centuries to form, largely thanks to severe hurricanes in the area. Since its surprising discovery in the 1600s, Willoughby Spit has become home to beautiful beaches, seaside houses, a marina, and even a resident ghost. The ghost of Willoughby Spit is a local legend that many have witnessed over the years and never forget seeing.
Who is the ghost of Willoughby Spit?
Surrounded by water on three sides, Willoughby Spit has endured centuries of harsh storms, hurricanes, and floods. As a site of so much turmoil and destruction, it’s apparently become home to a spirit who has been seen walking the beach for years. Some even believe that the ghost of Willoughby Spit forewarns locals of impending disaster.
The Virginia Beach area is bursting with haunted locales, including historic homes, landmark hotels, and even a state park. You can learn more about the history and hauntings of this stunning part of Virginia by booking a tour with Neptune Ghosts today!
The History of Willoughby Spit
The story of Willoughby Spit begins 50 years before its “discovery” when Captain Thomas Willoughby arrived from England to the colony of Virginia in 1610. In 1625, Willoughby began acquiring land through land grants and creating a large estate for his family. Captain Willoughby’s son and daughter-in-law would inherit and expand the land following his death.
In 1667, likely during the fierce “Harry Cane” storm, Thomas Willoughby II and his wife woke up to an unbelievable discovery. Outside their home was a new tract of land that hadn’t been there before. They quickly acquired a new land grant to make it theirs, but Willoughby Spit’s story was just beginning. In 1749, a historic hurricane caused the water level of the Chesapeake Bay to rise by an astounding 15 feet, shifting a massive amount of sand that further expanded Willoughby Spit. During the Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806, more shifting sand solidified the land as it’s known today.
Despite obstacles, Willoughby Spit has stood the test of time. Beach erosion has affected 7.3 miles of the peninsula, placing area homes and businesses in jeopardy. In 2003, the damage from Hurricane Isabel led to 428,000 cubic yards of sand being brought in to solidify the coastline of Willoughby spit for a cost of $3.8 million. Today, breakwaters are installed as part of a “beach nourishment” project to help protect the peninsula and its inhabitants from future natural disasters.
Beyond its haunted reputation, Willoughby Spit is known for being a sight of aviation history. On November 14, 1910, Eugene Ely flew his plane two-and-a-half miles from a ship called the USS Birmingham to Willoughby Spit. It was a historic moment since it was the first time a plane had ever taken off from a ship and landed on land.
The Ghost of Willoughby Spit
For years, those walking along Willoughby Spit’s beaches sometimes see a man walking alone. Witnesses have described him as wearing an outdated sailor suit. There’s something off about the man, though. He appears almost as a gray shadow. In fact, this is the ghost of Willoughby Spit. Local guide Josh Weinstein described the ghost as, “A gray shadow, or kind of a fog that looks like a man.” He added, “If it is nighttime on a beach and you see a wispy shadow, maybe you’re alone, you may not know what you see, or you may not want to believe what you saw.” Indeed, the ghost of Willoughby Spit has made himself known to many and become the area’s most enduring legend.
Despite the countless sightings of the ghost of Willoughby Spit, no one knows who he is. However, it’s generally assumed that he is a sailor who lost his life on or near the peninsula before detailed records of shipwrecks were kept. Some theorize that this restless spirit walks the beaches in an endless search for his old ship and crewmates. Sadly, this lost sailor is always seen alone.
Hurricane Isabel
On September 18, 2003, the eastern seaboard was battered by Hurricane Isabel, which caused the water around Willoughby Spit to rise eight feet and brought in 75 mph wind gusts. Beyond the severity of the storm, there was another strange occurrence. As it turns out, numerous people saw the ghost of Willoughby Spit in the days directly leading up to Hurricane Isabel’s arrival. Josh Weinstein noted that the hurricane was a particularly memorable one and that, “This ghost also thought it was a memorable time.” On the other hand, some wonder if the ghost’s presence was a sort of warning or omen since he made several appearances in a short amount of time. In the end, this is another piece of the mystery of the ghost of Willoughby Spit.
Haunted Virginia Beach
Whether you want to stay at a haunted hotel, dine at a restaurant with a resident ghost, or try to see the ghost of Willoughby Spit, Virginia Beach has a vast number of attractions to explore and enjoy. If you want to dig into its history while enjoying some of the spookiest tales the area has to offer, book a ghost tour with Neptune Ghosts for your next visit. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Virginia hauntings.
Sources:
https://www.whro.org/2023-10-30/haunted-hampton-roads-the-ghost-of-willoughby-spit
https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/WilloughbyandVicinity
https://archive.org/stream/captainthomaswil00walt/captainthomaswil00walt_djvu.txt
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