Tangier Island

[texdog]

Planning a trip to Tangier Island in two weeks. Has anyone landed there lately?
Thanks

[Bill Boyd]

Just checked my photo albums on the laptop - much more accessible than the pilot logbook - it was July of last year. How time flies! We had a nice day-trip visit last summer. Pics attached.

I learned last time I was there, maybe 20 years ago, that Tangier has a way of entering hibernation for the winter that can catch the unwary off guard. Made an overnight trip right after Labor Day only to discover after our arrival that the B&B we were staying at was the only place on the island to eat besides the grocery store where we scrounged milk and nabs for "supper." There were no other eats to be had beyond the B&B's breakfast the next morning. As we had our hearts set on crab cakes and the like, it was a major disappointment.

Moral: call ahead and see what will be open on the island on the date of your planned trip. You may be glad you did.

[texdog]

Thanks Bill, I saw you went to Koracoke, is it the same there? We were looking at September 23 or so. We can’t miss Petit Jean.
Thanks

[noelf]

I flew into there about 4 months ago. Restaurants were open but extreamily crowded. We ended up not eating there. It is a short walk from the runway to town. Years ago, there was someone there to take your "landing fee". Now, there is a lockbox that you can stuff your money in.

[Bill Boyd]

Ocracoke is a much more "happening place" than Tangier. I'm under the impression that much of the tourism infrastructure there is in operation until the end of October-ish. Howard's Pub has a reputation for being open 365/yr except for hurricanes. You'll want more than just that one venue open to support an overnight stay, but at least you'd always have some place to eat no matter when you went.

[Girraf]

Took a friend there about a month ago who's been really wanting to see it. $10 landing fee donation into the previously mentioned lockbox. I've never seen the airfield attended and I've stopped in occasionally over the last 5 years. I've never overnighted since its local and my personal opinion is that its....just Ok. Worth a trip if you've never been but not a destination I frequent.

Be mindful of all the the Pax restricted airspace. Its mostly free passage under 3500 and on the weekends is usually cold which opens things up. R-6609 on the west side of the island can more regularly be active on weekends as approach uses that as the playground for the local guard unit F-16s that are weekend warrioring.