Built in 1886 near Cape Charles, Virginia, Old Plantation Flats Light served as a vital navigational aid for vessels entering the Chesapeake Bay. This screwpile cottage-style lighthouse guided mariners through the shallow flats along Virginia’s Eastern Shore for decades before being decommissioned. The light is no longer active and is not open to the public, so visitors cannot climb the tower. However, it remains a striking subject for photographers, with golden hour and sunset offering the best light as the bay reflects warm tones around the structure. Nearby, visitors can explore the charming town of Cape Charles, relax on its public beach, visit Kiptopeke State Park, or take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for sweeping coastal views.

Explore Nearby

• Kiptopeke State Park — State Park in Virginia
• First Landing State Park — State Park in Virginia
• Colonial Parkway — Scenic Byway in Virginia
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway — Scenic Byway in Maryland