Jamestown Ferry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pocahontas is one of four ferryboats operating the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry VDOT promotional photo

Jamestown Ferry (also known as the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry) is an automobile ferry on the James River in Virginia, connecting Jamestown in James City County with Scotland Wharf in Surry County. It carries State Route 31.

1 History, operations
2 Scotland in Surry County
3 Tourists
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History, operations

The ferryboat Captain John Smith made the first automobile ferry crossing of the James River on February 26, 1925. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) took over operation of the ferry in 1945. Today, the scenic crossing from Glass House Point at Jamestown to the landing at Scotland is the only 24-hour state-run ferry operation in Virginia. It has over 90 employees keeping it on schedule. It operates four ferry boats, the Pocahontas, the Williamsburg, the Surry, and the Virginia.

The Eastern Virginia Bridge Company considered building a bridge at the location of the ferry in 1928.^[1].

The general concept of replacing the ferry service with a bridge is an issue which has been revisited by politicians, transportation officials, and communities on both sides of the river a number of times in years since, but no new plans for a bridge at this location have ever gained broad support.

Beginning in May, 2004, random security screenings were added for traffic waiting to board the ferry service.

[edit] Scotland in Surry County

Scotland in Surry County is only a short distance from the Town of Surry and State Route 10, which runs between Richmond and Suffolk. Highway 10 parallels the south bank of the James River, serving Hopewell, Smithfield.

Highway 10 provides access to many historical sites, including City Point, Flowerdew Hundred Plantation, Upper Brandon Plantation, Lower Brandon Plantation, Chippokes Plantation State Park, Bacon's Castle, Smith's Fort Plantation, and the Isle of Wight County Museum in Smithfield.

[edit] Tourists

Tourists heading for Virginia's Historic Triangle of colonial attractions (Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown) and the Colonial Parkway often approach the area from the south by water with a ride aboard one of the Jamestown Ferries.

During the 15-minute ride across the river passengers can walk about the boat or go up to an enclosed viewing level with lavatory facilities. Weather and daylight permitting, northbound passengers usually see the Jamestown Island much as the first colonists may have approached it almost 400 years ago. Near the northern ferry landing, the replicas of Christopher Newport's three tiny ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery are docked at Jamestown Festival Park. Both the Jamestown Ferry and Colonial Parkway, which begins nearby, are toll-free.