The Ladybug in Cape Charles

01/04/2025

Vinyl mixup for incoming guests ❤️🐞

01/01/2025

Battery Winslow… just around the corner from The Ladybug.

The military history of this station resumed in 1941 when the United States Army established Fort Winslow at this location as a coastal defense artillery installation. It complemented Fort Story on Cape Henry to defend Chesapeake Bay as part of the Harbor Defenses of Chesapeake Bay (HD Chesapeake). The post was briefly renamed Fort Custis, but it was soon realized this could create confusion with Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia, and in October 1942 it was renamed Fort John Custis.It was named for John Parke Custis, son of Martha Washington and an officer in the Revolutionary War.

Shortly after the base was established construction began on Battery 122, later named Battery Winslow. This was for two casemated 16-inch (406 mm) ex-Navy guns, eventually creating a crossfire with two similar batteries at Fort Story. Battery 123, another 16-inch battery, was proposed but never built. Following the American entry into World War II a four-gun battery of 155 mm (6.1 in) guns was deployed on Fisherman Island; circular concrete “Panama mounts” were built to improve their firing positions. This was a stopgap until two 6-inch (152 mm) gun batteries were completed at the fort in 1943.

A mine casemate for a controlled underwater mine field was built on Fisherman Island. The 1st Battalion, 52nd Coast Artillery (CA) Regiment arrived at Fort John Custis on 27 August 1942, armed with eight 8-inch (203 mm) ex-Navy railway guns. On 5 April 1943 this battalion was redesignated as the 286th CA (Rwy) Battalion.

At least ten fire control towers were built on the Eastern Shore to support the fort. Three still stand on Smith Island near the Cape Charles Lighthouse and another two were on Mockhorn Island. One was on the mainland fort property and three were at Wise Point. Another was in Cheapside, Virginia, north of what is now Kiptopeke State Park

12/21/2024

12/19/2024

New living room chair. Some new vinyl too. Keeping it fresh.

12/19/2024

clean new PS5 bedroom install with dual controllers ❤️❤️👾👾🎮🎮

12/18/2024

CC sunset ❤️

12/16/2024

When you give your ESVA neighbors a heads up you’ll be there for the week to work on some house projects (and maybe chase a few redfish), and one shows up an hour after you arrive with a “hey I was making lasagna and there’s no way to just make a small amount so this pan is for you”

Good clean livin’.

ESVA ❤️

11/26/2024

snagged some Black Friday vinyl deals to keep The Ladybug’s wax collection freshly stocked ❤️🐞🥳

11/17/2024

What a weekend with dear friends. Watching the Ravens/Steelers then hitting the road back to Maryland. But not until we do a vinyl mixup and put some different albums on display ❤️🐞👍

11/17/2024

Sunday morning Bloody Mary slushies, Centipede, and vegetarian breakfast tacos ❤️🐞🥳🕹️🌮

11/17/2024

Our first outing to Don Valerio’s Eastville… just outstanding ❤️🐞

11/15/2024

Super impressed with the new space! We got in some early drinks and snacking in advance of catching tonight’s Sturgill Simpson’s music show over in Norfolk ❤️🐞

11/12/2024

"...when Team FishTalk decided to take a run to the ESVA to fish Kiptopeke, the CBBT, and its surrounding waters this summer, we booked a place called The Ladybug in Cape Charles. We’d heard of it via the owner, David Inscore, a well-known kayak fishing sharpie who’s (insanely cool) photos have graced the cover of FishTalk in the past. The thing is, David didn’t just set the place up to be another house you can rent—it’s set up with angling in mind every bit as much as one might set up their boat or kayak with angling in mind."

Thanks for the kind words FishTalk Magazine ❤🐞🥰

Just what is an Anglerbnb? These new fish camps are popping up all over the place.

10/31/2024

❤️ Cape Charles, Virginia

For perfect year-round beachside shopping, food, and nature walks, this quiet Virginia beach town is the ideal vacation destination.

10/28/2024

An karaoke machine… one of our very best upgrades to date. This thing IS A BLAST ❤️🐞

10/27/2024

Another trip to The Ladybug, another vinyl wall remix for incoming guests ❤️🐞

10/27/2024

A South You Never Ate event was outstanding in every way. See y’all back here in 2025 ❤️🙌🦪

10/24/2024

New poster, new Slushi maker, and a sweet new beverage fridge for the mini bar… and more sweet new stuff arriving this weekend ❤️🐞