Chincoteague, Va. – According to a post on the Assateague Island National Seashore Facebook page, the Tom’s Cove Visitor Center in the Virginia unit has closed permanently as of November 16. The facility, a decades-long hub for interpretive programs, education, and lifeguard operations, will face demolition in early January 2026. Park officials explained that the building was never built to serve as a visitor center and has been relocated twice over its history. Now deemed past its useful life, the closure is expected to yield major savings in maintenance and utility costs.
All National Park Service staff and activities will transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The site will operate jointly for both agencies, offering visitor information, exhibits, and programs for Assateague Island National Seashore and the refuge. The Bateman Center’s winter schedule runs Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A standard refuge entrance fee or federal lands pass remains required for access. Beach and trail areas stay open, unaffected by the change.
