Blog
Category: news
The last week of August is one of the best times to visit Chincoteague Island: peak-summer crowds have thinned, ocean water is at its warmest, the wild ponies are still grazing year-round, and hotel rates drop to some of the lowest rates of the summe… Read more
Everyone who's stayed at the Refuge Inn has heard some version of Donald Leonard's story — the boy who couldn't be found unless you looked for the ponies, the dreamer who built an iconic motel with a little luck and a lot of help from his family and … Read more
You’d Never Expect to Hear these birds at The Refuge Inn, but we did! If you’ve stayed at The Refuge Inn, you may have noticed the soft chorus of island life that surrounds us: wrens calling from the pines, robins at dawn, and the chatter of grackles… Read more
Cool Birds of The Refuge Inn Our BirdWeather sensor records hundreds of feathered visitors each season — some familiar, others delightfully unexpected. From deep-forest travelers to ocean wanderers, these are a few of the coolest birds we’ve heard be… Read more
On August 25, 2025, under the quiet buzz of a late-summer night on Assateague Island, a golden palomino filly slipped into the world. She was the 102nd foal born in the CVFC Pony Herds in 2025, and nobody knows how it happened, but by morning, this l… Read more
In September each year, the Tom’s Cove Hook reopens to explorers and dreamers alike. By late March, it closes again to make way for migratory shorebirds who return to nest and raise their young on its windswept flats. The Hook’s brief open season is … Read more
Celebrate Mother’s Day on Chincoteague Island: A Relaxing & Joyful Weekend Getaway Looking for the perfect way to show Mom just how much she means to you? Treat her to a refreshing, nature-filled weekend on Chincoteague Island. With the Refuge Inn as… Read more
There is something extra special about Chincoteague in May - the scent of salt in the air, the sound of shorebirds returning, and the energy of the island reawakening for the season. If you’re planning a spring escape, this 3-day itinerary hits all t… Read more
Easter weekend is one of the most joyful and relaxing times to visit Chincoteague Island. Spring brings blooming flowers, migrating birds, and the return of island traditions that make this community so special. Whether you're looking to unwind by th… Read more
Spring is one of the most peaceful and beautiful times to visit Chincoteague Island, and the Spring Pony Roundup offers a front-row seat to one of the island’s most treasured traditions. On April 11 and 12, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and… Read more