Brownsville Preserve

Virginia

Phone: 434-295-6106
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Explore the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve through this gateway preserve.

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Overview

Description

COVID-19 UPDATE (AUGUST 1, 2021)

TNC’s public preserves in Virginia remain open. We ask all visitors to observe our preserve access guidelines and to follow current health and safety precautions, including guidance from the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Thank you for helping us in our efforts to protect our visitors’ health and well-being.

Birds and other wildlife abound at Brownsville Preserve. From the boardwalk and trails traversing this historic farm, you may see deer, fox, raccoons, blue herons, bald eagles, wild turkeys and many other species of birds.

TNC manages Brownsville to enhance bird habitat, and the farm serves as headquarters for the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve.

History of Brownsville

Until TNC purchased Brownsville in 1978, the farm had remained in the Upshur family since 1652.

At one time, the owner ran a castor-oil mill on the property. From his wharf on Brownsville Creek, he also shipped huge loads of corn to New York and New England via chartered vessels.

According to Whitelaw's Virginia's Eastern Shore, Mr. Upshur added a frame wing onto the family's 1806 three-story brick home because of the many relatives who lived there. He is claimed to have said, "There is no place to put the sole of my foot."

The historic Brownsville house continues to welcome neighbors and guests during VVCR's annual Holiday Open House and Open Farm events.

What TNC Is Doing

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, TNC placed Brownsville Preserve in the Wildlife Enhancement Program. We manage shallow-water impoundments and hedgerows that enhance habitat for birds.

Brownsville also hosts the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve office, and a dock on the property is a launching point for staff members heading out to work on the barrier islands.

Visit the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve landing page to learn more about our land protection, migratory bird, and marine habitat restoration work as well as our education and community outreach programs.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Leashed dogs are permitted on the William B. Cummings Birding & Wildlife Trail only.

Location

Nassawadox, VA

View Directions | Open in Maps

Hours

Daily ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

For visitor safety during the deer hunting season (October through early January), preserve hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Highlights

Birding, Biking, Nature Trails, Nature Photography, Geocaching, Self-Guided Audio Tour

Leashed dogs are permitted on the William B. Cummings Birding and Wildlife Trail. Dogs on the trail must be leashed at all times

Dogs are not allowed on any of the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve islands.

Size

1,250 acres

Explore our work in Virginia

Plan Your Visit

The William B. Cummings Birding and Wildlife Trail offers a round-trip hike of three miles through memorable coastal Virginia scenery. Explore wooded uplands, take in expansive marsh views, and enjoy the variety of life all around you.

Numbers on the trail map correspond with markers along the trail. Refer to the trail guide for information on these points of interest.

Bring your binoculars, field guides, and a camera. Especially in warm weather, don't forget insect and tick repellent!

Brownsville Preserve

Explore this 1,250-acre historic farm and headquarters for the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve.

Get Directions

Brownsville Preserve Enjoying birding and nature hikes at the gateway to the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve.

Know Before You Go

Please help us protect this area by observing these guidelines:

Leashed dogs are permitted on the William B. Cummings Birding and Wildlife Trail ONLY
Dogs on the trail must be leashed at all times
Dogs are not allowed on any of the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve islands
Bike are permitted at Brownsville
Please hike or bike only on the designated marked trail and respect the areas marked private or no trespassing
No horseback riding. No ATVs.
Preserve closes at 1/2 hour after sunset, daily. For safety during the deer hunting season, visitor hours at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (October through early January)

You may also wish to combine your visit to Brownsville with other Eastern Shore sites on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Visitor Resources

William B. Cummings Birding and Wildlife Trail Brochure (.pdf)
Birding and Wildlife Trail Map (.pdf)

Before your trip to Brownsville, download and save the audio tour map and mp3 audio files to your handheld device. It's like having a naturalist in your pocket!

The numbers marked on the map correspond to the audio files in the self-guided tour. Play the corresponding track when you reach a waypoint along the trail. Listen to them all or pick and choose based on your interests!

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

Download the audio tour map (pfd)

MEET YOUR GUIDES

Beverly Watson is a native of the Nassawadox area where Brownsville preserve is located. Beverly retired from TNC in 2017, after working as Brownsville's office manager for more than 15 years. She found it gratifying to be a small part of ongoing projects and programs to conserve the natural resources on the Eastern Shore of Virginia that is so well loved by so many people.

Joanne Laskowski started her career as an Environmental Educator and went on to receive a Master's degree in Ecology from Rutgers University with an emphasis on Ornithology. She retired from Talbot County Public Schools after 22 years as the Science Supervisor and 1-1 Laptop Coordinator. Currently she conducts piping plover surveys for Chincoteague NWR and the Conservancy and coordinates the Eastern Shore Master Naturalist Basic Training class under Dot Field.

Charlottesville native Margaret Van Clief moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 2008 and soon developed a devotion to the natural gifts of the Shore as strong as her love of the people. As VVCR's Outreach & Education Coordinator, Margaret works in the community to connect residents and Eastern Shore visitors with VVCR’s properties through public events and educational programming, both on and off the preserve.

Heather Eggleston has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Environmental Studies and tons of life experience gallivanting in the natural world. She has worked as a seasonal technician for the Conservancy for three years. In 2015 she was the Marine Technician at the Virginia Coast Reserve. She enjoys spending long periods of time in the woods and photographing unusual mushrooms.

Frederick, MD native Victor Klein moved to the Eastern Shore in 2012. He completed a Master Naturalist course in 2014 and is an avid birder.

Resources for Download

Brownsville Audio Tour Map (.pdf)

Geocaching is a fast-growing hobby that provides an exciting way to explore the outdoors. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS, and can then share their experiences online. It's a great way for kids to connect with nature and learn navigation skills, with the fun reward of finding real hidden treasure.

We invite you to explore the Conservancy's natural areas in this fun and free way. It's a great hobby, and you may learn a little about our work as you play!

Log on to www.geocaching.com to set up a free account.

Geocaches at Brownsville Preserve

Know Before You Go

Caches are only accessible during normal hours of operation.
Stay on marked trails at all times.
Do not litter; used marked receptacles to dispose of any trash.
Please respect the land; do not remove plants, animals, artifacts, or rocks.

New geocaches are not permitted on TNC preserves. These sites were carefully selected for their accessibility and low impact to the environment. For questions about geocaching at Brownsville Preserve, please contact Margaret Van Clief, Outreach and Education Coordinator, at mvanclief@tnc.org.