New Kayak Launch Expands Recreation Opportunities at Neabsco Regional Park

The new kayak launch at Neabsco Regional Park is officially open! It was a beautiful afternoon as members of the community, and leaders and staff from Prince William County gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new kayak launch, as well as unveil a new historical marker at the site.

“Neabsco is one of the most visited parks in the entire Prince William County Parks system, and this kayak launch is a nice addition to that overall outdoor recreation experience,” said Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation Director, Seth Hendler-Voss. “This is the first official kayak launching point in our system and we hope there will be many more after this one.”

The launch allows visitors to take their kayaks out through the Neabsco Creek which connects to the Potomac River. Four new accessible parking spaces off of Blackburn Road have also been added at Neabsco Regional Park to allow for easier access for people with disabilities. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate another milestone for this incredible space here,” said Woodbridge District Supervisor, Margaret Angela Franklin. “This kayak launch will give visitors a new way to enjoy the water, explore the area’s wildlife and experience the park from a whole new perspective.”

The kayak launch is located to the left of the main entrance gate of the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk where you will also see the remnants of the dock and the new historical marker recalling its history. The remnants of the dock you will see are from the dock built by Rippon Lodge owner Wade Ellis in the 1920s, which is on the same location as the colonial dock. Later Richard Blackburn Black enlarged the dock for his own recreational boating use.

“What’s really cool about these places is that you can still see the history right in front of you. You can see the dock pilings here that date back hundreds of years,” said Rob Orrison, Division Manager, Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation. 

“Also, Native American tribes, such as the Doeg, had villages nearby along the Neabsco Creek for hundreds of years before European contact. So this is not just something that we enjoy today, it’s been enjoyed by many other people for 400 to 500 years. And that’s pretty amazing,” added Orrison.

The popular Neabsco Regional Park encompasses 300 acres of natural, recreational, and historic amenities including the Rippon Lodge Historic Site, Rippon Landing, the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve, and portions of historic Kings Highway. 

To learn more about the park, click here.