Reviews: Parks Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

This marina could best be described as no-frills. The dock was adequate and, at $30/night (+$5 for 30 amp), it was priced appropriately. Payment for the dock was payable in cash to a small mailbox at the brick house at the head of the pier. Bathroom and shower were great. Several of the restaurants seem to have closed permanently but, what remained, was good quality. We wouldn't feel the need to go back but we appreciated our time there and were happy to have visited.

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Reviewed by: Matthew Drake on Apr 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

If you would like to see an authentic crabbing/fishing village this is your place. No frills -no electric or water
But interesting. We rode bikes around saw the village, meet friendly people, and enjoyed our over night stay.

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Reviewed by: Mike Worsley , Islena, on Jul 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

The dock is sturdy and safe, no nails sticking out, and no worse than the expensive ones at Key West. We were on the face dock and 2 sail boats were next to us the slip is 30.00 for the night, there is electric 5.00, water is free. Close to the brick house you will see a mailbox to put money in. Golf cart tour by ladies in town for 5.00 and some local restaurants. It is a charming small fisherman village with very friendly people, nothing fancy.

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Reviewed by: Scott A Westwood , Aphrodisiac, on May 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 2

Did not stop. Two things going against us. First was 1-2 kt current making slips difficult at best. Slips are bulkhead with 3 pilings on each side. If you have a sailboat with davits (and dinghy) you can't back in. That means bow in and getting off boat at pulpit. Not easy for us old folks. There is a small square "dock" but it was full and can only take maybe 3 large boats or 4-6 small ones? Suggest sailboats take ferry from Chrisfield. .IMHO

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Reviewed by: Kelly Thorp , Lynx, on Sep 30, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Agree with all of the other comments. We have been here twice with Sea Scouts. This year in August, this was our last stop on our DELMARVA circumnavigation. Sad to hear that Mr. Parks passed away. The marina itself is what you'd expect for the price point. The bathrooms are functional and have showers.
Also, the only "grocery" store in town is closed for business. There is a fresh produce stand now next to the dock where the ferries tie up. It's a bit hard to find - just ask one of the locals and they'll point it out for you.

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Reviewed by: David Sire , Tortuga, on Sep 22, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

I won't repeat the previous 2022 comments.
The marina takes cash - no credit cards. They are presently operating on the honor system with a box marked "DOCKAGE" at the steps of the house at the marina. You might want to bring an envelope for your cash.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 14, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Parks Marina occupies a length of the channel that cuts through the middle of the island from east to west. Stern in slips with short fingers are on the west side of the "Parks Marina" building. Coming in when the tide is running will be a challenge as there is a good 1.5 knot current either going east on the rising tide or west on the falling one. Depths for slips close to the office on the west side are less than 5 feet mlw: We found ourselves on the bottom with our 5 foot draft an hour before low tide. We moved on the rising tide to the side tie in front of the office where there are 12 foot depths. The power, water, toilets/showers, and docks are all in good shape but have been well used (and maintained) over the years. The marina feels like an integral part of a working harbor on a working island that is struggling to remain viable. The price is right as well. $30 for boats under 30 feet and $35 for boats over 30 feet with $5 for electricity.

Tangier Island is slowly sinking into the Bay and, at this moment, there is water coming up into several of the roads above mid-tide. The community is clearly oriented towards fishing the bay and the fleet of commercial boats contains really lovely examples of Chesapeake Bay Deadrise fishing boats with their small cabins forward and large working decks for crab traps and other fishing gear. Tourists come on ferries from both Reedville on the mainland and Onancock and Crisfield on the Eastern Shore but tend to be more day trippers. Private vessels end up at Parks. There are four restaurants in town, oriented more towards the lunch crowd but with options for dinner as well. We spent an extra day here and are glad we did. Spend the time and rent a golf car to wander around the island. The place is special. The four star rating is, in part, an endorsement of the island.

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Reviewed by: Larry Freedman on Jun 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Milton Parks passed away on 5/18/2022. His family wishes to keep the marina going and hopes boaters will continue to visit the island and support the businesses here. You are welcome to tie up in any of the available slips if you fit (16' width) or tie up at one of the bulkhead spots if you don't. Someone (probably Cindy) will be along in the evening to collect the fee (same prices as posted). You will have to tie up your self, no one will answer the VHF, and you cannot currently make reservations. But there are always slips available. We did not see anything less than 5.5' entering on 5/28 from the east very near low tide. We join the Parks family in asking that you support this island of very friendly people with their special (and very hard) lifestyle.

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Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on May 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Very worn marina on a run down island. Docks needs a lot of work. Price was right at $35 including electric which matches what you get. Mr. Parks is 90 years old, going strong and an enjoyable character. No place to take the dog for a walk. Virtually no grass at all. East channel is shoaled in to 3 feet. Must use West channel that had 5.5 feet at low tide.

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Reviewed by: Sonny McBride on Jul 25, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Great customer services. Mr. Parks is a True Southern Gentleman. Lives very close to the docks; he shared history of the island and stories. Don’t miss this chance to visit !!!!

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Reviewed by: Gary on Oct 15, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 20'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Mr. Parks, now in his mid-eighties, is a personality to behold. He is one of the nicest and most generous people I have ever met on the water. He runs a rather casual marina which is not fancy but adequate. Often times, he will coach a boater into a slip, especially when the tide is running through the thoroughfare which can make docking a challenge. His rest rooms and shower are clean but not air conditioned which can be a problem on a summer afternoon. Mr. Parks is generally willing to give you a ride to town or fill you in on any piece of information regarding who or what on the island. Parks Marine is the ultimate place to relax with a cool drink and a book. I highly recommend it.

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Reviewed by: Louise Anderson , Then Again, on Jun 8, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 2

We had quite a bit of difficulty communicating with the dock master. He wants you to call when you are en route and then he will set a time to call you on VHF 16. I was on the phone with him and had to repeat my info several times. He decided that when he was calling us on 16, that he would just call me "George". OK, quirky, I thought. It was extremely windy when we got there and our narrow slip had only a 3' x 2' triangular platform at the front of the pier for us to get off. He would not even take a line for us (or for the people next to us, who were also tying up in the wind at the same time, using the same pilings we were using). The only way to get off our boat was to slither under the railings at our bow and grab for the small piling. Apparently the channel is not a No Wake Zone, so we were bounced around quite a bit as well. Frankly, we had planned to spend 2 nights here, since it is likely that Tangier will have to be abandoned in the next 50 years due to rising sea levels, and we wanted to see the museum that details the history and culture of Tangier Island. We left as soon as we could navigate safely the next morning, never having been able to see the museum since one of us could not get off the boat at all. It was a huge disappointment. If you want to stay here, have a lot of patience and many long dock lines, since you will be doubling up on all the pilings.

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Reviewed by: Al Townsend on Jul 24, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

This is one of our favorite places to go. Mr Parks is certainly a gem, and has been known to quote Rodney Dangerfield and Shakespeare in the same paragraph. The Tangier area is undergoing changes, but still reflects the culture that made their living on the water. Island restaurants serve great fresh food.

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