Suffolk City: Nature, Water and History

Expansive trails, fishing waters and historic buildings give Suffolk City a range of different facets. Outdoor activities take center stage at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; elsewhere, churches, historic districts and cultural offerings shape the visit. You can tailor your trip to the experiences that interest you most.

Nature, Trails and Waterways

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge has more than 40 miles of trails and boardwalks for hiking and cycling. You can reach the trails through four named access points: Portsmouth Ditch Entrance, Jericho Lane Entrance, Washington Ditch Entrance and Railroad Ditch Entrance, also called Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset; check the information before you arrive.

The Great Dismal Swamp is home to black bears, bobcats, rare plants, rattlesnakes and river otters. Lake Drummond, a 3,108-acre lake near the center of the Swamp, is another notable landmark in this landscape.

The water parks offer different experiences. Lone Star Lakes Park covers 1,063 acres and has eleven lakes for freshwater fishing. At Bennett’s Creek Park, three boat ramps provide access via Bennett’s Creek to the Nansemond River. The park also has an accessible pier for crabbing and fishing.

Sleepy Hole Park covers 73.6 acres and offers natural areas, trails and views of the Nansemond River. When exploring the water and nature, you can choose from a range of options: trails and cycling in the refuge, freshwater fishing at the lakes, or river access at Bennett’s Creek Park.

Churches, Houses and Historic Districts

Riddick’s Folly connects architecture with Civil War history: during the Union occupation of Suffolk, the building served as headquarters for Major General John J. Peck and his staff of officers. It has four floors, 21 rooms and 16 fireplaces. Tours are available during regular opening hours; check current times before your visit.

Glebe Church was built in 1737–1738 as the lower church of Suffolk Parish. Its original fabric includes the Flemish-bond brick walls dating to 1738. St. John’s Church dates from 1755 and is the third church on this site. It overlooks a lake at the headwaters of Cedar Creek. These two churches offer a chance to see architectural history and building details from different periods.

The historic districts also offer specific points of reference for exploring architectural history. The Chuckatuck Historic District developed in the mid-17th century and includes about 62 contributing buildings, mostly 19th-century frame houses. The Suffolk Historic District includes more than 200 houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a range of architectural styles.

Other districts have their own distinctive features: the principal building in the Holland Historic District is Holland Christian Church, built in 1918. The Whaleyville Historic District includes three churches built between 1870 and 1920 in the vernacular Gothic Revival style. In the Driver Historic District, two Gothic Revival churches dating from 1890 to 1910 stand alongside two school buildings, both built in 1926.

Cedar Hill Cemetery is a 26.4-acre historic cemetery with rolling terrain and cedar trees. It contains memorials to veterans as well as the graves of numerous Confederate generals and soldiers. The Suffolk Peanut Company and the Phoenix Bank of Nansemond are further points of reference for economic history: the peanut company was founded in 1898 and was the region’s first successful peanut operation. Its complex includes a double-track branching railroad spur and a long loading platform beside a historic Norfolk & Western railway line. The Phoenix Bank building, erected in 1921, represents the efforts of African Americans in Virginia to establish independent businesses.

Culture and Seasonal Offerings

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is housed in a 1922 Greek Revival-style building that previously served as Suffolk High School. Its 500-seat theater hosts concerts, ballets, musicals, films and other performances. The Suffolk Farmers’ Market is held seasonally on Saturdays from May to mid-November in the pavilion at the Suffolk Visitor Center. Offerings include local produce, meat, eggs, honey, baked goods, jams and crafts; check the dates before your trip.

Another option with set dates is the Suffolk Ghost Walk: by lantern light, a costumed guide leads visitors along historic Main Street and shares stories, legends and accounts of “unexplained occurrences.” The tour schedule is for 2026; check the dates for your stay before you travel.

When planning your trip, you can choose between nature and water, historic architecture and cultural offerings. Experiences range from trails in the refuge and fishing opportunities to guided tours and performances.

Discover more destinations: Suffolk, Wise County, Galax, Pulaski County, Stafford, Dinwiddie County, Prince Edward County, Roanoke

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.