The Crab Shack on Carter's Creek

Relax and get away…
This rustic waterfront cottage on Carters Creek is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with a friend, or with a small family, The Crab Shack offers just the right space to decompress and soak in the quiet beauty of the Northern Neck.

The Crab Shack sits right at the water’s edge, with its cozy bedroom, dining area, galley kitchen, and living room all facing the creek.

The cottage earns its name honestly—it was once a working seafood processing facility where local fishermen brought their daily catch. The exterior remains clad in metal, while the interior combines painted and exposed wood, anchored by a striking floor-to-ceiling oyster shell fireplace. On sunny days, guests often gather on the patio or dock; when it rains, the sound of raindrops on the tin roof makes the porch or living room the perfect retreat.

Within a ten-minute drive, you’ll find the charming towns of Irvington, Kilmarnock, and White Stone, each offering shops, cafés, and restaurants to explore.

Outdoor Amenities:

Deep water dock! A local sunset sail captain picks up guests on a regular basis on his 32' sailboat! The Rappohannock Yacht Club is directly across the creek. Water depth is no issue for your boat. Bring it!

Two cruiser bikes are available for leisurely rides through the quiet country neighborhood.

A 14' sea kayak is stored on the dock with KayaArms for stable entry and exit—paddle to the Tides Inn faster than you can drive!

A set of stairs offers easy access in and out of the water for both guests and dogs. (River shoes are a must—oyster shells and barnacles can easily cut bare feet.)

Guests are welcome to bring their own small personal watercraft.

Two working crab pots ready to bait and toss in the creek!

Huge dock to fish from...more square footage than the cottage.

Pets:
Dogs are welcome for a small fee.

Improvements:
If you’ve stayed before, you’ll notice upgrades made during the winter of 2021–2022, including enhancements to the dock and additional amenities since then.

Construction Note (October 2025):

Our neighbor next door is building a new cottage with an anticipated completion in Spring 2026. Because The Crab Shack sits close to the water and below the road, we don’t expect the work to significantly impact your stay, but some occasional construction noise is possible.

Another neighbor is planning to build in the future, though no construction has begun yet. We’ll update this note as soon as we have more details.