"A picturesque spot which impresses all who see it"

"A picturesque spot which impresses all who see it". . , Before the late-19th century, most Americans did not travel for leisure; the wealthy traveled mostly for health and wellness. In the 1880s, as ideas about leisure changed and railroads made isolated locations more accessible, a nearby resort opened at Virginia Beach. Established soon after, the Cape Henry resort was marketed as a place to be visited for both pleasure and health. Tourism included an array of workers who built the rail line, provided hospitality services, and supplied the casino with fresh oysters.,

"Too much cannot be said about the advantages of the situation of this domain, or the beauty of its scenery"

, The lighthouses (built in 1792 and 1881), lifesaving stations (built in 1874 and 1904), and the weather station (built in 1918) were among the major attractions at Cape Henry., Tourism to Cape Henry was brought about by the Cape Henry Syndicate and the Chesapeake Transit company. These companies had two motivations: Building a resort and extracting valuable lumber. Both required reliable transportation networks to this remove location. Workers for the Chesapeake Transit Company constructed an electric rail line from Norfolk to Cape Henry in 1902, and the Cape Henry Train Station opened the same year., In the 1890s, the Cape Henry Park and Land Company (renamed the Cape Henry Syndicate in 1899) purchased over 5,500 acres and erected rental cottages. Many cottages were sold and remained privately owned throughout the early Army occupation (1914-1941). The development of the Army's Fort Story greatly reduced the vitality of the tourism industry. ,
The Sea Breeze Hotel and several other hostelries opened in the 1900s. The Chesapeake Transit Company erected a large, dancing pavilion in 1903. O'Keefe's Casino opened soon after and served as a venue for dances and other social events. Tourists also enjoyed picnics on the sand dunes and picking wild berries.