Preserving the Past - Charting the Future

Downtowns are the beating heart of a community connecting all members. A thriving, attractive downtown helps the entire town prosper by strengthening community ties, aiding existing businesses, and building tourism to attract new residents and businesses.  Downtown Colonial Beach Inc. was formed in 2015 to foster preservation-based economic development using the methods of Main Street America. 

 

Over its more than 40 years of existence, the Main Street America approach has proven itself to be one of the nation’s most powerful economic revitalization tools for historic downtowns that had been decimated by suburban shopping malls and big box stores.  Now with the trend towards walkable communities with residential and commercial activity interspersed, downtowns are experiencing renewed popularity. 

 

In 2021, the Colonial Beach Historic District was declared by the National Register of Historic Places, and we believe Colonial Beach past, present, and future are coming together to make our town a major Northern Neck destination.  DCB’s vision is of a downtown that is economically revitalized, historically preserved, culturally rich, and equitably shared by all citizens