THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 1995 TAG: 9506200078
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
GORDON IVEY, 42, was carrying on a family tradition when he sat on the back of his boat with his 2-year-old son, Gordon Jr., dangling a toy fishing-pole's line in the Pagan River last Friday afternoon.
As the family has done on special occasions for the last five years, Gordon and Kim Ivey and their toddler son were spending the weekend at Smithfield Station to celebrate Kim's birthday.
And just like a growing number of tourists visiting the waterfront town these days, the Iveys rolled into town on their 34-foot power boat, Free Flight. Although the James City County family slept and ate most meals aboard the boat, they spent most of Saturday visiting the museum and shops downtown.
``Growing up, I spent many summers in town fishing and crabbing off a pier that was right here where Smithfield Station's docks are now,'' said Ivey, a Bell Atlantic Telephone engineer. ``My cousins used to own Tennis' Seafood.
``Over time, I've really seen things change around here.''
Most of the change has come about in the last decade, when Smithfield began aggressively promoting its historic attractions and Portsmouth native Ron Pack bought several parcels of waterfront property - including where Ivey's relatives used to operate Tennis' Seafood.
In 1986, Pack opened Smithfield Station, a 15-room motel with docking facilities and a restaurant overlooking the Pagan River. Since Smithfield Station opened, the marina has built slips to accommodate 60 boats.
Pack has spent the last year putting finishing touches on the small resort's final growth phase, the construction of the Light at Smithfield Station. In the top of an operating lighthouse in the middle of the Pagan River, accessible to the rest of the motel only by a wooden pier, the Light is Smithfield Station's most elegant lodging.
Last year, Pack also opened the Boardwalk Bar & Grill, a tiny, casual restaurant on the banks of the Pagan River where boaters can dock and grab a drink or sandwich. They also can use the showers in Smithfield Station's new boathouse or even go for a dip in the swimming pool Pack had built last year.
``None of this stuff was here 10 years ago. The only boats in sight were kept at a couple of personal docks,'' Pack said. ``I would say the most significant change has been the increase in boat traffic.''
Boat traffic docked overnight at Smithfield Station peaked at 570 in 1994, Pack said. The number of visitors coming into town via the water and docking at the Station's marina overnight has climbed rapidly for the past two years, almost doubling from the 338 that stayed in 1992, Pack said.
Eighty percent of Smithfield Station's visitors who come by boat are from the region: Hopewell, Richmond, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and the Peninsula.
``Our typical guest comes from less than a day away by boat,'' Pack said. ``But the larger number of visitors come for lunch or dinner and then go home. While they are here, they often will get off their boats and walk uptown to visit the museum and browse through the stores.''
That's when Pack's investment in Smithfield Station begins paying dividends to Smithfield's business community.
``Tourists buy more than T-shirts,'' Pack said. ``While they are here, they might buy fuel for the boats, food from the grocery store and film, toothpaste and mouthwash from the drugstore.
``Anybody who does business in the community benefits from tourists.''
Jim Abicht, owner of Smithfield Antique Center, said the first wave of tourists who come into town by boat usually hits his antique mall late Friday afternoons.
``I notice it most then. Usually 10 or 15 people with pretty good tans will come through, . . . and I overhear them trying to decide whether something will fit on their boat. We also deliver items down to the docks at Smithfield Station.''
Christina Begland, owner of another downtown business, Wharf Hill Antiques, says boating tourist traffic has a ``definite impact'' on business at her gift shop. Those customers are most interested in the shop's nautical-related merchandise, including Christmas ornaments and miniature pond boats.
Whether they come by land or water, all tourists spend money while on vacation, Pack said. He believes an increase in the number of shops along Smithfield's Main Street would do much for tourism in the town.
``Tourists need more places here to stay overnight, eat and spend their money,'' Pack said. ``There's nothing wrong with what we have downtown now. We just need more of it.''
Both local and regional boaters at Smithfield Station over the weekend said the resort's marina facilities and the town have become increasingly well-known on the regional nautical grapevine.
``I think a lot of people in the boating community today know about Smithfield,'' Kim Ivey said.
Smithfield residents William and Elizabeth Tetswch, who live in the town's Moonefield section, said they spend most weekends on Reel-a-tor, the boat they keep docked at the Station.
The family, which had guests visiting from Germany for most of last week, spent a couple of days fishing in the James River and relaxing by the Station's pool.
``It's very nice out here,'' said Joachim Iller, a graphic artist from Germany. ``Our daughter really loves the pool and french fries from the restaurant.''
Despite living so close to Smithfield Station, the Tetswchs and their two children, Bobby, 5, and Cecila, 6, spend most weekends during the summer aboard the boat.
``We only live in Moonefield,'' Elizabeth Tetswch said. ``But we love it here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including color photo on cover, by JOHN H. SHEALLY
II
Georgine and Stan Knowlton dock their sailboat at Smithfield
Station's marina.
Ron Pack opened Smithfield Station in 1986. The 15-room motel has
docking facilities for 60 boats and a restaurant overlooking the
Pagan River.
Joachim and Susanne Iller of Germany chat with Elizabeth Tetswch of
Smithfield at the Smithfield Station pool.
Harbormaster John Dunn surveys the docks from the upper deck of
Smithfield Station.
by CNB