Wildcat on the Bay is a group of four unique Chincoteague vacation rental homes set on the shore of Chincoteague Bay surrounded by a pine forest in a secluded section of Chincoteague Island. This enclave of large, modern rental homes offers panoramic, often ethereal, views of Chincoteague Bay and its salt marshes, magnificent sunrises AND sunsets and opportunities for birding, crabbing, shell collecting, kayaking & canoeing, wind surfing, biking, hiking and just being at peace – all without leaving this special magical corner of Chincoteague Island. Other requirements such as shopping, museums, restaurants, medical attention and the post office can be found in nearby downtown Chincoteague, the Assateague beach road and other nooks and crannies.

Only minutes away by car from Wildcat on the Bay are the fabulous undeveloped Atlantic Ocean beaches of the Assateague Island National Seashore where visitors can delight in the roaming world-famous Chincoteague ponies and over 300 species of song birds and water fowl in their natural habitats at the internationally recognized Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Thus, activities on both islands combine to make Wildcat on the Bay an ideal destination for family, friends and associates of all types. Booked together, our four homes can accommodate up to 42 guests making Wildcat the perfect setting for special occasions such as weddings and reunions as well as business, organization and other types of retreats. Property management staff listed below will be pleased to assist in arranging such special events.

All four rental homes have many desirable amenities in common. Each has central air-conditioning and heating, satellite TV, four or five bedrooms and as many baths, a balcony or deck for each bedroom, expansive decks and one or more screened porches, a fireplace or Franklin stove, a washer and dryer and one or two hot-and-cold-water outdoor showers. In addition, each of these homes offers a well-equipped modern kitchen with microwave oven, coffee maker, blender, toaster, automatic dishwasher, complete sets of china, flatware, and glassware for twelve, plus an outside barbeque grill.

Wildcat on the Bay beckons visitors year-round. Birders seek out resident and migratory species associated with three distinct habitats — open bay, salt march, and pine woods — including two endangered species not uncommon here: the bald eagle and peregrine falcon. Thousands of migrating songbirds, shore birds, and waterfowl visit the area each spring and fall. Along with its profusion of wildlife and its beautiful setting, Wildcat on the Bay is blessed with the generally mild climate of the mid-Atlantic shore, undoubtedly making it a vacation paradise for all seasons.

This outstanding year-round vacation rental venue is only a few hours' drive from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Washington-Baltimore area, mainland Delaware, Richmond and Charlottesville and metropolitan Norfolk-Virginia Beach and a short drive from the Eastern Shores of Delaware and Maryland. These four rental homes were all custom designed by Richard Vesely, widely acclaimed for creating waterfront homes of distinction with captivating views from every room.

Wildcat on the Bay homes are situated next to the Wildcat Marsh section of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a pristine road-free area of salt marsh, long finger-like pine ridges and sloughs, and occasional hummocks of saltbush, bayberry and cedar. They are positioned on extra-long lots that run eastward from the Bay across a pine ridge and continue for up to a third of a mile, crossing salt marsh, tidal creeks, and more pine ridges and finally ending at a beautiful winding creek or "gut" known as Hairy Head Pond. To the west, views of the Bay are incredibly sweeping because these two-story homes rest on six to eight foot pilings. On clear nights, four miles across the Bay from Wildcat, the lights of Captains Cove and Greenbackville sparkle romantically against an otherwise dark horizon.

The rental rates for the summer prime season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, range from $2,900 to $3,300 and are bargains compared to rates for other luxury waterfront properties in the mid-Atlantic region. Lower weekly and weekend rates apply in the off-season.

All rental arrangements are handled by Chincoteague-based property management companies. Grandview, Olana Baydream and Prospect Point are managed by Island Property Enterprises, 6395 Maddox Boulevard. They may be reached by phone at 1-800-346-2559, by email at islandp2@islandprop.com or on the web at www.islandprop.com where bookings can be made online.

Wildcat Cove is managed by Island Getaways. They may be reached by phone at 1-888-797-0100, or email igetaway@igetaway.net.

First 3 photos on this page courtesy of Bill Garrett (Retired Editor, National Geographic). For photographs from Chincoteague and 6 continents, email billgarret@aol.com