BY CLARA VAUGHN, Eastern Shore Post —
A Chincoteague resort featuring floating bungalows is voluntarily closing for the season after it had been operating without required permits from the Virginia Department of Health.
BluFin Bungalows & Marina opened in late July but announced in a letter to the health department it would close by the end of this week, said Chincoteague’s Town Manager Mike Tolbert.
The closure comes on the heels of complaints filed with the health department that alleged the business dumped untreated sewage in the water, but the claims were unsubstantiated, said Health Director for the Eastern Shore District Jon Richardson.
“We’ve investigated several times, as has DEQ (the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality), and that had not ever been corroborated,” he said.
BluFin opened earlier this summer, showcasing its “Bungalow Boats” that offered a lodging experience on floating cabins outfitted with kitchens, bathrooms, and other amenities.
It is a project by Blue Water, a company that owns, manages, and develops campgrounds, hotels, marinas, and other attractions throughout the northeast and other areas.
Though rumors of raw sewage were unsubstantiated, the facility opened without required permits from the health department, Richardson said.
He added that “initially, the floating cabins were discharging shower and sink water into the water.”
“As soon as we became aware of that, VDH and DEQ both reacted immediately, and they (BluFin) went ahead and fixed all that and replumbed all those cabins,” Richardson said.
Tolbert said Chincoteague’s town office received similar complaints about the bungalow business.
“We had some complaints of … gray water, which is just from sinks and showers, which were founded and corrected. And then we had some complaints of raw sewage in the water, which were unfounded,” he said.
Tolbert said the business has “still got some issues they are working through as far as paperwork.”
“Everyone suggested that ‘You need to close back up and get some issues squared away,’ and they’re doing that,” he said.
BluFin representatives did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
The property formerly was Capt. Bob’s Marina.
