Deal Island

Explore Deal Island, Maryland: A Quiet Waterfront Community on the Tangier Sound

Connected to the mainland by a single bridge spanning acres of open marsh, Deal Island sits on the western edge of Somerset County. Just three miles long and one mile wide, the island is home to two small villages, Deal Island and Wenona, where life has always revolved around working the water. Out here, the air carries the fresh scent of the salt marsh, the horizons are wide open, and the rhythm of the day is guided entirely by the tides.

The Historic Skipjacks of Wenona Harbor

The heart of the island's maritime heritage can be found at the small harbor in Wenona. This quiet working dock is home port for several of the last remaining traditional skipjacks, the historic wooden sailing vessels that still harvest oysters under sail power. It is a peaceful place to walk the docks, see the workboats, and appreciate a way of life passed down through generations. To learn more about the families and traditions behind this craft, the Skipjack Heritage Museum in the neighboring community of Chance is worth an hour of your time.

Labor Day Races and Peaceful Afternoons

For over 50 years, the community has gathered every Labor Day weekend for the Annual Skipjack Races and Festival, celebrating local traditions with boat docking contests, parades, and a race of the historic skipjacks themselves. But outside of festival weekend, the real appeal of Deal Island lies in its simplicity. It is a place built for catching a beautiful sunset, casting a fishing line, or launching a kayak into the quiet waters of the sound. 

Come for the skipjacks, stay for the sunset, and leave with the kind of quiet that's hard to find anywhere else on the Shore.