The Presidents Heads have long been on my radar. There was something about these decaying sculptures that always attracted me. Unfortunately at the time, they were not open to the public. They were sitting, abandoned, on a private field, and I did not know how to access them – and no, trespassing was not an option. I was ecstatic to discover there are now “official” tours given by photographer John Plashal with permission of the owner. With our tickets in hand, we finally visited back in November 2019. With the increased popularity of the place, I thought I would share this complete guide to the Presidents Heads with you.
updated June 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Affiliate links are no extra charge to you, but I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. You can find the full policy here.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
What are the Presidents Heads
The Presidents Heads sit on a farm field in the town of Croaker, just on the outskirts of Williamsburg. What are the Presidents Heads you might ask. The Heads are 43 large scale busts of our past presidents once part of Presidents Park in Williamsburg. Presidents Park went bust in 2010. The busts were later slated to be destroyed until Howard Hankins, a local contractor who helped construct the park, “rescued” them and moved them to his farm 10 miles away. Standing up to 20 feet tall and weighing about 22,000 pounds, they sustained heavy damage during the move (cracked heads, missing noses, etc. ) only adding to the eeriness of the place.
President George W. Bush was the last large scale bust created. The park went bankrupt during President Obama’s tenure and only a small statue of him was created at the time. It used to be on display as well but after someone stole it (it eventually was returned but not before the police got involved) the statue is now kept under lock only to be taken out on special occasions.
How to get to the Presidents Heads
Croaker, VA is about a 2.5 hours drive from DC and 1 hour and 15 minutes hours from Virginia Beach. It is the perfect day trip. Tickets vary in price and range from $20 to $125. Visitors must purchase tickets online (tickets may be available for purchase on site if a session is not sold out) Youth tickets cost $9 (age 8-17) and kids 7 and under go in for free. Upon your purchase, you will receive a confirmation email containing parking instructions and other rules you must abide to. You will also need to sign a liability waiver when you check-in.
Note: they are closed for the summer 2024 and will be back in the fall with tour dates and workshops announced soon.
There are different kinds of tours available. You can choose between morning, afternoon, dusk, VIP, and nighttime sessions. Each session gives you a 2 to 3 hour window to visit. Nighttime events are mostly geared towards photography enthusiasts. If you can, definitely drop in in one of John’s guided tours. He shares interesting facts and stories and will nicely give you some pointers for taking the best pictures.
There is ample parking but as you will be on a farm, expect dusty and gravelly roads. Dress for the weather with rain boots or even some hiking boots that can give you ankle support if it is raining. Wear comfortable clothes and as you will be outdoors the whole time; don’t forget sunscreen, bug repellent and a water bottle. Be aware that there is no shade and no seating area. In the past some events featured a BBQ of some sort although I am not sure if this is still the case. There are portable restrooms on site, mostly near the parking and the check-in areas.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Do not trespass
- In recent months, people started visiting more local places, resulting in tours filling out quickly. I recommend purchasing your tickets early (new dates are added all the time so keep checking the website)
- Unless you are a photographer, I recommend visiting in the mornings. The tickets are less expensive and there might be a little less people. The downside is you will have to deal the sculptures being back lit on sunny days
- Leashed dogs are allowed. Please make sure to pick up after them
- Drones are allowed but cannot be flown during guided tours
- If you decide to spend some time in the area, you have options for lodging. I recommend staying at the Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony or for a more fun stay, the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg. These two hotels are central to all attractions available in the Williamsburg/Jamestown area.
- The Greater Williamsburg area is home to a myriad of activities geared towards the family. I highly recommend checking some of them out while already there.
So there you go. Let me know if you end up visiting the Presidents’ Heads. I would love hear about your experience. If you like this post, please consider sharing it and subscribing to the blog.
Thank you for reading xx
FOR MORE UNIQUE DESTINATIONS IN THE US:
- Utah: Guide to Homestead Crater, the only geothermal springs in the Continental US
- Utah: Mystic Hot Springs, a unique destination in the Utah desert
- Maui: Snorkeling Molokini Crater with kids
FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY GETAWAYS: