Ingles Ferry
Why it's listed
Ingles Ferry was a river crossing on the New River near Radford, Virginia, operated by the Ingles family from 1762, when William Ingles obtained a license to run a ferry boat. His brother-in-law, John Draper, assisted him. Traffic grew quickly, the boat ran day and night, and tolls reached over a thousand dollars a month. Much of the early settler movement into Kentucky and Tennessee passed over the crossing. On the Pulaski side, a tavern with a store was built in 1772 using logs from an abandoned fort, and it became a social center visited by Andrew Jackson and George Rogers Clark. Today only an early one-story log section and an early nineteenth-century two-story frame wing survive, in poor repair and unoccupied. The ferry house burned in 1967, leaving two chimneys. Across the river stands Ingleside, a frame house built by John Ingles in 1790. The ferry operated until 1948, when the last boat sank.
Significance in brief: The ferry was started by William Ingles in 1762 and carried a major portion of the early settlers heading to Kentucky and Tennessee. Its tavern became a popular social center whose patrons included Andrew Jackson and George Rogers Clark. It is argued to be important as a local social center and a vital point in the westward movement through most of the nineteenth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000275, listed November 25, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of jct. of Rtes. 611 and 624, Radford |
|---|---|
| County | Pulaski County |
| Listed | November 25, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The tavern remains are unoccupied and in poor repair; the ferry house burned in 1967 and only its two chimneys remain; Ingleside across the river is in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.11187, -80.58618 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6032601
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.