Perched along the shores of Virginia Beach, the Old Coast Guard Station stands as a testament to the city’s maritime past. Originally built in 1903 as the Seatack Life-Saving Station, it played a crucial role in rescuing sailors and passengers from the many shipwrecks along the treacherous coastline. Today, it serves as a museum, preserving the history of the brave men who patrolled the waters and saved countless lives. But according to local legend, some of those men may never have truly left.

For decades, stories have circulated about the Phantom Lifeguard, a spectral figure who is said to appear on the beach near the Old Coast Guard Station. Dressed in the uniform of an early 20th-century lifeguard, this ghostly figure is often seen walking along the shoreline, keeping watch over the ocean as he did in life. His presence is both protective and eerie, as if he continues to fulfill his duty long after death.

The History of the Old Coast Guard Station

The Old Coast Guard Station’s origins date back to the U.S. Life-Saving Service, a precursor to the modern Coast Guard. It was one of several such stations along the East Coast, built to help rescue sailors from the many shipwrecks that plagued the region. The Seatack Station, as it was known, became operational in 1903, and its crew of life-savers patrolled the beaches day and night, often risking their lives in brutal storms to pull stranded sailors and passengers from the water.

Throughout its years of operation, the station’s crew responded to numerous disasters, including the infamous wreck of the steamship Dictator in 1891, which claimed several lives. Though the station itself wasn’t yet completed at the time, its eventual crew carried on this tradition of bravery, responding to similar wrecks and emergencies well into the 20th century.

In 1939, the U.S. Life-Saving Service was absorbed into the U.S. Coast Guard, and the station continued its operations as part of the newly formed organization. It remained active until 1969, when it was decommissioned. Shortly thereafter, the building was converted into a museum, dedicated to preserving the history of the life-savers and the many rescues they performed along the Virginia coast.

The Legend of the Phantom Lifeguard

While the Old Coast Guard Station’s history is well-documented, the story of its phantom lifeguard is less so. The legend first emerged in the late 20th century, when locals and beachgoers began reporting sightings of a strange figure walking the beach near the museum, especially during the early morning hours or just after sunset. This figure, often described as a tall man in a vintage life-saving uniform, is seen pacing along the water’s edge, gazing out at the sea as if searching for something—or someone.

The sightings are eerily consistent. Witnesses describe the lifeguard as looking entirely solid at first, walking with purpose along the shore. But as they approach or try to get a better look, the figure vanishes, leaving no footprints in the sand. Some beachgoers have even reported feeling an unexplainable chill in the air as they pass by the spot where the lifeguard was seen, as if the ghost’s presence lingers even after he disappears.

One local legend ties the Phantom Lifeguard to the tragic wreck of the Dictator, a Norwegian steamship that ran aground off the coast of Virginia Beach in 1891. The wreck claimed the lives of several crew members, including the ship’s captain, though many were saved by the brave efforts of the Seatack life-savers. According to this version of the story, the ghost may be one of the men who perished in the wreck or one of the life-savers who died in the line of duty, continuing his watch over the sea even in death.

Eyewitness Accounts

Over the years, several eyewitness accounts have given the legend of the Phantom Lifeguard more credence. In one particularly famous case, a group of tourists visiting the museum in the late 1980s claimed to have seen a man standing near the water’s edge, dressed in an old-fashioned life-saver’s uniform. They assumed he was part of a historical reenactment, but as they approached to speak with him, the figure vanished before their eyes. Puzzled and unsettled, they asked the museum staff about the man, only to be told that no such reenactments were taking place that day.

Other visitors to the beach near the Old Coast Guard Station have reported seeing the lifeguard walking in the distance, only to watch him disappear as they approach. Some have even described hearing faint voices on the wind, as though the ghost is communicating with the unseen, or perhaps calling out to those lost at sea.

Staff members at the museum have also reported strange occurrences inside the building itself. Unexplained cold spots, the sound of footsteps in empty hallways, and doors that open and close on their own have all been reported. Some believe these phenomena are linked to the Phantom Lifeguard, while others think they may be the spirits of other sailors or life-savers who once served at the station.

The Legacy of the Lifeguard

The story of the Phantom Lifeguard has become a local legend, shared by beachgoers, fishermen, and museum visitors alike. Though there is no definitive proof of his existence, the consistency of the sightings over the years has kept the legend alive. For many, the ghostly figure is seen as a symbol of the dedication and bravery of the men who once patrolled these waters, risking their lives to save others.

To this day, people continue to report sightings of the Phantom Lifeguard, particularly during stormy weather or on foggy mornings. Some believe he is a protective spirit, watching over swimmers and beachgoers, while others think he is a restless soul, forever searching the horizon for those he couldn’t save in life.

Conclusion

The Phantom Lifeguard of the Old Coast Guard Station is just one of the many ghostly figures that haunt the shores of Virginia Beach. His presence, though unsettling, is also a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the men who once served at the life-saving station. As we close this chapter on Virginia Beach and Norfolk’s haunted coastlines, the story of the Phantom Lifeguard leaves us with a sense of mystery and wonder—a fitting end to our exploration of these haunted shores.