Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area

Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area
The shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay at Black Walnut Point NRMA
LocationTilghman Island,Talbot County, Maryland, United States
Area58 acres (23 ha)
Administered byMaryland Park Service
DesignationMaryland state park
WebsiteOfficial website

Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Area (NRMA) is a 58-acre Maryland state park located on the southern tip of Tilghman Island in Talbot County, Maryland.[1][2] The park sits at the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Choptank River. It is operated by the Maryland Park Service.[1]

The 6 acres at the tip of the park are leased to the Black Walnut Point Inn, a private bed-and-breakfast.[1][3]

History

In the 1960s, the inn at Black Walnut Point was rented by the Soviet Embassy in Washington, DC for use by Embassy personnel and their families.[4][5]

Purchase

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources purchased the land in 1986, the transaction receiving approval from the Board of Public Works on November 19.[4][6] The purchase drew criticism, however, as Peter F. O'Malley, the former Prince George's County Democratic leader, was the seller.[7][8] Delegate Richard F. Colburn objected to the transaction.[9] Additionally, the state later leased the site's Inn to Brenda C. Ward, the deputy clerk of the Maryland House of Delegates, at a "below-market rate." Department of Natural Resources officials insisted that no special treatment was given.[7]

Recreation

The park features hiking trails, water access, and views of the Chesapeake Bay. The site is a prominent birdwatching area as well, with more than 230 species reportedly spotted in the park, including osprey, waterfowl, and bald eagles.[10][3][11] The Talbot Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, hosts birdwatching events in the park.[12]

Erosion

The park shoreline has been subject to erosion. A 1915 report from the U.S. Geological Survey found that Black Walnut Point had experienced the "maximum encroachment of the sea" on Tilghman Island between 1847 and 1910, losing a quarter-mile of land in that time.[13] A 2014 Maryland Department of Natural Resources proposal claimed that erosion was threatening the road in the park and proposed stone revetment to slow erosion. In 2021, the Talbot County Department of Planning and Zoning identified the park as a candidate for land restoration.[14]

In 2025, the Maryland Department of General Services invited bids on a project for the "installation of erosion control measures" within the park.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Black Walnut Point". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  2. ^ Harrison, "Disco" Don (2021-07-30). "Visiting the Black Walnut State Park on the shores of the Choptank River". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  3. ^ a b "Department of Natural Resources 45-14 - Black Walnut Point Natural Resource Management Area Shore Erosion Control" (PDF). Maryland State Archives Guide to Government Records. Maryland State Archives. p. 1. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "PRIVATE LIVES ON THE EASTERN SHORE". The Washington Post. 1993-07-01. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  5. ^ Ross, Nancy (July 22, 1968). "The Russians are Camping". Washington Post. p. B4.
  6. ^ "STATE OF MARYLAND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, November 19, 1986 10:25 o'clock, a.m." (PDF). Maryland Board of Public Works. November 19, 1986. pp. 209–217. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  7. ^ a b "MARYLAND'S WATERFRONT ESTATE". The Washington Post. 1991-03-11. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  8. ^ "MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS NOVEMBER 19, 1986" (PDF). Maryland Board of Public Works. November 19, 1986. p. 285. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  9. ^ "STATE OF MARYLAND, BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND December 17, 1986 10:20 o'clock, a.m." (PDF). Board of Public Works. December 17, 1986. pp. 136–141. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  10. ^ "Proud to Serve: Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area". WBOC TV. 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  11. ^ "Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area – Birders Guide to Maryland and DC". 2026-02-13. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  12. ^ "Talbot Bird Club – Maryland Ornithological Society". 2026-02-15. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  13. ^ Hunter, J. Fred (1915). "Erosion and sedimentation in Chesapeake Bay around the mouth of Choptank River". Professional Paper: 7–15. doi:10.3133/pp90B. ISSN 2330-7102.
  14. ^ "Cleaner, Greener Talbot: A Plan for Future Livability" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. May 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  15. ^ "P-068-220-002 Black Walnut Point NRMA Shore Erosion Control". vendors-emma.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  16. ^ "Board of Public Works, Table of Contents" (PDF). Maryland Board of Public Works. January 7, 2026. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
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