Vineyard Haven

Facts:
Tisbury was incorporated within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1671
Population: Approximately 3,949
Zip code: 02568
West Chop Lighthouse
VH is the abbreviated town initials and how it is often referred to by locals.
2021 Tax Rate: $9.17

Tisbury has a total area of approximately 19 square miles, of which 6.5 square miles is land and 12.6 square miles (or 65.79%) is water.

Vineyard Haven is the main town located in Tisbury.  This is predominantly a year-round town and is the main port of entry to Martha’s Vineyard with Steamship Authority ferries running all year long from Wood Hole to Vineyard Haven. In the summer the Steamship Authority runs additional ferries to and from the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal.

The Vineyard Haven area was called “Nobnocket” by the Wampanoag people and referred to “Holmes Hole” by early settlers to the Island.

Vineyard Haven has a working harbor where you can find Gannon & Benjamin Marine railway wooden boat builders, The Martha’s Vineyard Times – one of two Island weekly newspapers, The Art Cliff Diner, The Black Dog Tavern and Black Dog Campus, and Garde East restaurant. Beach Road runs along the Harbor and off this road is Tisbury Marketplace where you’ll find fine dining like Beach Road restaurant, to casual dining venues – check out the Net Result for great seafood or Rocco’s pizza. Also in Tisbury Marketplace is the Film Center operated by the MV Film Society and year-round programming with film directors and actors often attending the events. The Film Center holds several film festivals all year – the September International Film festival is a destination event for people near and far. Vineyard Haven offers two gas stations along beach Road.

Main Street offers great shopping – check out Island favorites; Rainy Day, CB Stark Jewelers, The Green Room, Claudia’s jewelry, Nochi, Off Main, LeRoux Home, and lots more. For coffee shops, choose from Mocha Motts, Nat’s Nook Créperie, and Waterside Market. Amenities include Mansion House Health Club & Spa with their wonderful indoor pool and sauna, banks, dentists, massage therapists, Revive by Sarka day spa. For entertainment, visit the historical Capawock movie theater also owned and operated by the MV Film Society, and the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse offers year-round professional theatrical performances, poetry nights, and art openings.

Further up Main Street, is the Vineyard Haven Library, and Grace Church where you can enjoy their Lobster Rolls every Friday from 4 to 7 in the summer.

Five Corners – The challenging intersection of 5 roads, no traffic lights and no rotary. Year-rounders are seasoned at handling this intersection, but in summer take caution, navigating your way across can be tricky. The unspoken rule and understanding is that the route from Beach Road (leads to and from oak Bluffs) to Beach Street (from the VH post office leading to State Road and up-island) has the right of way. Cars coming from other directions must give way.

Interesting town facts:
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum relocated from Edgartown to Vineyard Haven in 2018 and is located at 151 Lagoon Pond Road in the renovated former 1895 Marine Hospital overlooking Vineyard Haven Harbor and Lagoon Pond. The MV Museum has a wonderful collection of exhibits that enable visitors to learn more about the Island’s history, it’s well worth a visit.

Vineyard Haven is also home to Chicken Alley Thrift Shop, where you can find many interesting treasures. Operated by Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, Chicken Alley Thrift Shop also holds a highly anticipated annual Art and Collectibles Sale. Visit their website for more information.

West Chop is a small community in Tisbury, and in summer is busy with the West Chop Club which is a a well-preserved planned summer resort community of the late 19th century. West Chop juts out into Vineyard Sound and the outer area of Vineyard Haven harbor.

West Chop Lighthouse is in Tisbury and offers sweeping views of Nantucket Sound.

Annual events: The Vineyard Cup Regatta, the Tisbury Street Fair, and Chicken Alley Thrift Shop Art & Collectibles Sale.

Essentials: Stop & Shop for Groceries, and the Tisbury police Department are across from the Vineyard Haven Steamship Terminal, Vineyard Haven Library, Tisbury School, Tisbury Fire Department.

Beaches:
Owen Park Beach
Tashmoo Beach
Tisbury Great Pond

Trails:
Brookside Ridge Preserve
Kingsbury Fields
Phillips Preserve
Ripley’s Field
Tisbury Meadow Preserve
Wapatequa Woods Reservation
West Chop Woods
Wilfrid’s Pond Preserve