Coming Home to the River: Annie Arnest and the Revival of The Slips in Kinsale
Some gathering places are more than businesses. They’re pieces of a town’s memory.
In the small waterfront village of Kinsale, tucked along the Yeocomico River, one such place has quietly come back to life. Locals know it today as The Slips, but for generations the property has been part of the fabric of the community.
And now, thanks to Annie Arnest, the story has come full circle.
A Family Legacy on the Water
Long before sailboats filled the docks, the site played a role in Kinsale’s working waterfront. In the late 1800s the property was home to a tomato cannery—one of many along the Yeocomico River that supported the region’s agricultural economy.
More than a decade after the cannery closed, Annie’s grandfather, Harry Lee Arnest Jr., transformed the site into the original Kinsale Marina in 1956. What he created was more than a marina—it was a lively waterfront gathering place.
Boaters stopped in for supplies. Locals came to visit. Harry Lee was known for selling just about anything from Johnson outboards, to Browning shotguns, to chocolate milkshakes—making the marina a hub of activity along the river.
Eventually he sold the marina in the 1980s, and the property passed through several owners. But the Arnest family’s connection to the community continued.
Later in life, Harry Lee finished his real estate career with his license at Bay River Realty, which is how we first came to know Annie. We have admired her commitment to reviving the marina and making the river accessible to everyone ever since.
Coming Home to the River
Annie grew up in Kinsale with two brothers, spending much of her childhood exploring the Yeocomico River and learning to love the quiet rhythms of life on the water.
After graduating from the University of Virginia, Annie built a career in retail real estate, living and working in cities including Philadelphia and New York. Her work took her across the country helping develop retail spaces and expand major brands.
But despite the opportunities and excitement of city life, Kinsale never stopped calling her home.
When the marina went up for sale in 2020, Annie saw something more than a business opportunity. She saw a chance to bring a meaningful part of her family’s story—and the village’s story—back to life.
She bought the property and began the work of restoring it.
Bringing The Slips Back to Life
Reviving a marina takes vision, persistence, and a lot of hands-on problem solving.
Annie stepped into the role of owner, developer, and community builder all at once—repairing docks, improving the property, and imagining what the space could once again become for the community.
Today, The Slips is once again alive with activity along the Yeocomico River, a tidal tributary of the Potomac that has long shaped life in the Northern Neck.
Visitors can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or small sailboats, explore nearby waterways, or learn to sail for the first time. But Annie’s vision for the property went beyond boats. She wanted to create a place where people could gather.
The Yeocomico Club: A Riverfront Community
That vision came to life through the creation of The Yeocomico Club, a social river club located alongside the marina.
Membership is open to those who share a love for the water and want to enjoy river-centered recreation and community events together.
The club offers access to the marina’s clubhouse, pool, tennis and pickleball courts, and a rooftop deck overlooking the Yeocomico River—a favorite place to watch the sunset or simply take in the peaceful beauty of the water.
Throughout the season, the club hosts gatherings, cookouts, and events that bring neighbors and visitors together. During the warmer months, the rooftop deck becomes an outdoor studio where community yoga classes take place overlooking the river—an experience that perfectly captures the slower rhythm of life here.
Making the River Accessible to Everyone
Annie’s work at the marina has also helped spark something bigger.
Through the Kinsale Waterfront Fund, a nonprofit connected to the marina community, Annie and others are working to support cultural, educational, and charitable programs centered around Kinsale’s waterfront.
At the heart of the organization’s mission is a simple goal: to make the river accessible to everyone. One of the most meaningful ways they are doing that is through the marina’s summer camps.
“The most fulfilling thing we've done here at the marina so far is connecting people with our kids' camps,” Annie shared.
Each summer, The Slips hosts five weeks of week-long camps designed to introduce children to life on the river.
Two different camps are offered:
Sailing camps teach kids the fundamentals of sailing and navigation, while river camps immerse campers in the culture and ecology of the Northern Neck.
River camp days might include fishing, learning about oysters and crabbing, exploring the waterways by boat, and discovering the history of the Yeocomico River and the maritime heritage of Kinsale.
For many children, it’s their very first experience with the river. And for Annie, watching that connection happen is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
A Place to Gather Again
In many ways, the marina is becoming what it once was in Annie’s grandfather’s day—a gathering place where the community naturally comes together.
On any given weekend, you might find sailors tying up at the docks, neighbors gathering on the waterfront, or families introducing their children to the water for the first time. The laughter, the music, the boats rocking gently in their slips—it all feels like the return of something familiar.
Why the Northern Neck Still Feels Like Home
After years living in larger cities, Annie says returning to the Northern Neck has only deepened her appreciation for life here.
When asked what she loves most about living here, she didn’t hesitate.
“My dad once wrote that the Northern Neck was a place ‘poor in things plentiful, but rich in things rare’—and I think that's still true today. We have an abundance of natural resources, natural beauty, vibrant history, and authentic character that you can't find just anywhere.”
And thanks to Annie’s vision and determination, one of Kinsale’s most historic waterfront spaces is once again alive with activity—welcoming neighbors, sailors, families, and the next generation of river lovers.
Sometimes the best stories in the Northern Neck aren’t about something brand new.