History comes alive when you visit Douthat State Park!

The Outside Family Vacation Guide named Virginia’s Douthat State Park one of the nation's 10 best. The park, which straddles Bath and Alleghany counties, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Douthat is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened June 15, 1936. It's nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia’s most outstanding scenery. In addition, a 50-acre lake offers swimming, boating and seasonal trout fishing.

Douthat cabin 8 is a cozy 2 bedroom cabin

Its quaint rustic appeal makes this cabin so charming

The wood burning fireplace was a terrific feature on a brisk morning

We all agree bacon and eggs is our favorite breakfast

Family fun making memories to last a life time!

A little creek on the other side of the spillway on the YCC Trail

This is another in this series where I actually name names! By that I mean I am sharing a specific cabin at a specific park. As I mentioned in this article referring to First Landing State Park cabin #4, it was super helpful for me as a state park goer to know the specifics. I don't want you to miss out on this great setting at Cabin 8, and this wonderful mountain top experience in the Alleghenies!

Cabin 8 is a two bedroom/one bath cabin. It is rustic and cozy (cozy always means small, so try not to bring too much gear as storage may be an issue for you). This cabin is at the end of the first cabin loop and is a great place to ride bikes and wander around, it is just a stone's throw from the lake. In the off season, this cabin rents for $80 per night (PDF), and is pet friendly! 

Douthat State Park has a variety of cabins from honeymoon one-room efficiencies, which are quite romantic with the fireplace in the same room, as well as newer cabins and lodges. There are 35 to choose from!

History:

Douthat was one of six state parks planned by the Commonwealth in the early 1930s. The initial 1,920 acres of the present-day park was donated by the Douthat Land Company, a consortium of Virginia businessmen. The rest of the land was purchased with a portion of the $50,000 in funds allocated by the General Assembly in 1933 for park land acquisition. The establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of the emergency Conservation Works by President Roosevelt in 1933 provided the means for development of the parks. 

Plan your next getaway to this awesome state park and get outside to catch some fresh mountain air!

Hint #1: If you book this cabin in the Fall, Winter and early Spring there is a lake-view from the porch!

Hint #2: There is a hiking trail right behind this cabin, near cabin 7.

Hint #3: You can walk to the swimming beach from this cabin, and if you follow the YCC Trail around the lake you will pass over the spillway at the dam and kids only fishing area!

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, four hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, five hours; Richmond, three hours; Roanoke, one hour. Click here for a Google Map.

Douthat State Park, 14239 Douthat State Park Road, Millboro, VA 24460; Phone: (540) 862-8100; email douthat. Learn more about park offerings by calling 1-800-933-PARK or make your reservation online here.

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS MAKE PERFECT GETAWAYS FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FUN!