Recently, Governor Terry McAuliffe, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward, and DCR Director Clyde Cristman visited Kiptopeke State Park and False Cape State Park in an effort to understand the operations and management of these two parks. While fairly close together distance-wise, these two parks have very different management and operational plans due to their unique locations.

Governor McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe spend a few moments
inside the yurt at Kiptopeke State Park.

Kiptopeke State Park is located on the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and is prime migratory songbird and raptor habitat. Working closely with partners such as Virginia’s Coastal Zone Management team and the Southern Tip Partnership, the park continues to restore coastal forest habitat and provide recreational opportunities.

The Governor and First Lady with Molly Ward and Clyde Cristman stopped by the park’s yurt. These part-cabin/part-tent overnight facilities are a great return on investment and a unique outdoor experience. Thanks to special funding in the capital budget during this General Assembly session, Virginia State Parks has started an initiative to put more yurts into more parks.

Park Manager Forrest Gladden takes Governor McAuliffe to walk the
new Brown Pelican Trail.
(Photo courtesy of Michaele White/Governor's Office.)

They also visited the park’s birding education area and hawk observatory and then participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the new Brown Pelican Trail that winds through the coastal forest and provides great shorebird viewing opportunities.

At False Cape State Park, the Governor was briefed on the unique cooperative agreements between Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Virginia State Parks. This federal/state management partnership balances conservation and recreation missions in a unique nine-mile undeveloped span along the Atlantic Ocean.

Tram tours are a great way to explore False Cape State Park.  
Join the guided hike or explore the park on your own.

Located at the southern end of Virginia Beach and extending to the North Carolina border, False Cape offers primitive camping (advance reservations required), guided kayak trips, guided hikes, and tram tours. Click here for a search tool to find a list of current tours and programs at all Virginia State Parks.

The group visited False Cape State Park’s Environmental Education Center. University cohorts, school groups, and private groups can rent this overnight facility provided they have specific ecological and environmental education goals. Click here for more information on the EEC.

The Governor ran into a group from Granby High School while he was touring the park 
and posed with them in front of the Wash Woods Environmental Education Center

When you are out visiting Virginia State Parks, feel free to stop and chat with park staff and park rangers if you have questions about programs, facilities, and new initiatives.  If they don’t know the answer off hand, they will help you find someone that does. Virginia State Parks prides itself on meeting its mission of conserving natural, cultural and historic resources while providing ample recreational opportunities to Virginians, Americans, and international visitors.