Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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We spent our last night in the cabin at Bear Creek Lake State Park and temperatures plummeted overnight, so we woke up to weather in the 20's. 

Our plan was to hit up Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park on the way out of town and we honestly weren't expecting much from Sailor's Creek, but it was about 40 minutes away through some beautiful scenic backdrops, and we had to check it off the list.

We stopped off at the Hillsman House, not a lot to see, and closed apart from private tours, but made for some nice photo opportunities.  

A brisk and brief visit to Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park in VirginiaA brisk and brief visit to Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park in Virginia

January 18 Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park

Down the road a little is another pull-off area with a couple of trail heads, but no information! We were cold, and confused. There were a few mentions of a visitor's center, but there was no indication at any of the areas we found as to where it was. Finally, down the road in the opposite direction we came was the visitors' center, where we were actually able to get a trail map and talk with the rangers who were very helpful and informative. The museum was a very nice touch, and we would have toured the Hillsman House if we didn't have Rigby with us.

This park surprised us both with more to do than we were initially expecting, and were it not for the cold and initial confusion we'd have enjoyed taking in a bit more of the history there.

The site is historical because on April 6, 1865, the Black Thursday of the Confederacy, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia lost 7,700 men, including eight generals, in the battles of Sailor's Creek. This defeat was key to Lee's decision to surrender at Appomattox Court House 72 hours later, thus ending the war in Virginia.The site is historical because on April 6, 1865, the Black Thursday of the Confederacy, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia lost 7,700 men, including eight generals, in the battles of Sailor's Creek. This defeat was key to Lee's decision to surrender at Appomattox Court House 72 hours later, thus ending the war in Virginia.

The Overton-Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during and after the battle, is open to visitors April 1 through Oct. 31 at Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park, in Virginia

The Overton-Hillsman House was a field hospital during and after the battle

Note from blog editor: The Overton-Hillsman House is open to visitors April 1 through October 31, Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. There's no fee for touring the Overton-Hillsman House.

Contact the park at (804) 561-7510 or email here to arrange special tours which may also include period costumed interpreters. When you visit a park in the off-season expect to find them less staffed than in the busier warmer months.

If you would like to go on your own adventure to Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park and would like more information about this park, click here. 

 

Guest Bloggers Peter Radlowski, Sarah Sumoski and Mr. Rigby plan to tackle all 36 Virginia State Parks in 2016 and they invite you to come along on the adventure with them.

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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