Celebrating 80 years of making memories at Virginia State Parks can sometimes transport us back as we recall those who have gone before us. From the humble beginnings of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who established the original parks through today. The parks just keep getting better and the visitor numbers increase as we went from the original four parks that opened in 1936 to 36 parks today. Memories are made every day at a Virginia State Park, and here are a few of them...

I have a very strong feeling of being "home" every time I'm there

I moved to Virginia in 2004 after 43 years of life in Pennsylvania. I had been leading backpacking trips in VA, PA, and WVA with about a dozen friends from the Northern Va for area for a few years at the time I moved here. They all joked that I needed to be "voted" in by the VA members of my group before I could call myself a Virginian. I told them that my heritage was from the Galax, Rugby, Grayson Highlands area but they still scoffed. 

I planned a 24 mile backpacking trip through Grayson Highlands State Park on the AT that would terminate at the Grayson Highlands State Park Visitors Center. I had heard that there were some photos from the past history of the area that included some of my direct ancestors on display inside the museum. Needless to say, after they viewed the photos, their clamoring for a vote was quickly squashed. 

I visit this Park frequently and have a very strong feeling of being "home" every time I'm there.  -Jeff Testerman

 

My love affair with Hungry Mother State Park

The Sheets French Family Reunion was held there in 1982 and I was hooked. I camped my first time in 1985 and began my love affair with Hungry Mother State Park.

Last year was my 30th anniversary. My father's family is from Tazewell Co. and scattered all over. We have taught babies to swim there, go off dive, learn to ride bikes, fish, hike, to building a fire to cook with or one for sitting around together long into the evening.

The park is beautiful safe, nature pristine (which ensuring takes hard work of staff) and has something for everyone. We have met families that have camped there for years and we look for them. It has fostered others in our family to come get a cabin or house in Hemlock or camper in Burson. The memories are monumental the time shared with loved ones precious.

The park has been essential in getting to know the younger generations pass on traditions and impart the ancient form of storytelling that my elders are notorious for.

There is music laughter fellowship and fun. My reservation for July is confirmed and the mountains of SW Virginia are calling Hungry Mother awaits. -Amy French

 

We pretty much had the entire place to ourselves...

In September 2014, my parents came to visit me from Ireland. After visiting some local sites such as Kiptopeke, First Landing, False Cape, and York River, my husband and I took them on a road trip up to Shenandoah, where we dipped our toes in the river, then we drove down along the Blue Ridge mountains, stopping for a night in Natural Bridge, and then staying for a couple of nights in a log cabin in Fairy Stone Park where I took the attached picture.

We pretty much had the entire place to ourselves, we spent an afternoon at the beach, went deer spotting, and even found some fairy stones down the road a little ways!!

We're looking forward to another state park stay next month. -Barbara Murray

 

Daddy's "shortcut"

My family consists of my husband, Chase, myself, and our 2 daughters, Ava who is 8, and Andi who is 4. We have many wonderful memories made at our favorite park, Hungry Mother, but this past year held one of our best! We camp at least once or twice every year at Hungry Mother and partake of all the activities offered. We bike on trails, swim at the beach, paddle board and paddle boat on the lake, but the 1 thing we were hesitant about doing was hike to Molly's Knob with the girls.

Chase had been dying to hike those "bigger trails," and finally convinced me the girls could handle it this time. So we packed our lunch & headed out for our projected 1.9 mile hike.

The hike started out great and the girls were doing good and was esp excited about putting miles on their hiking sticks they made with Joe (one our favorite park interpreters) the day before. We hiked it seemed like forever, stopping only to eat lunch. We finally made it to the summit and pushed ourselves to the top!

I was very proud of the girls, because even at one point, I wasn't sure we would make it. But we did and the view was worth it!! On our trek back, Chase decided we should take a different trail that he just knew was a "short cut."  We were so tired that a short cut sounded great. However, the short cut turned into a long cut and we ended up hiking on most the trails at Hungry Mother; the Vista trail, the CCC trail, the Lake & Lake Loop trail and even stepped foot onto the Ridge trail.  

At 1 point, our youngest daughter sat down on a rock and said,

"Just leave me here for the bears to eat, because I can't go any farther!"

But she did, and Chase continued to encourage and assure us until we finally made it back to our campsite hours and hours later! The girls broke in their walking sticks and racked up the miles on them that day, but we decided then that we would never follow another one of "daddy's shortcuts" again!  

But looking back, we made so many fun family memories that we will cherish forever!!  -Jaclyn Dillard 

Thanks for the memories...