The rangers at Sky Meadows State Park field a lot of “FAQs” [frequently asked questions] clarifying our name and location, since there are geographically close places with names like Skyline Drive, Skyland, Big Meadows and Great Meadows. I even answered a call recently where the caller was trying to reach Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Let’s answer some of those common and not-so-common questions. When it comes to Sky Meadows, “What’s in a name?” and more importantly, “Who are we and why are we here?”

As a ranger at Sky Meadows State Park, it can be tempting to indulge in internal eye rolling when asked the question from an inquisitive visitor: “Is this Skyline Drive?” But recently, I had an eye-opening experience that reminded me of just how easy it is to confuse names and places, giving me newfound sympathy for the many visitors and callers who ask this and similar “FAQs.”

The view from the Piedmont Overlook Trail is one of the most popular features of Sky Meadows State Park.

Are we there yet?

Although I am very familiar with Sky Meadows State Park and usually have no trouble getting here, I recently found myself doing a quick GPS search on my phone when taking a back road from a nearby town. I won’t get into the whole long story, which involves me and a fox mascot costume. But suffice it to say; there was parade traffic, and I was trying to get around it.

Even rangers like “Ranger Parker Red Fox” get confused by GPS, especially if you leave the driving up to a fox.

Imagine my surprise when I accidentally tapped the first search result without looking very carefully, and my phone began to navigate its way to none other than Skyline Drive! I immediately realized the error, but it turns out to be easier than I thought to end up in the wrong place, or not realize where you are once you get there. I hope that reading this will help you avoid this potentially embarrassing, and certainly inconvenient situation.

Is this a national park?

Sky Meadows State Park is a Virginia State Park located in Delaplane, Virginia in Fauquier County. We are about an hour’s drive from the DC suburbs, whereas it will take folks from Northern Virginia an additional half-hour to reach the northernmost entrance to Skyline Drive in Front Royal, Virginia. To confuse things further; Skyline Drive is the name of the driving road that traverses Shenandoah National Park, which also contains places named Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge.

Is this a drive-through park?

Are you still with me? We at Sky Meadows State Park are part of the Virginia State Parks system and, although our park name sounds similar to some of the above-mentioned places, we do not have a restaurant or a lodge. Your “America the Beautiful” National Parks Pass is not applicable here. And while we have scenic views, you cannot “drive through the park” except to get to any of our designated parking areas.

To access the Backcountry Trails, begin your walk up the road toward the park office. Please go on foot, as this road is for authorized vehicles only.

So, although we do not have a long 100-mile-plus road for you to drive through the park, Sky Meadows State Park does have over 22 miles of trails to explore, a primitive hike-in campground for overnight lodging (in your tent and/or hammock), and we honor Virginia State Parks Annual Passes. This pass will get you into our 42 parks, like Shenandoah River State Park; another excellent Virginia State Park which is about a 40-minute drive from Sky Meadows!

We don’t have a restaurant or a lodge. But, we do have a primitive hike-in campground.

Does the AT go through here?

To add to the list of comparisons: similar to Shenandoah National Park, Sky Meadows State Park accesses the iconic Appalachian National Scenic Trail (or AT). So yes, technically the two parks are connected by trail. You can hike 20 miles to get from one to the other. Please keep in mind that accessing the AT from the main parking area at Sky Meadows State Park requires a 2-mile uphill hike on park trails before you reach it.

Who are we?

Although not a national park, Sky Meadows is a National Historic Landmark. This means that the park is part of a National Register of Historic Places, but not managed by the federal government. We are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Historic Mount Bleak is an 1840s era Federal-style farmhouse next to the main parking area at Sky Meadows.

To delve a bit into the history of the park and how it got its name, we invite you to take a self-paced tour of the historic area with the Historic Grounds Walking Tour brochure. There are twelve features along the tour, where you can stop and learn the history of each structure, using the brochure as your guide. One of the stops on the tour is Mt. Bleak-Skye Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a continually operating working farm since the mid-nineteenth century.

Our entrance sign identifies us as a state park and “A National Historic Landmark.”

A fun history fact noted in the brochure and in the booklet “Sky Meadows State Park: A Timeline History of Its Resources and the People Who Shaped the Landscape” (for sale in the gift shop for $2.11), is that the farm was named after the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Sir Robert Hadow was a British diplomat during World War II, who moved his family to live on the farm, as a “retreat from diplomatic social life” in Washington, DC. He was the one who named the property Skye Farm because of the resemblance he saw to the landscape on the Isle of Skye.

The farm finally received the name of Sky Meadows from the Scott family who were the owners of the property in the 1950s. By that time, the farmland extended to the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as it does today. The Scotts, in partnership with their farm manager Carl McFarland, changed the name to “Sky Meadows” inspired by the “broad high meadows under the sky.” Today, the park has named the “McFarland Spur Trail” after the McFarland family.

The cattle that graze the property today are managed by the Virginia Department of Corrections, a partnership that lets the park operate as a working farm and continues a 200-year-old tradition of agricultural use of this land.

Why are we here?

Sky Meadows became Sky Meadows State Park in 1983, after the property was generously donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia by the philanthropist Paul Mellon. Mr. Mellon’s generosity prevented the Piedmont Valley Corporation from subdividing the property into “many-acre plots” designated for the development of “majestic homes.” As a Virginia State Park, Sky Meadows is now kept as a preserved historic site “for the education and enjoyment of all the people." 

The park is here today, continuing to fulfill its role as intended by the generous donation of Paul Mellon.

The mission of the park is “to provide minimal impact recreation thus allowing people to feel a part of the site, and a connection with the agricultural practices which formed this unique pastoral landscape over time.” Today we fulfill that mission through our many educational programs and recreational opportunities. Each provides you with a connection to the land through its nature, history, agriculture and recreation.

Know before you go.

Maybe you are a long-time visitor looking for our upcoming programs and events, or maybe you have never been here before but are interested in planning a visit. Whoever you are, we encourage you to "Know before you go". Of course, there is a lot of information out there. Maybe you’re interested in the whole backstory, or maybe you just want the bullet points. Your research will likely begin with a quick internet search. Just look carefully for the result you’re selecting. A great place to start is VirginiaStateParks.gov. That way you won’t accidentally end up at the nearby Great Meadow Events Center when you are looking for your campsite, or erroneously believe there will be a Fourth of July fireworks show at the park (where fireworks are prohibited).

Friendly Virginia State Park rangers are always happy to give directions and answer questions.

You can also always call the park during business hours, to have your questions answered by a friendly park ranger. We will continue to assist all the callers wishing to clarify any of the above topics and nuances. Even if the calls involve questions about trampolines or renewing your National Parks Pass, I might start explaining how to purchase a Virginia State Parks Annual Pass and encourage you to come for a visit!