There is a lot of history in Virginia State Parks, did you know we claim to be the only state in the country to have opened an entire state park system at one time. Yes, we opened six parks to the public simultaneously on June 15, 1936, covering 19,000 acres. 

 The six original state parks are: Douthat, First Landing, Fairy Stone, Staunton River, Hungry Mother and Westmoreland.

1. A MAGICAL RAINBOW SWAMP

The beautiful rainbow swamp at First Landing State Park (Image credit: Katherine Scott)

You can walk over the Bald Cypress Swamp on First Landing State Park's boardwalk and viewing platform to just see a murky dark water below, spanish moss hanging from the trees and maybe a cottonmouth or two. But if you visit the swamp at just the right time, the seemingly opaque water takes on mother nature's magic and forms a stunning rainbow. Well it really isn't magic, it's science...the leaves that have fallen begin to decompose and make a chemical reaction, so when the sunlight filters in the swamp of many colors is shown.

You may also enjoy: An Array of Colors at First Landing State Park.

2. YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

Taylor Pond bird blind at Kiptopeke State Park on Virginia's Eastern Shore

There is a pond named for James Taylor at Kiptopeke State Park. Taylor's Pond is named after musician James Taylor and his wife Kim who donated the land to the park in late 2009, and with funds from the Virginia CZM Program to preserve habitat for migratory songbirds and other wildlife. The parcel was the last piece in a puzzle and connected existing parklands to the north, south and east. The park is on the Atlantic Flyway and terrific for birding.

You may also enjoy: Two More Unforgettable Experiences Under Two Hours from Williamsburg.

3. THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS

Learn the history of the gold rush at Lake Anna State Park, and pan for gold

Yes you can pan for gold at Lake Anna State Park. The grounds near Lake Anna are home to a long abandoned gold mine, the Goodwin Gold Mine, and was a hot spot for gold diggers in the 1800's, and one of 23 goldmines operating in the local area. Each summer the staff at Lake Anna State Park uses soil from the mine and holds panning for gold programs. If you happend to find some gold, all proceeds go to the park.

You may also enjoy: Which Virginia State Park Had a Goldmine?

4. CRAYOLA COLORS

These really are the colors of Crayola Crayons at New River Trail State Park

The newly opened Hoover Mountain Bike Area at New River Trail State Park was home to a iron oxide mine that made many of the colors of Crayola Crayons.

Three iron oxide ores were mined from the area by Hoover Color Corporation. These natural ores can be made into over 300 different shades of pigments. Hoover Color now gets the different pigments from all over the world and mixes them together to make the different shades and ships them all over the United States. Hoover Color no longer mines the ore from the nearby mines. The color that Hoover is most famous for producing is UPS brown.  

You may also enjoy: Trail Full of Treasures.

5. GHOST TOWN

One of the grave markers from the Wash Woods Methodist Church Cemetery

Located in the furthermost SE corner of Virginia, along the border of North Carolina is the former home of Native Americans, the historic Wash Woods community and a Coast Guard lifesaving station that was active until the 1950s and is now abandoned. False Cape State Park honors the hardy souls who made a living from the sea and is located off the coast of Virginia Beach. 

Located along a section of ocean known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, the town of Wash Woods was subject to the severe weather conditions which had brought the lumber to shore to build it. By the 1920s the seawater began to inundate the thin sliver of sand so that the townspeople began to leave by the 1930s. During its peak, it was home to about 300 residents. Getting there is half the fun, as no vehicular access is allowed. 

 

BONUS

Who was this poet and patriot to whom this monument was placed? 

Did you know there is a park monument named after one of the finest southern poets? Tabb Monument marker in Amelia County. Father John Bannister Tabb was born in Amelia County in 1845 to one of Virginia’s wealthiest families. He served in the Confederate Navy on the blockade runner, the Robert E. Lee, and was one of the period’s finest Southern poets. His work was published in such renowned periodicals as Harpers, Cosmopolitan and The Atlantic. On Nov. 7, 1936, the Forest Memorial Association of Notre Dame, Ind., placed on a one-acre plot in Amelia County a marker honoring Father Tabb. Ephrain and Ida M. Anderson had deeded the land to the state on Oct. 29, 1936.

View this Google map for details.

MORE FUN FACTS

• Largest - Pocahontas (7,604 acres)
• Smallest - Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, 1.5 acres 
• Highest - Grayson Highlands, 5,084, feet above sea level
• Lowest - False Cape State Park, sea level
• Newest - Clinch River
• Easternmost - False Cape (Eastern most part of mainland Virginia; is east of state's only Eastern Shore park, Kiptopeke).
• Westernmost - Wilderness Road State Park in Lee County is farther west than Wheeling, W. Va., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Canton, Ohio.
• Northernmost - Sky Meadows State Park in Fauquier and Clarke counties is on the same latitude as Annapolis.
• Southernmost - False Cape State Park - Southern boundary is the North Carolina state line.

BY THE *NUMBERS

3 museums | 3 battlefield sites | 2 National Historic Landmarks | 2 National Natural Landmarks | 33 National Register of Historic Places Sites.

36 lakes and ponds | 30 amphitheaters | 2 restaurants | 4 rails-to-trails parks | 488 miles of shoreline | 1 chairlift | 4 dark sky designated parks. 

11 swimming beaches | 1 swimming pool | 50 playgrounds | 2 horse complexes.

2,060 campsites | 293 cabins | 37 yurts | 22 camping cabins. 

651 miles of trails | 90 picnic shelters | 6 fishing piers | 2 marinas | 13 car-top launches | 15 powerboat launches.

16,267 canoes and kayaks rented | 15,118 scoops of ice cream served | 26,251 t-shirts sold | 581 weddings | 52 gift shops.

479,137 participants in environmental education programs | 10,474,134 visitors annually | 310,681 hours contributed by volunteers.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Start your own quest to visit these Virginia State Parks

Yes, they're all pet friendly like High Bridge Trail State Park pictured above

If you want to visit each one, we recommend participating in our Trail Quest program where you can visit each park one step at a time and earn fun rewards. Get the details here.

There are so many more interesting facts to be found at Virginia State Parks, plan your next visit today. Click here to learn about cabins, and here for camping information, or call 800-933-7275.

FIND A PARK

 

* Information from "Virginia State Parks by the Numbers 2018" and Economic Impact Report 2018 by VirginiaTech (PDF).