Thanks to a partnership with Imperial Multimedia, Virginia Association for Parks and the Friends of Lake Anna State Park, we opened new exhibits at Lake Anna State Park on Saturday, February 9, 2013. 

Guests check out the new exhibits

In spite of more than a quarter of a million visitors annually and the convenient location of the visitor center adjacent to the popular beach area, few visitors actually ventured into the old visitor center. The old exhibits were pretty much what were installed when it opened in 1983 and they were static and a little tired. In today's multi-media world you need a lot more to capture the attention of young people and adults alike. 

A young visitor takes a nature quiz in the Feathered Feeders exhibit

The idea was to create technology based exhibits using resources and techniques available to reduce costs. We used some video capture from some environmental education projects we have been working on and, more importantly produced the graphics and wall panels in our own sign shop and used our own staff to fabricate the exhibit casings and install everything. With funds from the Virginia Association for Parks and the Friends of Lake Anna, we were able to create exhibits that will enhance the visitor's experience.

Beaver Tales exhibit

Nature is literally at your fingertips now, with touch screen displays (including quizzes, so you better pay attention), a 3D theater room (yes, in a dark room, with the 3D glasses), animals (including a giant beaver with some very stained teeth), colorful murals on the wall, huge 70" flat screen TVs showing educational footage and nature scenes...I'd say it's a bit more appealing than playing Angry Birds on your phone.

Visitors interact with at the Whose Clues exhibit

We tried to highlight all the cool stuff you can do in a Virginia State Park and entice kids to get outdoors. There's even a life sized virtual human, camping in her tent, setup with all her gear, talking about her experience camping at Lake Anna. This is the third storyteller style exhibit in our parks that takes advantage of the age old concept of sharing stories but uses technology.

A virtual camper talks about Lake Anna State Park

There's also a gift shop and an information desk to help visitors orient themselves to the trail system and park programs. You can learn more about the park, the lake, check the weather forecast, plan your 15 mile hike, buy a souvenir, find out about migratory birds...cool park happenings like this. It's just a nice added touch we're sure you'll appreciate.

Panoramic view of the gift shop area in the Visitor Center

Virginia State Parks has newly constructed visitor centers waiting for exhibits and a number of parks like Lake Anna with old exhibits in significant need of makeovers. The Virginia Association for Parks is hoping that the Lake Anna exhibits will be a model for lower cost exhibits and will be working to find other partners willing to make them a reality. Their website has a section for individuals to donate to these exhibits.

You're Invited!

The Lake Anna State Park visitor center will be open for a special preview Feb. 23-24, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The visitor center is usually open Wednesday through Sunday, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Lake Anna State Park has ten two bedroom cabins available for rent all year and offers camping March 1 through the first Monday in December. Reservations can be made by calling our reservation center at 800-933-7275 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by using our online reservation system. 

Directions:

From I-95, take Exit 118 at Thornburg and travel about four miles on Rt. 606. At Snell, Rt. 606 becomes Rt. 208. Stay on Rt. 208 west for 11 miles. Turn right onto Rt. 601 Lawyers Road and drive three miles. You’ll see the state park sign on your left.

Going east on I-64, take Exit 143 at Ferncliff and stay on Rt. 208 east for six miles. Go through Louisa and continue five more miles on 208 east to Mineral. Turn left at the light onto Rt. 522 north and stay on the road for six miles to the intersection just before Dickinson Store. Take a right there onto Rt. (New Bridge Road) and travel eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge.  When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.

From west on I-64, take Exit 159 at Gum Springs. Take Rt. 522 north for 11 miles until you reach the village of Cuckoo. Stay on Rt. 522 until you reach Mineral. Turn right at the light to stay on Rt. 522 north and stay on the road for six miles to the intersection just before Dickinson Store. Take a right there onto Rt. (New Bridge Road) and travel eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge.  When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.

Traveling south on Rt. 522, it’s best to go past the state park sign at the Rt. 612 intersection and, instead, stay on Rt. 522 for eight miles. At that point, you’ll see Dickinson Store. Just beyond that, turn left onto Rt. 208 east. Stay on that road for eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge. When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.