Late Morning Trivia! [Old stuff in Virginia style]
The State park system in Virginia was established in 1936. Name ONE (1) of the 6 original state parks that were planned that year.
37 Replies
5mo
Douthat State Park
Fairy Stone State Park
Hungary Mother State Park
Staunton River State Park
Westmorland State Park
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
(In response to this post by s.mill hokie)
5mo
I was not even close in terms of it being one of the first six (established 1975).
(In response to this post by `lag)
5mo
and they also have a "Skyland" Grrrr. Anyway, I've cheated now and see the other two parks listed. I have camped in the four that have already been mentioned. if I'm thinking of the "Seashore State Park" as the now called "First Landing" one. Right there on the corner of the James River where in bends down to Va Beach (?).
PS Oh shart, now I feel really stupid, I know where Sky Meadows is, just hiked the whole section of the AT from HF - in sections - to SNP through there a little over a year ago. I think that opened in the '70s remember driving up there even then.
** Edited by `lag at 2/23/2026, 1:05:29 PM
(In response to this post by s.mill hokie)
5mo
(In response to this post by HokieJamie)
5mo
Hungry Mother State Park, located in Smyth County, Virginia, is one of the original six state parks established in June 1936. The park's development was a significant contribution to the state's park system, with much of the land donated by local landowners. The park's name is derived from a nearby creek, named after an incident involving Molly Marley and her child during a raid by Shawnee warriors. The park's history is marked by its role in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) efforts, which played a crucial part in its creation. The park's dedication ceremony was attended by Governor George C. Peery, who emphasized the benefits of state parks for the community and tourism. Hungry Mother State Park has been recognized for its historical significance and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
(In response to this post by coshokie)
5mo
He lived in Troutdale over in Grayson County. I think he only worked there for a few months. Beautiful area.
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
(In response to this post by HokieDan95)
5mo
Douthat State Park, established on June 15, 1936, is one of Virginia's original state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The park covers 4,545 acres and includes a 50-acre lake, making it the third-largest state park in Virginia. The park's history is deeply intertwined with the CCC's efforts to transform the Allegheny Mountains into a public recreation area. The CCC worked on the park's infrastructure, including cabins, campsites, trails, and roads, over a period of three years. The park's original cabins, constructed with iron door knobs and hinges, are still visible today and can be toured in the Park Office. Douthat State Park has been a significant site for outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, and it continues to be a popular destination for visitors seeking natural beauty and outdoor activities.
(In response to this post by HokiesChemicals)
5mo
not as a State Park.
(In response to this post by ronvpi)
5mo
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
Fairy Stone State Park, located in Patrick County, Virginia, is the largest of the original Virginia six state parks, opened on June 15, 1936. The park's land was donated by Junius B. Fishburn, and it was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression. The park covers 4,741 acres and features a lake, structures still in use, and a variety of recreational activities. The park's most famous attraction is the fairy stones, or staurolite crystals, which visitors can search for and keep. The park's history is intertwined with the region's iron mining operations and the town of Fayerdale, which was built at the base of Stuart's Knob. The park's construction involved the creation of a 168-acre lake, paved roads, picnic areas, camp sites, and a water and sanitation system. Today, Fairy Stone State Park remains a popular destination for hikers, boaters, campers, and anglers, offering a blend of natural beauty and historical significance
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
5mo
never forgot it and sometime after I could drive finally made it there.
Someone handed me a printed hand-drawn map where to find "fairy stones" basically a ditch along side some road, but there they were. I may still have them in a jar around here somewhere.
** Edited by `lag at 2/23/2026, 1:30:51 PM
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
my head as a kid and what, a decade later when i could drive I got there. Can't reconstruct the rest of my trip but obviously I had started my rambling ways. Went there much, much later and the place was completely empty, nobody at the gate, nothng, I was the only one camping there.
** Edited by `lag at 2/23/2026, 1:28:58 PM
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
5mo
Seashore State Park, now known as First Landing State Park, was the first planned state park in Virginia, developed between 1934 and 1942. The park was created in consultation with the Virginia State Commission on Conservation and Development and the National Park Service, which provided architectural drawings, building and landscape plans developed for national parks. The park features a variety of natural areas, including marshes, cypress and live oak trees, and an extensive trail system developed by Depression-era workers in the federal Civilian Conservation Corps. The park also retains several CCC-era buildings, although many are private dwellings and not open to the public. The park's name was officially changed in 1997 to First Landing State Park to commemorate its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed
** Edited by UTPr0sim at 2/23/2026, 8:49:01 AM
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
Had no idea they changed the name. I only knew it as Seashore. Looks like the name change occurred in the 90s some time....
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
Seashore!
Lots of great times there during my life.
Cape Henry Trail is my favorite place to run!
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
there was some fairly small bald cypress swamp that had some...
So now I was looking for a reference and it is saying it is now "extirpated" in MD. One interesting point is the Spanish Moss found in Md is the holotype for the species, that it was first discoved there and indentified for science, not Florida but MD.
Yeah, I dunno, went and saw the Wye Oak while it was still alive but it's been dead for over twenty years meaning I probably saw it thirty years ago so maybe SM was "extirpated" in that time but be nice to say when.
(In response to this post by Stork)