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Douthat State Park

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Douthat State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Douthat Lake
Map showing the location of Douthat State Park
Map showing the location of Douthat State Park
Location of Douthat State Park
LocationBath / Alleghany counties, Virginia, USA
Nearest cityClifton Forge, Virginia
Area4,546 acres (18 km2)
Governing bodyVirginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Douthat State Park Historic District
Douthat State Park is located in Virginia
Douthat State Park
Nearest cityMillboro, Virginia
Area4,493 acres (1,818 ha)
Built1933 (1933)
Architectural styleLog cabin style
NRHP reference No.86002183[1]
VLR No.008-0136, 134–5088
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 20, 1986
Designated VLRJune 17, 1986[2]

Douthat State Park is a state park located in the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia. It is in Bath County and Alleghany County. The park is 4,546 acres (18 km2) total with a 50-acre (20 ha) lake.

History

Douthat State Park opened June 15, 1936. It was one of the original six state parks of Virginia. The Douthat Land Company, a group of businessmen, donated the first portion of land — 1,920 acres (780 ha). In 1933, the Virginia General Assembly allotted $50,000 for the purchase of land for state parks, and the remainder of the present-day park was purchased with this money. Approximately 600 men from the Civilian Conservation Corps developed and constructed the majority of the modern-day park system between 1933 and 1942.[3]

Attractions

  • Mountain biking: Douthat State Park has become a premier mountain biking destination. Twenty-four of the twenty-six trails at Douthat are open to biking. The park has been heralded as the best mountain biking destination on the East Coast. By spring 2009, almost all of the 45 miles of 70-year-old Civilian Conservation Corps trail at Douthat will be restored to its original condition with sustainable trail design techniques integrated to maintain a unique mountain biking experience.[4]
  • Fishing: Douthat allows trout fishing in its stocked lake with a valid Virginia Fishing License and a daily permit.[4]
  • Boating: A boat ramp launch is available April through October. Jonboats (including those with electric motors), canoes, paddleboats, hydrocycle and funyaks (similar to kayaks) are available for rental. No gasoline-powered boats are allowed on the lake.[4]
  • Hiking: Over 43 miles (69 km) of varied difficulty trails are available, many of them created originally by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Horseback riding at the park is restricted to several trails on the Western side of the park and mountain biking is permitted on nearly all of the trails.
  • Swimming: The beach area of the lake is available from Memorial Day through Labor Day.[4]
  • Restaurant/store: Douthat Lake View Restaurant was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and overlooks the lake. Next to the restaurant are a camp store and a gift shop.
  • Picnicking: There are three picnic areas with shelters that can be reserved for a group.
  • Hunting: Hunting is allowed by reservation with the appropriate permits.


View of the Douthat State Park lake from boat launch area showing blue sky, trees, mountains and water
View of the Douthat State Park lake from boat launch area showing blue sky, trees, mountains and water
Views of the lake from boat launch area

Lodging

Douthat has lodges, cabins, and campgrounds for rental. Douthat Lodge was built by the CCC and is a log building that houses up to 15 guests, while Creasey Lodge is woodframe and holds up to 18 guests.There is a new Lodge called Beards Mountain Lodge that was completed in October 2010 and can sleep up to 16 people. Douthat has 32 total cabins, which vary in size and can hold 1–8 people.

There are two campgrounds, Lakeside and Whiteoak. Whiteoak campground has 31 sites with water and electric at each site and also houses its own dumpstation and bathouse. Lakeside campground has 17 standard campsites. There is no water/electric hookups at the sites however there is a bathouse and dumpstation. Also, there are no generators permitted in the park

Awards and recognitions

  • 1986 – Douthat recognized as a national historic district
  • 1998 – Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association Award for Best Operated and Maintained Dam
  • 1999 – Centennial Medallion from the American Society of Landscape Architects
  • 1999 – Named one of Outside Family Vacation Guide's top ten state parks[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. ^ "Douthat State Park". Virginia State Parks. Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Glover, Jeremy (August 9, 2015). "Five things to love about Douthat State Park". Richmond Times-Dispatch. BH Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke. "Unsung Heroes: Ten top-ranking parks you might not have heard of — but then, no one else has either". Outside Online. Mariah Media Network LLC. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
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