Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia State Parks continued the year-long trend of record attendance with an Independence Day weekend attendance of 266,739, a 22 percent increase over last year’s previous record-high of 218,889.
First there was flooding (there are still sites we can't open). When it was clear that the water just wasn't draining off the sites and we took action to block the sites from rental, we realized we had already booked more sites than...
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"I too began my Passport adventure last summer, only to find out while visiting Mason Neck in March that Trail Quest had 'replaced' the program. Although later in the spring, I have found personnel at Twin Lakes, Sailor's Creek, High Bridge, & Grayson Highlands SPs unaware of the Trail Quest program or 'secret pass-codes.' Hopefully, when I return to the parks, the information will be readily available."
"Maura, thanks for the comment about the old Passport program. We here at State Parks really liked the passport book too. In fact, we spent a great deal of time revising and updating the book for a reprinting before we came upon the intenet supported TrailQuest version. The problem with the printed version is that we had to order enough for several years in order to keep the printing costs within reason. Unfortunately, we found that we were opening new parks and building new trails at a rate that…"
"I support anything that motivates more Virginians to get outdoors and appreciate the beauty of the parks we all own together. I hope TrailQuest will do just that. I'm disappointed, though, that the Passport program has been discontinued! During our second state park visit last year, my boyfriend and I bought a Virginia State Park Passport, and the program has gotten us far more interested in visiting all VA parks than we ever would have been otherwise. We've visited 6 so far, and we enjoy collecting…"
"We are more determined than ever to visit every single VA State Park! With warnings of possible closures earlier this year, we want them to continue and thrive! If you have not been to a VA State Park you do not know what you are missing! They are fantastic, forget Busch Gardens - GET OUTSIDE!
Shellie at The Claiborne House B&B in Rocky Mount VA - Wife, Mother of two teens and one dog who loves to explore our state parks!"