State Parks and National Parks

One of the oldest working farms in the nation, Chippokes Plantation State Park is a living historical exhibit in a rural agricultural area along the James River in Surry County.

The park also has a wide variety of traditional park offerings, including a swimming complex, cabin rentals, campsites with hookups, picnic facilities and a visitor center with exhibits on the history of the plantation, the James River and agricultural methods.

An interesting variety of interpretive programs and festivals take place here throughout the year.

The park has 3.5 miles of hiking and bicycling trails, including a half-mile through the historic area that is wheelchair accessible, an auto farm tour road and eight miles of horse trails.

The plantation has kept its original boundaries since the 1600s and has a variety of cultivated gardens and native woodland.

Formal gardens surround the 19th century Chippokes Mansion and are accented by azaleas, crepe myrtle, boxwood and seasonal flowers.

The plantation grounds are also home to the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Chippokes Plantation State Park.