MILLBORO – Douthat State Park opened June 15, 1936, one of six original state parks in Virginia.
The park celebrated its 75th anniversary Saturday with special programs and events.
Charles Conner, Douthat State Park manager, served as master of ceremonies and welcomed visitors to the 75th anniversary celebration Saturday morning at the theater overlooking the lake.
Conner told the audience, “We are delighted to have you here to share the 75th anniversary of Virginia State Parks, and thank you for coming. Many of you traveled long distances, serving to remind us all just how important our work is.
“We are here to celebrate today where Douthat State Park started and where we are now,” Conner added.
“In 1933, the nation struggled in the Great Depression, and President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps,” Conner said. “This was a program intended to put to work half a million unemployed men in forests, parks and range lands across the country.”
Douthat State Park was the product of the CCC’s efforts.
Conner then introduced the keynote speaker, Sen. Creigh Deeds. Conner said that Deeds lives in Bath County and he was at Douthat to celebrate 75 years of family, friends and fun.
Deeds told the audience that he has close ties with Douthat. He worked there, and his father worked there.
“Ed Matheny was the local man who built the dam, and my grandfather was the first to work for him on the dam,” Deeds noted.
He added that many local people helped to build the park.
Deeds noted that his grandfather moved up Wilson Creek near the little Advent Christian church when the lake took his house.
“We have the best park trails system right here at Douthat,” Deeds said. “Government did one thing right, and the states have done well under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and the CCC program.”
The closing remarks were given by Forest Gladden, District VI manager.
“Most of us dream of making a difference in this world either through our jobs, our philanthropy, our children, our politics or perhaps our vision,” Gladden said. “But whatever path we take, we want to feel that our time here has been well-spent, worthy and that in some way our work has left this place better than we found it.
“Franklin D. Roosevelt and his ‘CCC Boys’ had that kind of imagination,” Gladden continued. “They imagined creating a refuge for the common man, a place where families could go to rest and re-create their spirits. In creating this refuge, they built a system of state parks that left the land – and more importantly the people – better off.”
Gladden said in closing, “Thank you for coming here today to help us celebrate our 75th anniversary, but most of all, thank you for your continued support of Douthat State Park.”
Among the officials who attended the celebration were Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall, Covington Vice Mayor Buddy Brown, Covington Councilwoman Kim Warlitner and Clifton Forge Vice Mayor Johnette Roberts.
The park is named for Robert Douthat, who was one of the original landowners in the late 1700s. The original tract of land containing 132,000 acres changed hands several times after his death in the late 1700s. In 1933, the Douthat Land Company of Clifton Forge donated 1,920 acres for the creation of a park.
Douthat State Park was one of six state parks planned by the commonwealth in the early 1930s. The initial 1,920 acres of the present-day park was donated by the Douthat Land Company, a consortium of Virginia businessmen.
The rest of the land was purchased with a portion of the $50,000 in funds allocated by the Virginia General Assembly in 1933 for park land acquisition.
The establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the Emergency Conservation Works by President Roosevelt in 1933 provided the means for development of the parks.
An estimated 600 men lived and worked at the three camps responsible for building Douthat’s facilities.
Between 1933 and 1942, these men cleared trails, built a dam and spillway, cabins, a restaurant, an information center, superintendent’s residence, swimming beach, picnic areas and maintenance buildings, hinges, as well as hand-wrought iron hardware, light fixtures and door and shutter latches.
The built and natural features of the park have remained virtually unchanged since construction.
In 1986 – the 50th anniversary of Douthat State Park and the Virginia State Parks System – Douthat was recognized as a Nationally Registered Historic District.
In 1988, Douthat won the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association award for best operated and maintained dam for its Douthat lake dam.
In 1999, Douthat received the Centennial Medallion from the American Society of Landscape Architects. The Outside Family Vacation Guide named Douthat as one of the nation’s 10 best.
There are 74 total individual campsites and one group campsite, called Beaver Dam Group Site. Fifty-five of the camping sites have electrical hookups available.
Douthat Lodge was built by the CCC and is a log building that houses up to 15 guests, while Creasey Lodge is wood frame and holds up to 18 guests. Douthat has 30 total cabins vary in size and can hold from one to six people.
There are three picnic shelters that can be reserved for a group. Douthat Lake View Restaurant was built by the CCC and overlooks the lake. Adjacent to the restaurant is a camp store and gift shop. Swimming at the beach area of the lake is available from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
There are over 43 miles of hiking trails and 24 miles of mountain biking trails.
The park has been heralded as the best mountain biking destination on the East Coast.
Douthat allows trout fishing in its stocked lake with a valid Virginia fishing license and a daily permit. The boat ramp launch is available April through October.
Gladden reported that the new Whispering Pines Campsite will be open in September with 25 campsites and new restrooms with a playground for the children.
He reported that over 200,000 people used Douthat facilities last year, and the numbers are growing each year.
The park is 4,546 acres with a 50-acre lake.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation manages the parks that have grown from the original six parks to 35 parks and more than 60 natural areas, hosting more than 8 million visitors each year.
Last year, state park visitors contributed an estimated $189 million to local and state economies.
Saturday’s celebration included free cake, inflatable jumpers, games and paddle boat races. Sunday’s activities included Father’s Day papermaking, Father’s Day memories and Father’s Day stroll in nature.
The six state parks opening all on the same day in 1936 illustrated how a bad situation could produce something good.
In the ’30s, the country was in a deep depression, and President Roosevelt started the CCC which provided employment for not only local people but others who were cut off.
With the CCC providing the labor, and in a sense helping the unemployment situation, state and national parks along with other projects were completed. They have long outlived the depression days, and we are still enjoying their benefits today.
Douthat State Park employs 69 people during the summer season. It provides jobs for the youth of the community, and helps the local economy, too.