Chippokes Plantation State Park
Encyclopedia
Chippokes Plantation State Park is located at 695 Chippokes Park Road, Surry
, Virginia
. It is in a rural, agricultural area off the James River
and Route 10 in Surry County
, and is protected under the state park
system.
Chippokes Plantation was established in 1617 by Captain William Powell of the Jamestown Settlement
in the Virginia Colony. In 1967, the 1700 acres (6.9 km²) plantation
was donated to the Commonwealth
by Mrs. Victor Stewart for use as a state park.
One of the largest working farm
s in the nation, Chippokes has kept its boundaries since the 17th century. The structures and artifacts on the property reflect plantation life from the early 17th century to the present. The antebellum Chippokes Mansion and the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum both offer scenic tours of the estate, cultivated formal gardens and woodlands.
Noted for its continuous agricultural production and modern recreational facilities, amenities include fishing, trails, camping and cabin rentals. The annual community event, the Steam and Gas Festival, is usually the weekend after Memorial Day and offers a wide variety of arts, crafts and music along with tractor and saw milling demonstrations.
The Pork Peanut & Pine Festival is held annually the third full weekend in July and celebrates the regions three most celebrated resources - pork, pine and peanuts. The festival includes arts & crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.
Surry, Virginia
Surry is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is in a rural, agricultural area off the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
and Route 10 in Surry County
Surry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,058 people, 2,619 households, and 1,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, and is protected under the state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
system.
Chippokes Plantation was established in 1617 by Captain William Powell of the Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
in the Virginia Colony. In 1967, the 1700 acres (6.9 km²) plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
was donated to the Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)
Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia....
by Mrs. Victor Stewart for use as a state park.
One of the largest working farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s in the nation, Chippokes has kept its boundaries since the 17th century. The structures and artifacts on the property reflect plantation life from the early 17th century to the present. The antebellum Chippokes Mansion and the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum both offer scenic tours of the estate, cultivated formal gardens and woodlands.
Noted for its continuous agricultural production and modern recreational facilities, amenities include fishing, trails, camping and cabin rentals. The annual community event, the Steam and Gas Festival, is usually the weekend after Memorial Day and offers a wide variety of arts, crafts and music along with tractor and saw milling demonstrations.
The Pork Peanut & Pine Festival is held annually the third full weekend in July and celebrates the regions three most celebrated resources - pork, pine and peanuts. The festival includes arts & crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.