ONE TANK TRIP: Hungry for a fun place?

By CAROLYN R. WILSON/Correspondent

Many families are heading to the great outdoors instead of the gas pump for their summer vacations. Instead of spending hours on the road maneuvering traffic and pouring money into the gas tank, people are choosing to vacate closer to home.
One hidden gem located in Smyth County is Hungry Mother Park located on U.S. Highway 16 North in Marion, Va.  An inviting 108-acre lake and 12 miles of trails make this a great place for family fun this summer. Known for its wealth of history and folklore, the park is one of the six original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) parks that opened in 1936. Most of the land for the park was donated by local landowners to develop the park on Hungry Mother Creek.
Park manager Chris Doss is always working to make Hungry Mother State Park a better place for families to visit. He wants the park to become one of the premiere trail systems in Virginia state parks. Right now, he is proud of the accomplishments he and his staff have made since the park received funding from the 2002 General Obligation Bond that helped parks throughout the state with much-needed improvements.
“There is something here for everyone to enjoy,” said Doss. “We offer camping facilities, a playground, fishing and a beach, in addition to classes to teach people how to canoe and kayak safely.” The magnificent lake and woodland scenery also make it a popular spot for weddings. Doss said there is a wedding at the park’s gazebo nearly every weekend.
Doss said it’s not too late for visitors to inquire about the park’s interpretive programs offered weekly during the summer months, such as canoe tours, nature hikes, night hikes, guest evening programs, campfires, storytelling, music, and wee and junior naturalist programs. Doss said the park has developed several programs to help children become better acquainted with outdoor skills. Children can learn how to kayak, read a compass and operate a Global Positioning System (GPS). The Critter Crawl program allows children to wade in a creek and catch different aquatic species, such as crawdads and mayflies.
Visitors to the park can enjoy both its woodlands and lake. Doss said the park features trails for hiking and bicycling. A swimming beach offers a bathhouse and concession area from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Night fishing is a popular sport, according to Doss, who said the lake contains a variety of fish. Visitors must have a Virginia fishing license to fish at the park.
Boat launching is available; however, gasoline motors may not be used. The park rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and Jon boats during the summer months.
The park offers 31 cabin rentals for park visitors who want to vacate at the park. Hemlock Haven Conference Center at the park is available for group meetings. The Restaurant at Hungry Mother Park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours vary seasonally. Call (276) 781-7425 for more information. The restaurant is available for parties and catering year-round even when the dining room is closed.
Summer programs at the park include:

• Kayak in Style:  Learn how to kayak on Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Meet at the boat dock. Fee is $5 per person.
• Canoe in Style:  Learn skills for canoeing on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Meet at the boat dock. Fee is $5 per person.
• Canoe tours:  Trips last approximately 1 ½ hours. Participants can bring a light snack to eat while on the tour. Instruction and equipment are provided. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The fees are $5 per person and $16 for four. Tours are Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Canoe the New:  Take a canoe trip down the unique New River. Park staff transports participants to the river. Instruction is provided before the trip begins. Participants bring a lunch and eat on a small island. The fee is $25 per person. Trips are July 15 and 22, August 2, 12, 16, and 26.
• Junior Naturalist:  Children ages 5 to 12 can enjoy hands-on nature programs. The program meets twice weekly in the summer. The fee is $4 per child per week or $12 for the season. Program meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.
• Wee Naturalist:  The hands-on nature program is designed for children younger than 5. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The fee is $2 per child per week or $10 for the season. Program meets Wednesdays from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
• Night Hikes: The guided one-hour hikes are conducted Thursday evenings from 8:30 to 9:30. Participants gather in parking lot 4.
• Ya’ll Come Welcome Campfire:  This free program is held on Sunday evenings from 8 to 9 to acquaint people to the park. Learn about the week’s activities, meet other park visitors, sing songs and roast marshmallows.
• Front Porch Discoveries:  Each Sunday afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m. visitors can stop by the Discovery Center to enjoy programs about crafts, nature, storytelling and more.
• Music in the Park:  Each Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m. a different musical group performs at the gazebo behind the restaurant at the park. Bluegrass, old-time folk, Celtic music and gospel music are featured. The concerts are free, but donations are accepted to support the program.
• Movie in the Park:  Movies are held at 9 on Friday evenings at the amphitheater. The movies are free to all park guests. Check with the park for movie titles.
• Sunday morning devotions:  The Ministerial Association presents inter-denominational devotion services at 9 a.m. at the park’s amphitheater.

For more information on these programs at Hungry Mother State Park, call (276) 781-7400.