29 May Hungry Mother State Park Virtual Visit
Today’s virtual visit takes us to Hungry Mother State Park in “America’s Coolest Hometown” Marion, Virginia.
Hungry Mother State Park is a fantastic Virginia State Park located just fifteen minutes off I-81 in Marion, Virginia. Hungry Mother offers a wide variety of outdoor fun from camping, biking, hiking, picnics, boating, a beach, and much more. That park is also located right along with The Back of the Dragon roadway leading over to Tazewell, Virginia.
Hungry Mother History & Information
Much of Hungry Mother’s land base was donated by local landowners. The park is one of the original six CCC parks opened in June 1936.
The park features a 108-acre lake complete with a beachhead and boat rentals. Fishing, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and paddleboards. No motorized water vehicles are allowed.
If water is not your area of passion, the park also offers both hiking and biking trails to explore the beautiful woodlands surrounding the area. There are trails for all skill levels starting at basic trails throughout the park to a slightly more strenuous hike up to Molly’s Knob. Although Molly’s Knob is a tougher hike, the views from the lookout up top are truly a sight to see.
Hungry Mother Events, Arts & Music Festival
Every year, Hungry Mother offers a series of events centric around the arts, music, and outdoors of Southwest Virginia. The annual Arts and Music Festival (Cancelled in 2020 due to Covid19) is a tremendous event for all ages. The festival includes local and regional artisans, musicians, food, and kid-friendly games. Not only do you get to enjoy the beauty of the park, but you’ll also get to experience really Southwest Virginia cultural heritage and make some new friends along the way!
To learn more about Hungry Mother State Park and the infamous legend behind the name, please visit the Virginia DCR website located here: DCR Hungry Mother State Park.
To view last week’s Virtual Visit episode at the Salt Trail in Glade Spring, Virginia, you can do so by clicking HERE.