When Virginia opened its first state parks in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built welcoming cabins for vacationers. “Each one was a little different,” says Kelly McClary, a director with Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. “They used the stone and timber that was on-site.” But after decades of use, the buildings were showing their age, and this year, the state finished restoring fifty-five cabins at Douthat and Fairy Stone parks. “We wanted to keep the historic quality and integrity of the cabins, and provide twenty-first-century amenities,” says McClary, who oversaw the $15 million plan that’s already won preservation and sustainability awards. “Those buildings have met the test of time.” The multiyear project maintained log walls and hardwood floors, and modernized several cabins for visitors with disabilities. Workers also updated plumbing, electric, and air-conditioning systems, added open kitchens with stainless-steel appliances and granite counters, and remodeled bathrooms. The project continues this fall at two more of the state’s original parks, First Landing and Westmoreland.
Southern Agenda