OCCONEECHEE STATE PARK
Occoneechee State Park is on Virginia?s largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, also known as John H. Kerr Reservoir. The park features 18.1 miles of trails that allow the guest to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and plantation life in the 1800s.
The Commonwealth of Virginia began leasing the land for outdoor recreational use from the U.S. Army in 1944. Occoneechee State Park?s land remains leased from the Army Corps of Engineers.
From 1250 to 1670, the Occoneechee Indians lived on an island on the Roanoke River near what is now Occoneechee State Park. In 1676, Virginia Councilman Nathaniel Bacon led a group of men from Henrico County to destroy the Occoneechees. Bacon?s attack succeeded only in slaughtering Indians that were perhaps the friendliest to settlers in the Commonwealth. Neither Governor Berkeley nor most Virginians approved of Bacon?s actions.
Nearly 200 years after the attack on the Indians, William Townes built a plantation on this land by the water. A 20-room mansion with horse stables, a smokehouse, servants? quarters and beautiful terraced gardens were built on his 3,100 acre plantation in 1839. In 1898 the mansion caught fire and was destroyed. The landscaping of the garden can still be seen in the park today.
Day-UseFishingyes
Huntingyes
Hiking Trailyes
Picnickingyes
Swimming Beachyes
BoatingLaunch Rampsyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
Electric Sitesyes
Water/Electric Sitesyes
WinterActivitiesyes
No swimming or wading from the shoreline is permitted because of hazardous drop-offs and heavy boating traffic.
Boating: Available year-round. Motorboats are allowed. Three boat launching ramps are available for access to Buggs Island Lake for both motorized and non-motorized boats. Call 1-800-933-PARK to purchase an annual boat launch passport.
The Buggs Island Special Pass provides boat launching and parking for Occoneechee and Staunton River state parks - it's only $33 a year. Call 1-800-933-PARK for more information.
Pontoon and fishing boats, including safety equipment, can be rented at boat ramp #1 from Clarksville Marine Rentals, Inc. It's open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Boats must be returned by 6 p.m. Thirty gallons of gas are included in the rental. Call (434) 374-2525 or (434) 374-2755 to make reservations.
Buggs Island Lake and connecting Lake Gaston are famous for the number and size of fish found there. Striped and largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and perch are plentiful. A valid Virginia or North Carolina fishing license is required.
I LOVE THIS PARK. I HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE. THE SCENERY WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE FISHING WAS GOOD. JUST TO SIT BY THE LAKE ON THE ROCKS WATCHING THE SUNSET AND RISE IS AWESOME.
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