Chippokes State Park

General Information

Just across the James River from historic Jamestown in beautiful Surry County, Chippokes is one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. A working farm since 1619, the park offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era. Visitors tour the historic area with its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens, and view antique equipment at the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. A campground and four overnight cabins allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds. The park has a visitor center with a gift shop. It also provides opportunities to bike, hike, ride horseback and picnic. Chippokes also offers wedding packages and meeting facilities.

Hours

Dawn - dusk.

Location

Surry County. From I-95 and I-295, take Route 10 towards Hopewell. Follow Route 10 East for approximately 40 miles to Surry. Turn left at the intersection of routes 10 and 31 (this continues on Route 10). Turn right at the stoplight. Turn left at Route 634 (Alliance Road), and the park entrance is four miles on the left. Because of weight restrictions, those heading east in vehicles weighing more than 3 tons should avoid taking Highgate Rd. off Rt. 10.

Its address is 695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry, VA 23883; Latitude, 37.137369. Longitude, -76.727691.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia: 2 - 3 hours; Richmond: 1.5 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach: 1.5 hours; Roanoke: 4 hours

Park Size

1,947 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

Cabins, yurts and camping. For information on the availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 800-933-PARK. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, dwelling and park. First, determine the appropriate season, which can vary by park, then the relevant rate. You also may want to learn about the cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays.

Cabins | Yurts | Camping

Cabins

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, cabins are rented for a six-night minimum beginning on a specified start date that varies by cabin. The six-night requirement is reduced to a required four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. A two-night minimum stay is required for the rest of the year. 

All cabin guests must have the reservation number or confirmation letter to enter their cabin. The last four digits of the reservation number and the # symbol must be entered on a keypad to unlock the cabin's door. Those arriving after the park office is closed will find check-in information at the contact station, which is at the park entrance.

Visit a Flickr photoset of cabins at Chippokes. Cabins and lodges vary. Dwellings may not match what's shown in the photos.

Weekly rentals during prime season begin on Saturdays.

• Colonial style with heat and air conditioning. Bring food, coffee filters, coffee, salt, pepper, non-stick cooking spray, board games, cards, towels, washcloths, dish towels, etc. There's no dishwasher, phone, washer or dryer.
• TV and DVD player. They are primarily for watching DVDs - air broadcast television reception here is spotty and not guaranteed. No cable or satellite service.
• Kitchen has a refrigerator, stove, coffee-maker, microwave, toaster, dishwashing liquid, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, and pans.
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens: sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bathmat, kitchen towels and cloths.
• Living area has a couch and chairs.
• Cabins 1, 3 and 4 have a shower. Cabin 2 has a bathtub with a shower.
• Four cabins are restored tenant houses. A three-bedroom cabin, two two-bedroom cabins and a one-bedroom cabin all have heating and air conditioning.
• The one-bedroom, Cabin 3, is ADA accessible.
• No working fireplaces.
• No smoking.
• Reproduction-style furnishings.
• Each cabin has an exterior picnic table and grill.
• Two vehicles are allowed at cabins 1, 3 and 4. Three are allowed at cabin 2.

Site Types:

One-bedroom cabin (Cabin 3, Osborne House). ADA accessible. Sleeps two, allows four. Double bed and sofa bed. Universally accessible. Built around 1930 as a tenant farmer’s house, this cabin has been designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. This single-story one-bedroom cabin has an access ramp and deck.

Two-bedroom cabin (Cabin 1, Spratley House). Sleeps four, allows six. Double bed; single bed with a trundle. This house was built in 1947 as a reproduction colonial structure on the site of an earlier building. This two-story house has two upstairs bedrooms in what was once an open loft. The stairs to the bedrooms are steep and may be difficult for those with mobility challenges or small children.

Two-bedroom cabin (Cabin 4, Price House). Sleeps five. This one-story structure was built around 1920. The master bedroom has a queen-sized bed. The second bedroom has a set of bunk beds and a single bed. There is also a carpenter’s bench. The country-style kitchen seats six. The cabin is on the perimeter of the parkland that is continually farmed and has a scenic view.

Three-bedroom cabin (Cabin 2, Brown House). Sleeps eight. Double bed; two single beds; twin with a trundle; sleeper sofa. This is one of the oldest structures on the plantation and was built around 1850 as an overseer’s house. This two-story house has a master bedroom downstairs with a double bed, and two upstairs bedrooms - one with two twin beds, and one with a twin bed and a trundle. The stairs to the upper floor bedroom are steep and may be difficult for those with mobility challenges or small children. There's also a sofa bed in the living room. The bathroom has a claw-footed tub with a shower but may be harder to climb into than standard tubs.

Total cabins in the park: Four

Walnut Valley House

Built around 1770, this house is the oldest structure at Chippokes State Park. Originally a neighboring plantation to Chippokes, Walnut Valley was founded in 1636 and produced cotton, corn, brandy, peanuts and hogs over the next 380 years. Still on the property is a dwelling that was built in 1816 to house enslaved people; it’s one of the oldest such quarters remaining in Virginia. The detached kitchen, directly behind the main house, was built at the same time. The historic plantation was deeded to the state in 2004.

Nestled in a pastoral setting and framed by magnificent magnolia trees, Walnut Valley House takes you back in time. The house has four bedrooms that sleep a total of eight. The upstairs has an en-suite master bedroom with a queen bed, one bedroom with a queen-sized bed, one bedroom with a twin bed and an additional bathroom. Downstairs is ADA-accessible and has a bedroom with a full-size mattress and bathroom. The living room has a full-size sleeper sofa. Other amenities include a fully stocked kitchen and spacious dining room. A covered and screened-in side porch and quaint back porch offer splendid views. A sidewalk leads to the back of the house, and a wheelchair lift provides accessibility.

• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens: sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bathmat, kitchen towels and cloths.

Yurts

Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, a yurt is a cross between a tent and a cabin. Chippokes has three yurts in the main campground. They're tucked neatly into wooded areas for privacy and extra shade. Each yurt has a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed. Those with additional vehicles must pay a daily parking fee and park in the overflow lot by the camp host site or at the extra parking area.

Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season begins on the first Friday in March and ends on the first Sunday of December. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. There is a two-night minimum rental during the rest of the camping season.

Maximum occupancy 4. Sleeps 3 - One queen-sized bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens.

No smoking, cooking or pets are allowed inside the yurt.

The yurts have no electricity or water, but there's a common-use water spigot and electric pedestal for battery charging between yurts 1 and 2, and there's a pedestal near yurt 3, too. 

Dining table seats four.

No heat or air-conditioning.

Guests use campground bathhouse B about 500 feet away.

Yurt 2 is ADA-accessible.
 

Camping

The campground, which has two loops, is open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December. All campers should check in at the office upon arrival. Those arriving after the office is closed will find check-in information at the entrance's contact station. The maximum occupancy per site is six people.

Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 1 p.m. Although campsites cannot be guaranteed before 4 p.m., campers are welcome to arrive earlier and enjoy the park.

Chippokes allows guests to reserve specific campsites. Here's a table of those campsites. Also, here are photos of the sites.

Loop A

Sites 19-50 have electricity and water; they can accommodate tents and pop-ups, and some sites can fit RVs up to 30 feet long. Most sites aren't level. The amphitheater, just behind the bathhouse, is also by this loop. Sites accept 20 and 30-amp current. Tent campers prefer these sites because they're shadier than those in loop B.

Also in loop A is a group camping area with four tent sites. They're for tents only (no electric hookup, one water spigot). Maximum occupancy is 24 (six per site). Group sites that accommodate more than six people have a higher cancellation fee than do regular campsites.

Loop B

Sites 1 through 18 have water and electric sites; they accommodate rigs up to 50 feet long and accept 20, 30 and 50-amp current. RV guests and those with longer rigs prefer these longer sites, which are less shady than those in loop A. The sites are paved and level; some are pull-through. The sites have a gravel “living space” area. Site S16 is ADA-compliant and near an ADA-accessible bathhouse, which also has a laundry facility.

Campground

• Fire rings are at each campsite; guests may make campfires or cook with charcoal.
• Firewood is for sale.
• Visitors to the campground must pay the daily parking fee and leave the park by 10 p.m.
• All camping equipment and vehicles must fit within designated site borders. Overflow parking is at the extra area.
• A maximum of two vehicles, in addition to the camping unit, are allowed per site. Additional vehicles must be parked in the overflow parking lot, and the daily parking fee must be paid per vehicle.

Total sites (51): Site-specific A, 5; site-specific B, 18; non-specific A, 27; group A - 1.

Recreation

TRAILS

The park has 12 miles of trails. Ten miles of trails are open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Most trails are grass-covered and around farm fields, so they can be muddy during wet weather. The most popular trail is College Run Trail. It's a paved 1.2-mile trail that runs from the visitor center along the James River to the historic area. Only hikers and bike riders are allowed on this trail.

SWIMMING

The park has no designated swimming area.

FISHING, BOATING

Freshwater fishing is available with a valid Virginia fishing license. Fishing is permitted from the shore of the James River and on the banks of College Run Creek.

Boating: No boat rentals. No motorized boat launching at this park. Although there is no developed launch for kayaks or canoes, they can be launched along College Run Creek and the James River. Associated vehicles must be parked in designated spots at the Farm and Forestry Museum visitor center. Call the park for details.

HORSES

None, but there are bridle trails. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park. The park has a horse-trailer parking area where water is available.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown. Also visit Surry County's website for a list of attractions in the county. The park is a proud tourism partner with Surry County.

Picnic Shelters

Picnic areas include drinking water, grills and restroom facilities. Picnic shelters are also available on a reservation basis by calling the Customer Service Center at 800-933-7275. Call 757-294-3625 for details about shelters at Chippokes.

Chippokes State Park Picnic Shelters

Two shelters near the visitor center are available for rent. They can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day). Click here for park fees.

Reservations for shelters are recommended and can be made by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-800-933-PARK. All shelter guests must pay applicable parking fees. Parking fees and other concessions are not included in the shelter rental.

Amenities: All shelters have grills, picnic tables and access to restrooms. They are all located in the vicinity of the Visitor Center with a view of the James River.

Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before the reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Shelter #1: Small shelter. Can accommodate 30-35 people. No electricity.

Shelter #2: Large shelter. Can accommodate 60-65 people. Has an electrical outlet.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

A conference shelter in the park's historic area accommodates up to 200. The shelter, which has a kitchen with a range, oven and refrigerator, can be rented for wedding receptions, meetings and special events. Call 800-933-7275 to reserve the shelter. Click here to learn more about wedding facilities and packages at Chippokes. Those planning to serve alcohol in the conference shelter must first obtain an ABC permit and show it to appropriate park staff.

Chippokes also makes the mansion's Stewart Room available for small meetings.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP, OFFICE

The park’s visitor center houses several exhibits related to the park and its natural resources. The park gift shop and staff offices are also located in this building. T-shirts, stickers, hats and snacks can be found here. The office is generally open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March through November, excluding Thanksgiving. From December through February, the office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding major holidays, weather permitting.

RESTAURANT

None in the park; available in nearby Surry.

LAUNDRY

There's a laundry facility, open March through November, near the Campground B bathhouse.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

None.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY

• Cabin 3, One-bedroom Osborne house.
• Campgrounds A and B: One site in each campground is designated as accessible. Each site has a gravel drive (not level) with water and electric hookups, a level tent pad, an accessible picnic table and a lantern post. A paved walkway leads to an accessible bathhouse.
• Visitor center: The center features exhibits, a refreshment area and restrooms. The park office is in the same facility. The building is at ground level and accessible via paved walkways.
• Picnic area: Shelters are accessible via paved walkways from the parking lot.
• Trails: College Run Trail is a paved 1.5-mile trail that connects the recreation area with the historic area, however it has steep grades descending to and ascending from College Run Creek. It is accessible from parking lots at the visitor center, River House and mansion. The James River and Lower Chippokes Creek trails are dirt farm roads that connect with College Run Trail.
• Farm and Forestry Museum: All exhibit buildings are at ground level with concrete floors. Walkways to and around buildings are gravel. Parking lot is across the road from the museum. Vehicle access and parking is also provided at the sawmill exhibit.
• Mansion: Not wheelchair accessible.
• Formal gardens/grounds: accessible parking at the mansion parking lot. (Brick walkways are uneven).
• Rental cabins: One of the park's three rental cabins (cabin 3) is accessible and contains a paved parking area, ramp, picnic table and grill. The cabin interior is accessible to persons with disabilities and contains one bedroom with a double bed, living room, kitchen and bath.
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Mansion and Farm and Forestry Museum tours, canoe programs, Junior Rangers, plantation and crop field tours, beach walks, seasonal programs.

Canoe trips are offered at various times of the year, except during winter. (Click on the "Park Events" tab at the top of this page for details.) The trip includes basic instruction, safety tips, a guided tour of Lower Chippokes Creek and plenty of canoeing. Two types of trips - Lower Chippokes Paddle and Exploring the James - are offered, depending on tides and the weather. The trips center on the unique nature and history of Chippokes. Call the park to pre-register and for dates and times.

Not all trips sell out, so those interested should visit the visitor center for walk-in availability. Children 6 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 45 pounds and pets are not allowed on the trips. All trips begin at the Farm and Forestry Museum parking lot and include a one-mile wagon ride to the canoe dock. Bottled water, bug spray, sunscreen and a hat are recommended.

Chippokes Mansion Tours: Tours of the 19th-century Chippokes Mansion are available Friday through Monday, April through October and other times by reservation for groups. In the spring, special tours of the mansion and gardens are offered in conjunction with Garden Week. During the Christmas season, the mansion is decked in Victorian period decorations and open for tours on select weekends. Search this page for details.

Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum: Opened in June 1990, the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum displays more than 600 antiques to interpret rural early American farm life. The seven-building complex is open for self-guided tours from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Other times are also available by reservation for groups.

Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

• Historic Gardens Week, late April.
• Harvest Festival on the third Saturday in October.

CONCESSIONS

None at this park.

HISTORY

Captain William Powell, a prominent colonial gentleman, received a grant for 550 acres of river frontage on Chippokes Creek in 1619. This is the first record of ownership of this land. The plantation and the bordering creek were named for an Indian chief who befriended the early English settlers. Under the ownership of Colonel Henry Bishop in 1646, the plantation was expanded to its present boundaries encompassing 1,403 acres.

In 1854, Albert Carroll Jones built the present Chippokes Mansion, which overlooks the historic James River. This Italianate structure was built of brick, stuccoed and painted on its river facade. Chippokes was once the site of one of the few legal distilleries in the Commonwealth. Local legend has it that the mansion survived the Civil War because Albert Jones sold his brandies to both sides during the war. The plantation changed owners many times before it was bought by Thornton Jeffress of Rochester, New York and V.W. Stewart of Wilson, North Carolina in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart moved to Chippokes and put much effort into restoring the property and compiling a detailed history of the plantation. Upon her husband's death, Mrs. Stewart, in order to preserve the plantation in its entirety, donated Chippokes to the Commonwealth as a memorial to her husband in 1967. Mrs. Stewart hoped that the plantation would be made into a park and preserved as a working farm to interpret day-to-day farm life through the centuries.

FRIENDS GROUP

The Friends of Chippokes (FOC), a 501c(3) organization, volunteers at the park and helps raise funds. It runs a seasonal gift shop, seeks donations, and helps with events and the maintenance of trails and the grounds.  FOC depends on volunteers willing to work on improving the park. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month. Membership is $15 per person, $25 per family. Email president@chippokes.com for more information.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.