The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced the news on Oct. 28.
“This acquisition reflects the strong interest and commitment of the local community in expanding and protecting Caledon State Park,” said Stefanie Taillon, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. “Virginia’s state parks deliver multiple benefits, and conserving this additional property will provide additional outdoor opportunities, while continuing to serve as an economic driver for King George County.”
The goal is to expand recreational opportunities at the park.
“Caledon has been a state park since 2012 and now with this new expansion that increases the park acreage by 20 percent, many of the recreational opportunities enjoyed at other parks will be possible here as well with future development funding,” said Dr. Melissa Baker, Virginia State Parks director.
The project was funded in part by:
- $3 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant awarded by the National Park Service
- $500,000 was provided from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation
- $900,000 in funding was granted from the U.S. Navy’s readiness and environmental protection integration program
“This expansion enhances the recreational opportunities for our service members, while also protecting the rural land uses and natural resources that ensure those critical base operations continue,” said Capt. John Nadder, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity South Potomac. “This represents a win for the community, a win for the base and a win for Virginia.”
About Caledon State Park
In 1984, when bald eagles were listed as endangered, Caledon became a natural area for 18 years, offering only limited recreational opportunities to protect the sensitive habitat. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list, symbolizing the species’ remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts. A few years later, Caledon was named a state park again.
The new property adds 455 acres bringing the total to 3,034 acres of land.
This location is an ideal spot for an expanded and enhanced park since Caledon State Park lies on the shores of the Potomac River.
The northern half of the property lies directly across the road from the existing state park and is a mix of forests and farm fields. The southern half of the property lies on the opposite side of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, a 16-mile multi-use trail that follows the route of the 1940s Dahlgren Branch Rail Line. There are several crossings of the rail-trail to connect to the northern half of the property. This side of the property is mainly forested and contains an approximately 47-acre lake and wetlands.
Park details
The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset.
The park office is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. including holidays, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The park visitor center and gift shop are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
Hours are subject to change based on staff availability.
The park has six waterfront campsites available for reservation.
The park does not have a boat launch.
Parking is limited; arrive early to ensure availability. Parking is allowed only in designated parking areas. The parking fee must be paid at the self-pay station prior to parking. The park has very limited cellular service. Visitors should consider bringing cash for the parking fee.
Caledon State Park is closed to the public two days in November and the first Saturday of December for resource management projects.
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Crystal Graham
