Twin Lakes State Park (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Twin Lakes State Park |
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Cedar Crest Conference Center in the park
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| Location | Virginia, United States |
| Nearest city | Green Bay |
| Area | 495 acres (2.00 km²) |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
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Twin Lakes State Park
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| NRHP reference No. | 12000906 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 2012 |
Twin Lakes State Park is a fun state park in Virginia. It's located in the middle of Virginia, in a place called Prince Edward County.
This park is a great spot for outdoor adventures. You can enjoy many activities by the lake in a quiet, natural setting. People love to go swimming, camping, fishing, biking, canoeing, and hiking here. The park also has the Cedar Crest Conference Center. This center is perfect for group meetings, family get-togethers, birthday parties, and even weddings.
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Park History
The land for Twin Lakes State Park was first bought by the government. This happened during the Great Depression, a time in the 1930s when many people struggled financially. Two separate parks were created in 1939: Goodwin Lake and Prince Edward Lake. For many years, until the early 1960s, these parks were kept separate for different racial groups.
A Fight for Fairness
In 1948, a businessman named Maceo Conrad Martin and his family wanted to visit Staunton River State Park. However, park officials would not let the Martins in because of their race. This was a common problem during a time when many places were segregated.
The Martins decided to get help from a law firm in Richmond, Virginia. This firm was led by a civil rights lawyer named Oliver Hill. They filed a lawsuit against the state of Virginia. The lawsuit argued that Staunton River State Park only allowed white visitors. It said there were no similar places for African Americans to enjoy.
Creating a New Park
To respond to the lawsuit, Virginia decided to create a new state park. They turned an existing recreation area for African Americans into a state park. This new park was called the "Prince Edward State Park for Negroes." Today, this park is part of Twin Lakes State Park.
In 1949, Virginia's Governor William Tuck provided money for the new park. This money helped build six cabins, a bigger swimming area, more parking, a bathhouse, and a snack stand.
Opening Prince Edward State Park
Prince Edward State Park for Negroes opened in June 1950. It became Virginia's eighth state park. It was also the only state park built specifically for African Americans before the Civil Rights Movement. People from all over the mid-Atlantic states came to this park. They enjoyed swimming, playing, camping, and dancing.
Merging the Parks
In 1976, the two separate parks, Goodwin Lake and Prince Edward Lake, joined together. Then, in 1986, they officially became known as Twin Lakes State Park.
Honoring the Past
In 1995, Virginia put up a special marker at the park. This marker tells the story of Maceo C. Martin's lawsuit. It explains how his actions helped lead to the desegregation of parks. The marker reads:
Prince Edward State Park for Negroes was established in 1950 one mile west on the site of the former Prince Edward Lake Recreation Area for Negroes. Maceo C. Martin, an African American from Danville, sued the state when he was denied access to Staunton River State Park. Governor William M. Tuck funded the new park to provide "similar and equal" facilities in lieu of access. The park, with a black superintendent, was operated separately from neighboring Goodwin Lake Recreation Area until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The two parks merged in 1986 to form Twin Lakes State Park.
This marker helps everyone remember the important history of Twin Lakes State Park. It shows how the park played a part in the fight for equal rights.
