Near Dodson in Patrick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fairy Stone State Park

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

1. Fairy Stone State Park Marker

Inscription. Roanoke newspaper publisher Junius B. Fishburn donated the land to create Fairy Stone State Park. It is named for the cross-shaped crystals found in the region, which according to legend were formed from the tears of fairies. The National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps, in conjunction with the Virginia Conservation Commission, developed the park. Construction began in 1933 and the park was opened on 15 June 1936. It was one of the first six state parks opened in Virginia, covering close to 5,000 acres, and is one of the largest.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number AS-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1936.

Location. 36° 47.923′ N, 80° 7.01′ W. Marker is near Dodson, Virginia, in Patrick County. It is at the intersection of Union Bridge Road (County Route 623) and Fairystone Lake Drive (Virginia Route 346), on the left when traveling north on Union Bridge Road. It is at the Stuart’s Knob Trail Head parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stuart VA 24171, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Story Behind Stuart's Knob (within shouting distance of this marker); The Historic John D. Bassett High School (approx. 7.2 miles away); Colonel Abram Penn (approx. 8.2 miles away); Blue Ridge Mission School (approx. 8½ miles away); Jacks Creek Covered Bridge (approx. 9 miles away); First Henry County Courthouse (approx. 10.1 miles away); Franklin County / Henry County (approx. 10.3 miles away); Ferrum (approx. 10.4 miles away).

More about this marker. Marker faces the road instead of being perpendicular to the road, so it is difficult to spot it from the distance.

It replaced a marker from before 1941 with the same title and number that read, “This park was developed by the National Park Service, Interior Department, through the Civilian Conservation Corps, in conjunction with the Virginia Conservation Commission. It covers 5,000 acres and was opened, June 15, 1936. It takes its name from the fairy, or lucky, stones found everywhere in this area.”

Also see . . . Fairy Stone Crosses. The caption on the postcard reproduced in Image No. 3 summarizes the legend of the miniature stone crosses that can be found around the park. This web page shows some

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

2. Fairy Stone State Park Marker

samples and explains that “natural staurolite crystals that normally form just a bar-shaped crystal sometimes fuse together into crosses ... The crosses formed are these three styles: Roman Cross, St Andrews, and Maltese. ... Buy one and have good luck always ... Fairy stones are brown staurolite a combination of silica, iron and aluminum (and dots of real garnet). ... Rare staurolite stones are found elsewhere, such as Russia or France, but not in such abundance and not shaped so nearly like crosses as those in the vicinity of Fairy Stone State Park.” (Submitted on September 30, 2014.)

Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia—83 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Virginia Conservation Commission, circa 1935

3. Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia—83

This unmailed linen postcard “made in U. S. A. by E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis.” is numbered 31549N. The caption reads, “The park’s name has a beautiful legend: ‘Many many years ago fairies danced here. One day came the sad tidings of he death of Christ. The fairies wept and their tears fell to earth and crystallized into tiny crosses.’ Today these small crosses of stone may be found here.

Fairy Stone State Park Beach at Fairy Stone Lake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

4. Fairy Stone State Park Beach at Fairy Stone Lake

N234:–A Scene in Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, in Southwestern Virginia image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Virginia Conservation Commission, circa 1935

5. N234:–A Scene in Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, in Southwestern Virginia

This linen postcard, mailed in 1942, was published by the Asheville (North Carolina) Post Card Co. and numbered 44658. The caption on the back reads, “Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County, Va., is operated by the Virginia Conservation Commission at Richmond. The park has a 168-acre lake well-stocked with game fish, and boating and fishing are among the popular sports here. Cabins are available for vacations of one or two weeks. ”

Stuart's Knob Trail System Trailhead image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

6. Stuart's Knob Trail System Trailhead

Fairy Stone State Park Marker looking south on Union Bridge Road at the Stuart's Knob Trailhead lot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 29, 2025

7. Fairy Stone State Park Marker looking south on Union Bridge Road at the Stuart's Knob Trailhead lot

Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,499 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 10, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on September 30, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 10, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on September 30, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 6. submitted on June 10, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 7. submitted on May 1, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.