A grand opening/dedication ceremony was held at Seven Bends State Park on June 14, 2022, nearly two years after the park officially opened following Lantz’s completion of phase one in the summer of 2019.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation hosted the ceremony, which was attended by Gov. Glenn Youngkin who said, “We remind ourselves that a group of people came together and did what was necessary to create 1,066 acres with an extraordinary park that we get to add to what is part of Virginia’s great spirit.”
Guest speakers in addition to the governor were Seven Bends assistant park manager Tom Stevens, Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker, state Department of Conservation Director Matthew Wells, state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham), state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-Mount Jackson), and Travis Voyles, acting state Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.
As part of the ceremony, Gov. Youngkin was presented with a hiking stick engraved with a medallion of Seven Bends State Park to commemorate the first state park he has dedicated with Virginia State Parks.
The park includes two entrances and provides public access to the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Other features include two-hand carry boat launches, picnic areas, hiking trails, and restrooms.
Seven Bends State Park is open from 6:00 a.m. until dusk and is located in east-central Shenandoah County, a few miles from Historic Downtown Woodstock. It’s about 35 miles southwest of Winchester and 40 miles northeast of Harrisonburg. For more information, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends.