Fairy Park Images

[Ranee Wates]

NoteMain campground renovations are anticipated from September 3, 2024 through Feb 28, 2026; we will not accept camping reservations for that time frame. The dates are subject to change. While the equestrian campground will not be directly impacted, customers will not be able to use the bathhouse and dump station at the main campground.

Contact Station is open daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. When closed, use the self-pay envelope for cash or check and place in the honor safe located by the entrance booth, Stuart's Knob trailhead, boat ramp or ADA fishing parking lots. Credit cards can be used in the park office when open.

Home of the legendary fairy stones, this park is well known for its 168-acre lake adjoining Philpott Reservoir. The park is just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Attractions include cabins, a campground, group camping, an equestrian campground, a conference center, hiking trails, lake swimming, rowboats, canoes, paddleboats, kayaks, picnicking and two playgrounds.

Cabins, camping and group camping. For information on the availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK.

Park Fees.

During prime season, a day of guarded beach swimming per night's stay is free to overnight guests.(Parks will not refund rental fees should guarded swimming be unavailable.) Read more about swimming in the park's Recreation section.

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, cabins are rented by the week and rentals start Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on the specific cabin. This requirement is reduced to a 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.

The cabins at Fairy Stone have been renovated or are under renovation at this time. Please refer to this chart for the type of cabin, number of bedrooms, maximum capacity and the maximum number that the beds sleep.

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.

Camping Lodge (bunkhouse): Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. The camping lodge is available for rent from the first Friday in March through the first Sunday in December. Unlike most facilities, we reserve this lodge beginning January 1 rather than 11 months in advance. The transfer deadline and cancellation and pet fees are the same as those for cabins.

Campsites have a fire ring that can be used for campfires and cooking. Two vehicles plus the camping unit are allowed per campsite, and all vehicles must be kept on the paved area of the campsite. Additional parking is approximately a half-mile from the campground area, at either Shelter 2 or 3 parking lots and parking fees are charged. Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet when not in an enclosed area. Dogs must be attended to at all times. Dog owners are expected to clean up after their pets and dispose of their waste in appropriate receptacles. Only overnight guests are allowed in the park after 10 p.m.

All sites listed above have electric and water hook-ups, no sewer. There are 12' by 14' sandy tent pads on yellow and red sites only (tents must fit on pads); no tents are permitted on green sites. All equipment and vehicles must be on the pavement and sandy tent pad at all times. This includes tents, trailers, vehicles, dining flies and other equipment. All sites are shaded. No sewer hookups, but there is a dump station.

Group Camp: Must rent at least three sites to qualify (GrpTent 01-06 Sites). All standard tent sites; no hookups; tents only. Must fit tent on 16' x 16' pad. Each pad has a grill, picnic table and lantern holder.

Electric-water sites. Sites can hold a camping unit up to 50 feet long. No tents are allowed. Sites have 20, 30 and 50-amp hook-ups. One vehicle and the camping unit are allowed on each site. All sites are graveled pull-through sites and have no shade. All equipment and the vehicle must be kept on the gravel area at all times. Pit toilets only. No open-air fires are allowed on individual sites. Individual sites don't have picnic tables and fire-rings. There is a common campfire area with three picnic tables and a fire-ring at each end of the campground. All sites and the lower common area are ADA-accessible.

The equestrian campground is 1.25 miles from the main recreational area and the group campground. Campers may use the group campground for showers between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Equestrian campground has no dump station. Campers may use the dump station in the main campground but should be advised the road to the main campground is hilly with sharp curves. Proof of negative Coggins test is required. Horses must remain in the stalls while not being ridden.

Non-horse campers may camp here if a site has not been reserved within 30 days before the desired date. Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 1 p.m. Only overnight guests are allowed in the park after 10 p.m. Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet when not in an enclosed area. Dogs must be attended to at all times. Dog owners are expected to clean up after their pets and dispose of their waste in appropriate receptacles.

Most of the park's Little Mountain Trail System, 10 miles, is multi-use. Multi-use trails are open to hiking, cycling and horseback riding. The remaining trails, parts of the Little Mountain system, and all of the Stuart's Knob system are for pedestrian use only.

A boat launch ramp is available. The use of gas-powered boats is prohibited here, but electric trolling motors are permitted. Gas-powered boats may be used at the Philpott Reservoir, 20 minutes from the park. Rowboats, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes may be rented during the summer season.

Although no horses are rented here, they are allowed on the park's multi-use trails, and the park has an area designated for horse trailers. See the camping section above for information about overnight horse facilities here. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.

Hunting is allowed only in designated areas. About half the park's land is open to hunting. Hunting is never allowed near the public facilities - i.e., the beach, cabins and campground. Next to the park is the Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area, which has a 5,000-acre deer management area. Visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for more information on hunting.

Local Festivals: Floyd Fest, Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, Virginia Peach Festival. Front Porch Fest. Virginia's Covered Bridge Festival. Bushels and Barrels Festival at Reynolds Homestead.

Picnic shelters are available for rent by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-800-933-PARK. When not reserved, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking and swimming fees are not included in shelter rental. Click here for park fees.

Shelter 1: Accommodates 75 people under the shelter. No restrooms; portable toilet only. Overlooks the lake, but there is no flat area for games. Features lights, a large grill and a fireplace at each end of the shelter. No electrical outlets are available.

Shelter 2: Accommodates 75 people under the shelter. Restroom is approximately 500 ft from the shelter. Large parking area and level area for games. Features electrical outlets, a large grill, lights and a fireplace at each end of the shelter.

Shelter 3: Allied Block Shelter. Accommodates 75 people under the shelter. Universally accessible. Creek runs in front of the shelter. Features electrical outlets, lights, a large grill and universally accessible bathrooms.

Shelter 4: Allied Pole Shelter. Accommodates 75 people under the shelter. Universally accessible. No bathroom in this shelter, but the adjacent shelter (#3) has universally accessible bathrooms. Creek runs in front of the shelter. Features electrical outlets, lights and a large grill.

Shelter 6: First-come, first-served. Accommodates about 45 people. It's on the right side of Fairy Stone beach near the boat rentals and has seven picnic tables, two long benches and one large charcoal grill.

Shelter 7: First-come, first-served. Accommodates about 45 people. It's on the left side of Fairy Stone beach near the playground and has seven picnic tables, two long benches and one large charcoal grill.

Fayerdale Hall Conference Center - To reserve, call 1-800-933-7275. This is a day-use facility. There are separate discount packages available, one for the weekend (Friday through Sunday) and another for weekdays (Monday through Thursday). Be sure to consider the cleanup time when you rent the hall because the hall must be vacated by 10 p.m. If you'd rather clean up and remove equipment at your leisure the next day, you'll want to rent the hall for an extra day.

Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs. Guided nature and history hikes, bluegrass music, guided fairy stone hunts, handicraft and other activities are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. Hikes, guided fairy stone hunts and kids' activities are also offered on weekends during spring and fall. For special arrangements for adult groups, school groups and outreach programs, call the park at 276-930-2424.

In the late 1920s, various groups across the commonwealth began working towards the establishment of state parks in Virginia. It wasn't until 1933, however, with the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that the state was able to begin building such a system. At that time, six areas were acquired, including Fairy Stone. Roanoke newspaper publisher Junius B. Fishburn donated the 4,741-acre site, making it the largest of the six original parks and one of the largest to this day.

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