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Chippokes Plantation State Park is located at 695 Chippokes Park Road, Surry, Virginia. It is in a rural, agricultural area off the James River and Route 10 in Surry County, and is protected under the state park system.
Chippokes Plantation was established in 1617 by Captain William Powell of the Jamestown Settlement in the Virginia Colony. In 1967, the 1,700 acre plantation was donated to the Commonwealth by Mrs. Victor Stewart for use as a state park.
One of the largest working farms in the nation, Chippokes has kept its boundaries since the 1600s. The structures and artifacts on the property reflect plantation life from the early 17th century to the present. The antebellum Chippokes Mansion and the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum both offer scenic tours of the estate, cultivated formal gardens and woodlands.
Noted for its continuous agricultural production and modern recreational facilities, amenities include fishing, trails, camping and cabin rentals.
[edit] Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum
Opened in June 1990, the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum, one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country, is an agriculture museum with many exhibits and displays of farm tools and tools used by craftsmen such as the blacksmith, wheelwright, cooper and cobbler. Others exhibits focus on farm animals, processing, preserving, small tools and housewares and farm techniques. There is also a working sawmill. The seven building complex is open for self-guided tours. The museum is operated by the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation.
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