What Is Fairy Stone State Park?

Fairy Stone State Park is a public park run by the state of Virginia, in the United States. It consists of about 4,537 acres (18.36 square kilometers) of land near the town of Stuart, Virginia. Fairy Stone State Park gets its name from the coveted, cross-shaped staurolite crystals that can typically be found in abundance there. Local legend has it that these stones came into being when fairies, who were said to have inhabited this region many centuries prior to the lifetime of local Native American Chief Powhatan, received news of the death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The legend goes on to say that the fairies were so distraught by this news that they burst into tears, and that these tears fell to the ground, turned to stone and took the shape of crosses.

Virginia's biggest state park, Fairy Stone State Park was created from land contributed by local newspaper magnate Julius B. Fishburn in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the park's lake, cabins, campsites, and other facilities. The park typically offers both tent and cabin camping facilities to visitors. Fairy Stone State Park also offers about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) of hiking trails for visitors. Swimming at the park's lake is usually permissible during the summer months, and fishing is also usually allowed for those with proper licensing.

This park is generally famous for the staurolite crystals that can often be found on its grounds. These crystals are usually made up of a combination of iron, silica, and aluminum. The mineral molecules typically form into crystals at sharp angles to one another, so that the fully formed staurolite crystals usually take on a cross shape. These crystals may appear shaped like the letter X, like a Roman-style cross, or like a Maltese cross. The stones are often used as ornaments, and have been attributed with magical protective powers in the past.

The land that now comprises Fairy Stone State Park is believed to have originally belonged to the Native Americans under Chief Powhatan until about 1780. At this time, the land was transferred to a European named George Hairston. Hairston and his brother, John, established an iron forge, which remained in their family until the time of the Civil War, when the they sold the land and the forge fell into disuse.