On August 8, 1933, the Cape Henry Syndicate donated 1,060 acres of what was known as "the Desert" to the Commonwealth of Virginia to create a seashore park. Development of the park’s facilities and trails began in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park opened in June of 1936. The Commonwealth purchased an additional 2,377 acres from Cape Henry Syndicate on August 19, 1938, bringing the total acreage of the park to 3,437 acres. In the early 1940’s, the federal government purchased over 700 acres of state park property to expand Fort Story. In the mid to late 1940’s, additional acreage was purchased by the Commonwealth bringing the total acreage of the park at 2,888 acres.
Information Provided by Erik Molleen of the Virginia Department of Conversation & Recreation, June 5, 2003. |
