Longdale Recreation Area
| The Beach | The Swimming Area |
| The Shelter | Picnic Tables |
| The Lake |
Longdale Recreation area, located on the James River Ranger District in Alleghany
County. Longdale has a two-acre swimming lake with a sandy beach, a bathhouse,
restrooms, picnic tables and grills scattered through a quiet wooded setting,
a ball field and a reservable picnic shelter suitable for many kinds of group
events.
Longdale is surrounded by hiking trails, including the 3.0 miles YACCHS Run,
1.4 miles Blue Suck and 4.7 Anthony Knob trails. Anthony Knob has a 1-mile
section that was recently relocated by the Student Conservation Corps. In
addition, the 8.6 miles North Mountain Trail is accessible from Longdale.
This trail is especially popular with mountain bikers.
Longdale has an interesting history. In the 1930's, the Clifton Forge Chapter
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People requested
that the Forest Service construct a recreation area for use by African Americans.
During this era in America, segregation was the norm, and African Americans
were prevented from using forest facilities.
Construction on what was then called Green Pastures Recreation Area began
in 1938, and was completed in 1940, by the Dolly Ann Civilian Conservation
Corps, Camp F24. Even before construction was finished, the area was being
used by African Americans from Covington, Clifton Forge, Lexington, Alleghany
County, White Sulphur Springs and other surrounding localities.
During World War II, Green Pastures was closed, and the time was used to
make improvements and to expand the area. It was reopened in 1948, and in
1950 when the military integrated its soldiers, Green Pastures was made available
to all people regardless of race. In 1963, the name was officially changed
to Longdale Recreation Area, reflecting the local place name.
The main bathhouse, picnic shelter and two small restrooms are all original
buildings, and were constructed in the classic CCC forest style, using nearly
all wood construction with an emphasis on the use of logs and rough-sawn
lumber. The dam is also an original structure that was built by hand. The
CCC enrollees worked using simple tools and wheelbarrows to transport cement
into the area.
In the last several years, the aging facilities at Longdale have been given
a facelift. Plumbing has been replaced and the bathhouse and restrooms have
been repaired and renovated to make them more modern and accessible to people
with disabilities. This work continues carefully, by forest employees and
local contractors. Archaeologists are sometimes consulted to help preserve
the original style of construction and the look of the area.
Longdale Recreation Area can be reached from Interstate 64 by taking Exit
29. Go south on Route 42 for a short distance, and then turn left (east)
on to old Route 60 for about 4.5 miles. The entrance to Longdale will be
on the right. Longdale is for day use only. A $2 parking fee is charged,
and the picnic shelter can be reserved for $25 per day. All the other picnic
tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no lifeguard
on duty at the lake. Longdale is open seasonally. For information on facilities
at Longdale and elsewhere on the James River Ranger District, call 962-2214.
Some of the CCC men who help-ed build Green Pastures still live in the area,
and still visit today's Longdale Recreation Area on a regular basis. Memories
take them back to their days in the CCC and how they came together to build
a new nation, in the wake: of the Great Depression.
excerpted from the Virginian Review on May 25th, 2002
