wilderness road state park

You move back in time and see the fort as it was. The staff were very interested in making sure you got your questions answered and that you had a great experience. I go to many parks and this was one of the best staffed and most friendly I have been to.

This was a very fun experience. The story line was a whole lot of fun. The park has an assortment of activities for everyone. They have a website filled with something for everyone. I really enjoy visiting the park. I am most certain that you will as well. Please visit the web page and find just how many things they have planned. www.virginiastateparks.gov

The national park just a bit further west is much better, bigger and offers tons more to see and do. ( Cumber Gap ) visitors center is small, film is okay but again almost a duplication of one of the films at the NP. Ranger at visitor station very nice and helpful "actors" portraying the frontier settlers at the so-so recreated fort not very friendly and not engaging at all. Buffalo at entrance was the highlight but can be seen from the road. Again if extra time go in, it does offer great views of the surrounding area.

On our way to Cumberland Gap National Park, we ran across this wonderful state park. The buffalo right outside the gates drew our attention first. Then we had a very nice visit with the ranger at the visitor center. We were pleasantly surprised by the reconstructed frontier outpost. The experience was enhanced by the two interpreters who were there. They explained how volunteers reconstructed the buildings using techniques common to frontier craftsman. The volunteers were even granted waivers by the state for not using modern safey equipment such as hard hats. We highly recommend a stop at this park.

This Virginia State Park includes a recreation (these buildings are neither original nor even on the actual historical site) of a frontier settlement in the late 18th Century. Martin's Station was the last stop on the eastern side of the mountains for those following the Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap. As such it is a nice complement to the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Recreated cabins, blacksmith shops, barns etc. with a helpful and entertaining staff, in costume and in character, to both guide you and explain life at the bleeding edge of America's westward expansion. There is a paved bike path following the route of Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road. A large picnic area complete with slides and swings for the kids. A small museum and gift shop in the visitors center.

It was wonderful to look at the fashions of yesterdays life style. When you compare it to todays, women out rank mens accessories. In the 17th century men had all the extras. The Wilderness Road State Park has all kinds of activities that the whole family can enjoy.

We visited this park on a Sunday. Rangers and Staff were extremely helpful and nice. We brought our bikes to ride the Trail (visitor's center rents bikes if you don't have your own). It was a very nice ride, fairly level until you get close to the Cumberland Gap Park where the trail gets close to the highway and hilly. Saw very few other people on the trail. Trail was quiet and peaceful. The buffalo in the field were a nice surprise. We visited Martin's Station. The enactors there were very friendly and informative. The fort and surrounding area is impressive and educational. There were sheep, horses, chickens and a pig. Hope to go back and ride again in the spring.

We visited this park due to the federal government shut down and were glad we did. The staff was very friendly. We toured the rebuilt fort on a day that the enactors were waiting on the arrival of school children, so we had them to ourselves. Each of them answered all of our questions in great detail. The fort was reconstructed using the methods and tools of the original construction. They lived period correct during the whole construction. They were dressed in the style of the day, doing jobs of the period. Down to the tanning of hides and making of munitions. Don't wait for a government shut-down to visit this wonderful historical experience!

We visited Wilderness Road State Park over Memorial Day Weekend specifically to visit Martin's Station. We were able to experience re- enactors showing we modern day folk what life was like for the pioneers getting ready to travel the Gateway to the West. It was the last stop before heading through The Cumberland Gap. We were able to watch the blacksmith and gunsmith busy at their trade. The women tending to their gardens and the militia officer was full of a wealth of information. Very cool place to learn about a time that was full of hardship and dreams.

We went for the Raid on Martin Station and it was a wonderful event and the park is beautiful! It is def a place to check out if you are in the area.

This authentic representation of the fort that Joseph Martin was comissiioned to build in the 1700's is extremely detailed and amazes me how the human species perservered during this time in history. If you're lucky you'll catch the reinactors in full character living of life of hard work, dedication and inginuity

Summer is best when the have the reenactments. A really nice easy flat horse trail along the wilderness road for us trail riders.

Yes, my son, grandson & I went camping in the campgrounds in Oct of 2012 We reallyhad a blast. We spent 3 days & nights. The first night, we nearly froze, second nighta heat wave, third night ,a wash out. We would wake to the sound of bears & wolves.We tried to climb to the Sand Cave 2000 ft above sea level but we only got to 1,800ft. I mean this was a trip in it's own. I still think it is more than 2000 ft up that mountain.It took us 4 hrs up and 3&1/2 down. Pretty good trip for a 72 year old, I think. We really learned how to build fires, because we cooked all our meals on the open pit.We plan to go back some time and continue the hike to the cave. I did not know all thiswas up there ,when I was growing up as a child in Ewing, Va.

We make a point to travel and visit as many of our national and state parks as we can. Although this one does not have much to offer in the way of amenities, it would be a nice picnic spot and break point during a trip. The major downside to this park in our experience was the staff. Normally we find them very cordial and pleasant. Never before have we encountered such standoffish and almost rude personnel at a state or national park.

My name is Betty Brooks(Merritt). I was born and raised in Ewing. My dad use to takemy sisters and brothers to the Sand Cave. My last visit to the Sand Cave was in 1966.It took us all day up the mountain. There were no trails to follow. We literely had to blaze the trail. Half day up and half day down. the Sand Cave was amazing, and still today it amazes me of God's wonder. I wrote a poem about this cave a few years ago.Everyone at my church was amazed about the poem. My sons and grandchildren plan to visit our town in the fall and go back to the Sand Cave. Lots of memories linger fromwhere I was born. My dad was the late Thurman Brooks . 230 Hurricane Circle, La Vergne, Tn 37086