Parks & Recreation
The Farmville area is home to many outdoor enthusiasts, who take full advantage of all available recreational opportunities. The Willis River offers lovely floats through Cumberland, and the Appomattox River offers the same through Farmville. The James River, beautiful in scenery and busy with recreational activities, is located within a short drive. The Friends of the Appomattox River are working to improve stream accessibility in Prince Edward County. Plans include the opening of a Blueway route beginning on Buffalo Creek at the Business 460 Bridge, connecting with the Appomattox River and continuing eastward on the Appomattox River to the Riverside Park Boat ramp just before the Route 45 Bridge. This route will include approximately 2 miles of flat water for paddling opportunities and enhance Farmville’s quality of life.
The Sandy River Reservoir is a 740-acre county-owned lake in Prince Edward that is stocked and managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Public facilities at the reservoir include a double board ramp with courtesy pier and a 150-foot fishing pier. The nationally regarded 845-acre Briery Creek Lake and 3,100 acre Wildlife Management Area, located about seven miles south of Farmville, appeals to hunters and fishermen. Wilck’s Lake, a 35 acre lake and 175 acre natural area, is a lovely retreat positioned just a few blocks from the downtown Farmville area.
Twin Lakes State Park in Prince Edward County and Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland County provide a wide range of outdoor activities and programs. Twin Lakes offers hiking trails, camping facilities, picnicking, housekeeping cabins, boat rentals, and swimming during the summer. To make overnight reservations, please call 1-800-933-7275 Monday through Friday. Cedar Crest Conference Center, on Prince Edward Lake within Twin Lakes State Park, is available for family reunions, meetings, weddings, and receptions. Toe get information or catering prices to book your event, please call 434-767-2398 to speak with a Certified Meeting Planner. Nestled in the heart of Cumberland State Forest in Cumberland County, Bear Creek Lake State Park is 30 minutes from Farmville and the perfect getaway for the outdoor enthusiast. Activities center on the 40-acre lake with a boat launch, fishing pier, boat rentals, and swimming as well as camping, cabins, a meeting facility, hiking and access to a 14-mile multi-use trail in the state forest. For information on all State Parks please visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/parks.
The campus of Hampden-Sydney College houses a circuit of nature trails used by hikers and bikers. Farmville’s Dogwood Trail is located off High Street and stretches approximately one half mile north through a beautiful hardwood forest to Southside Community Hospital. This paved walking trail is for non-motorized use and will someday be connected to the Trail that loops around Wilck’s lake by a bridge over Buffalo Creek. Plans are underway for a linear state park between Pamplin and Burkeville that will run through Prince Edward County and the Town of Farmville and will offer a great place to walk, bike and ride on horseback.
The golfer has many choices in the Farmville area with 9-hole courses in Cumberland and Farmville. In addition, The Manor Resort Golf Club, in Prince Edward County, is the centerpiece of a 1,060 acre multi-use resort community. The 18-hole championship golf course, which opened in 2006, was recently honored by Golf Digest as “One of the Best New Courses for 2007.” In just two years, the all bent grass golf course has already garnered a reputation as one of the best in the mid-atlantic region. Club memberships are available and the course is open to the public. The Farmville Municipal Golf Course, located adjacent to the Farmville Regional Airport just north of Farmville, is a community golf course offering a country club setting. The facility offers a 9-hole golf-course, practice facility, junior Olympic-size pool, banquet/meeting space for up to 200 guests, and a beautiful venue for outdoor weddings. The facilities, located at 36 Wedgewood Drive, Farmville, Virginia, are open to the public 7 days a week and yearly memberships and daily fee rates are available. For more information call 434-392-6656.
The Town and County Recreation Departments, along with the Dixie Youth League and the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association offer year round programs for area youth and adults.
The Southside Virginia Family YMCA located at 404 East Third Street has been making a difference in the community for over ten years by providing programs and services which build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Facilities consist of a fitness center, babysitting room, a teen center, group exercise room and an indoor and outdoor pool. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, from 6 AM until 9 PM, Saturday, from 8 Am until 2 Pm and on Sunday from 1 PM until 5 PM.
For the spectator, Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College have gained national reputations for accomplishments in basketball, baseball, football and other sports in their divisions.
The new Virginia’s Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Heritage Museum in the Town of Farmville is a wonderful source of tourist and recreation information serving the Prince Edward, Cumberland and Farmville areas. Brochures, maps, magazines and flyers are available for local and regional events and activities.
