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Virginia
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Virginia State Parks

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Tidewater Region
Machicomoco State Park
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Machicomoco State Park © vastateparksstaff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Machicomoco State Park
Machicomoco State Park © vastateparksstaff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Beautiful water views of the Catlett Islands and Machicomoco shoreline.Taken from the water near the Car-top Boat Launch.Photographer Emily Harlan
Machicomoco State Park © vastateparksstaff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Machicomoco State Park
Machicomoco State Park © vastateparksstaff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Machicomoco State Park
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MACHICOMOCO STATE PARK
MACHICOMOCO STATE PARK
3601 Timberneck Farm Road
Hayes, Virginia   23072
(lat:37.3122 lon:-76.5391) map location

Phone: 804-642-2419
Locatedin the southern part of Gloucester County along the York River, Machicomoco State Park isapproximately 10 miles downriver from Werowocomoco. The landscape of Timberneck was most certainly associated with Tsenacommacah and Powhatans extensive Chiefdom.

An open-air interpretive pavilion provides information on the culture, landscape and movement of Virginia Indians through displays and a walking path in the landscape. A paved trail follows along the main park road for walking or bike riding. The surrounding land provides diverse wildlife habitats, from open fields to woodlands and waterfront/marsh areas supporting deer, turkey, and many species of songbirds and birds of prey.

Other amenities include a campground with sites for vehicle camping and hike-in tent sites, three overnight yurts, two picnic shelters, a car-top boat launch pier with an accessible boat entry structure, and a set of small floating docks on Timberneck creek for daytime boat tie-ups and fishing.
History of the Area
Archaeological evidence on Timberneck ranges from the Middle and Late Woodland Period. It includes two ancient shell middens, one dating from 100BCE to 500CE, and various procurement sites -camps used as a base for fishing, oysteringand hunting by Virginia Tribes. Located approximately 10 miles downriver from Werowocomoco, the landscape of Timberneck was most certainly associated with Tsenacommacah and Powhatan's extensive Chiefdom. The English likely settled Timberneck around 1639, when George Minifye was granted a patent on the land. In 1792, the land was sold to John Catlett, and it remained in his family for the next two centuries and has been continuously commercially farmed since that time. The site is bountiful in natural resources, including land used for agriculture, maritime forest, marsh, uplands, wetlands, and estuarine habitat.

This park wasdeveloped as part of the Surry-Skiffes Creek Transmission Line Project memorandum of agreementmitigation stipulations. This mitigation agreement provided funding for land acquisition, visitor interpretation facilities, archeological investigation and preservation associated with Werowocomoco. The Conservation Fund purchased the Timberneck tract as part of this stipulation. Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects developed the design and managed construction for the site. The property was transferred to DCR on Oct. 9, 2020.
Fishing
Anglers can enjoy fishing in the York River, with species like striped bass and bluefish being common catches. The park also offers a pier for easy access to deeper waters where flounder are often found. For freshwater enthusiasts, nearby ponds house largemouth bass and catfish. Fishing gear rentals are available on-site.



Picnicking
The park has two large picnic shelters, both of which are located in the interpretive area. Each has picnic tables and a charcoal grill. There is an electrical outlet at each shelter, however, amplified music is prohibited. Parking fees are not included with the shelter rental fees and must be paid upon entering the park. As throughout the park, alcohol is allowed only in private areas e.g., in a cabin or camping unit and areas covered by permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which must be approved by the park.

Shelter 1is surrounded by grass and has a paved walkway to it. It is about 150 feet from a restroom and 50 feet from a parking lot. The land around the shelter is flat. It has 10 picnic tables

Shelter 2is surrounded by grass. It is about 80 feet from a restroom and 50 feet from a parking lot. The land around the shelter is flat and looks out over the interpretive trail area. The shelter has 10 picnic tables.
Trails
The park has a 3.3 mile paved foot/bicycle trail that circles the main road on the park site. A footpath of gravel, oyster shells and mown grass can be found at the interpretive area and totals .7 of a mile.The natural trail runs 2.4 miles from the interpretive area, through the car-top kayak launch, and near the campgrounds at the trailhead parking lot.

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Virginia State Parks

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