Editors of the 1999 Outside Family Vacation Guide, a summer planner, have named Virginia's very own Douthat State Park one of the nation's 10 best.

It's on the National Register of Historic Places and straddles Bath and Alleghany counties. Douthat was one of the original six Virginia State Parks to open on June 15, 1936.

Douthat is nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia's most outstanding scenery. In addition, a 50-acre lake offers swimming, boating and seasonal trout fishing.

Douthat was one of six state parks planned by the Commonwealth in the early 1930s. The initial 1,920 acres of the present-day park was donated by the Douthat Land Company, a consortium of Virginia businessmen. The rest of the land was purchased with a portion of the $50,000 in funds allocated by the General Assembly in 1933 for park land acquisition.

The establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC as part of the emergency Conservation Works by President Roosevelt in 1933 provided the means for development of the parks. An estimated 600 men lived and worked at the three camps responsible for building Douthat's facilities. Between 1933 and 1942, these men cleared trails, built a dam and spillway, cabins, a guest lodge, a restaurant, an information center, superintendent's residence, swimming beach, picnic areas and maintenance buildings. The structures are embellished with hand-carved wooden doorknobs and hinges, as well as hand-wrought iron hardware, light fixtures and door and shutter latches. The built and natural features of the park have remained virtually unchanged since construction.

In 1986, the 50th anniversary of Douthat State Park and the Virginia State Park System, Douthat was recognized as a Nationally Registered Historic District. In 1998, Douthat won the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association award for best operated and maintained dam for its Douthat Lake Dam. In 1999, Douthat received the Centennial Medallion from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

All weekly rentals begin on Saturday or Sunday. No cabins have a view of water. Note You must have with you either your reservation numbers or your confirmation letter at check-in. If you've arranged for someone else to check in for you, make sure that person has your reservation number as the number is needed to enter the cabin. Camping and cabin guests should be prepared to show a valid ID if requested.

Cabins have

Cabins have rustic furniture and are climate controlled heat and AC. Bring food, dish detergent and extra dish towels, all personal care items, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, bodywash/soap, extra bath towels, board games or cards. No dishwasher, telephone, TV, washer/dryer. Bed linens, two towels and one washcloth per person are provided. You might prefer bringing your own pillow as well as a comforter - nights can be chilly in the mountains. Kitchen Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes, dishcloth, a few dish towels, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans, microwave oven, toaster, clock radios. Living Area Loveseat, dining table no loveseat in cabins 10, 20, 22 Bedrooms Beds and nightstands Fireplaces Heat pumps Air conditioning Picnic tables Grills Rocking chairs on porches No decks Pay phones are in the restaurant parking lot, park office entrance and Lakeside Campground A. Swimming and boat launching free for overnight guests. Firewood $3 for eight pieces may be purchased in park office or camp store bring a starter log and/or kindling. Late arriving guests will find on the park office door a note with instructions on how/when to register the following morning. A park map with directions to the cabin is provided. The park office is the first building on the right after exiting I-64 and passing the booth at the park entrance. From cabins 1-9, the lake is seasonably observable. Cabins 22-25 are called Creek Row locally. The creek is about 30 feet from the front of the cabins. Not considered waterview. Cabin 2 CL1B Only two people maximum one double-bed, no room for extra beds or sleeping bags. Cabins 5 and 11 have an empty extra room. Cabins 4, 17 and 19 have bed space for three these cabins can sleep four with the rental of a cot. Cabins 1-25 have open porches. Cabins 26-30 have enclosed screened porches.

CLEF - one-room log cabin, sleeps two, one double bed CL1B - one-bedroom log cabin, sleeps two, allows four, two single beds except for cabin two which allows has only one double-bed and sleeps only two people CL2B - two-bedroom log cabin, sleeps four, allows six, one double bed and two single beds CS2B - two-bedroom cedar-sided cabin cinderblock, sleeps five, allows six, one double bed, one bunk bed and one single bed LG6B - Douthat Lodge six-bedroom log lodge, sleeps 13, allows 15 LDOC - Creasey Lodge five-bedroom, one-story woodframe lodge, sleeps 18 maximum

Swimming and boat launching free to overnight guests. Firewood is available in park office and camp store bring a starter log and/or kindling. Late arrival campers will find a note on the park office door giving them instructions on how/when to register the following morning. Park maps are provided so that these campers can find their way to the campground. The park office is the first building on the right after exiting I-64 and passing the booth at the park entrance. Campsites have grills that be used for cooking or a campfire. All fires must be kept within the grill. Picnic tables and lantern posts are also provided. Two vehicles per campsite in addition to camping unit extra vehicles must park in overflow parking area, and parking fees apply for extra vehicles. All equipment must be placed within site's gravel borders. Campsite vehicle area is crushed run gravel tent pad is pea gravel for drainage. Park visitors not registered for cabin/campground use must pay parking fee and leave the park by 10 p.m.

Douthat Lodge (atop of mountain) LG6B Saturday - Saturday

This log lodge overlooks the park. It was built by the CCC. It accommodates 13 or 15 with rental of two cots. There are six bedrooms: one double bed, one double bed, one double bed, four twin beds, two twin beds and one twin bed.

* TV/VCR and telephone in living area. TV is for use with a VCR only - no cable, satellite or broadcast reception. Local, calling card or collect calls only. * Kitchen: Stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, drip coffee maker, dishes, silverware, toaster, basic pots and pans; few dish towels. Bring dish detergent and additional towels for week rental. * Stone patio. * Charcoal grill.

Creasey Lodge (bottom of mountain) LDOC; Sunday - Sunday (fully handicapped accessible)

This one story woodframe lodge is next to the park office. It accommodates up to 18 guests. No cot rentals are available here. There are five bedrooms: one double bed, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds

* Kitchen: Stove, microwave, refrigerator, drip coffee maker, dishes, silverware, basic pots and pans, dish towels; advise to bring dish detergent and extra dish towels for week rental. * Deck. * TV-VCR and telephone. TV is for use with a VCR only - no cable, satellite or broadcast reception. Local, calling card or collect calls only. * Charcoal grill.