Hungry Mother, one of the original six Virginia State Parks, has long been a favorite. It's known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains. The park has a sandy beach with a bathhouse, boat rentals (canoe, kayak, paddle boats and paddleboards), a boat launch and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy campgrounds, cabins, yurts, gift shops, a visitor center, a six-bedroom family lodge, and hiking and biking trails.

The Hemlock Haven Conference Center, which is available for retreats, conferences and special events, is also here. Catering is available.

The Legend of Hungry Mother
The Legend of Hungry Mother takes many forms, and all have whispers of the truth. The one widely accepted by the people of Southwest Virginia goes like this…

Legend has it that a pioneer named Molly Marley and her small child were captured by a Native American tribe and taken to their mountain camp. Molly and her little one eventually escaped and wandered through the woods foraging for food and searching for shelter. One day Molly collapsed from exhaustion, and the youngster continued along the creek until help was found. The only words the child could utter were “Hungry Mother.” A search party later found Molly dead at the foot of the mountain near the creek.

The mountain went on to be called Molly’s Knob and the stream Hungry Mother Creek. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park, and the creek was dammed to form the lake. The name of the park is wrapped in its own mystery. Originally it was to be called Forest Lake. The name was changed to Southwest Virginia Lake and then to Hungry Mother State Park not long before the park opened. The debate over the legend and the park name continues to this day.

The Hemlock Haven Conference Center includes meeting rooms, cabins, a sports complex and a picnic area. Packages and fees vary. Call the conference center directly at 276-781-7425 for more information and reservations. Cabins are reserved through the Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275.