EFFORTS MADE TO TODAY and tomorrow, will protect Lake Caledon from a development of 97 single-family homes. Farmland that dates back seven generations in King George County is nature at its best. Peppermill Creek runs through almost a mile of the property with its nesting pair of American Bald Eagles keeping an eye on the 47-acre lake. Along the creek, you will witness, beaver, otter, turtles, snakes, ducks, geese, swans, blue heron, green heron, white egrets and the list goes on. 

King George County and the State of Virginia has an amazing opportunity to invest in joining this land to the existing Caledon State Park without disturbing the counties infrastructure. Caledon State Park is known for its “Old Growth Forest” and with one of the east coast largest nesting grounds for our National Bird, the American Bald Eagle.  In 1974, Caledon was designated as a state park and in 1984, when the Bald Eagles were endangered, Caledon was re-named a Natural Area and a National Landmark. Today, now re-named, back into a state park, the sensitive environmental protection of this land is vital. The only way Caledon State Park can diversify is to increase its boundaries. Everything the park cannot do today, we can change tomorrow by annexing the land across the street, Lake Caledon, to Caledon State Park. Lake Caledon and its creek can offer fishing, kayaking and aquatic education. The hills and trails can offer cabins, biking, hiking and horseback riding. The fields can offer sporting events, outdoor concerts, dog parks and a conference center. The trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding can be used immediately.

The financial income to the county and state is significant. We can increase Caledon State Park listing of top income bringing parks from the bottom of parks to the top three in the state. Having the best location, Caledon State Park is 30 minutes from Fredericksburg, and an hour from both Richmond and Washington DC. 

Neighbors of the 455 acres, Lake Caledon, are all supporters of this land becoming a State Park. We also  have had numerous distinguished visitors invited to view Lake Caledon. Clyde Cristman, the Director of Conservation and Recreation stated, “This would be an incredible addition to Caledon State Park. “This land has access to The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail which is a non-motorized multi-use trail going from Pittsburg to the Chesapeake. A segment of this trail is called the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail which travels through the marshes for almost a mile to Lake Caledon. 

A conservation partnership that includes Friends of Caledon State Park, King George County and dedicated volunteers have opened the Lake Caledon Fund of The Community Foundation as a part of their campaign to purchase a 455-acre parcel adjacent to Caledon State Park. The purchase price is 6.6 million. The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region are the administers of the Lake Caledon Fund. 

Donations can be made online at cfrrr.org or their mailing address is: The Community Foundation, P.O. Box 208 Fredericksburg, VA 22404-0208. Include in the memo line of the check write the words “Lake Caledon Fund”.  

For more info contact: Laurie Schlemm (contact information listed below)

Conserving Nature and its benefits are priceless. Join the many people who support our conservation efforts for preserving Lake Caledon. Has there ever been a better reason…………?