About

Join us in celebrating 85 years of history, community, and resilience at Green Pastures. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, from 3-6 p.m., this special anniversary event will honor the legacy of Green Pastures and its significance to the region. Enjoy a lively afternoon featuring performances by local musicians, a reading of a children’s book about Green Pastures, and a demonstration of historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) tools in action. Guests will also have the unique opportunity to preview draft signs for the upcoming interpretive trail and provide feedback to help shape the storytelling of this treasured site.

Take a stroll through history as you tour Green Pastures, see the latest improvements to the historic picnic shelter, and experience the beauty of this beloved gathering space. Connect with friends and neighbors in a welcoming, picnic-style atmosphere while enjoying light refreshments. This event is made possible through the generous support of Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia and the Town of Clifton Forge. Whether you have cherished memories of Green Pastures or are discovering its rich history for the first time, this celebration is an opportunity to honor the past, engage with the present, and contribute to the future of this historic landmark.

Green Pastures (Longdale) Recreation Area was built for use by African Americans during the segregation era, although it was officially integrated in 1950. The recreation area within the George Washington National Forest included a small lake with a sandy beach, a bathhouse, picnic shelter, toilet facilities, playing fields, hiking trails, walking paths, and parking areas, all built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The name of the area was changed to Longdale in 1964. Green Pastures was meant to pair with the six Virginia State Parks sites opened in 1936, including nearby Douthat State Park built by the CCC. Though not legally mandated, these Virginia State Parks sites were effectively whites-only.

An NAACP-led campaign resulted in a meeting between federal and state land-management agencies (USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Virginia State Parks, & the Virginia Department of Forestry). The USDA Forest Service agreed to host an African American recreation area. While open, Green Pastures was undoubtedly the first and only African American USDA Forest Service recreation site within Virginia and, likely, the only of its kind nationwide. It was also one of the few outdoor recreational areas open to African Americans in the central Appalachian region from the 1930s through the 1950s.

We recommend you bring your own folding lawn chair.

Parks are for everyone. If you have accessibility questions or concerns, please call 540-862-8114.

Location
From I-64 Take Exit 35 for VA-269/State Route 850 toward Longdale Furnace. Turn onto VA-269W toward Longdale Furnace Road. Continue for 2 miles. Turn left onto Tri-county Road. Slight right onto Green Pasture Trail.

From Clifton Forge, head east on US-60 Business E/Main St, turn right onto Longdale Furnace Rd, continue onto VA-269 E/Longdale Furnace Rd, turn right onto Tri County Rd, slight right onto Green Pasture Trail, and follow it to the parking area.