Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County, Virginia, takes its name from the cross-shaped staurolite crystals known locally as fairy stones, a distinctive natural feature of the area. Encompassing 4,741 acres, it was the largest of Virginia’s original six state parks when they opened on June 15, 1936. The land was donated in 1933 by Junius B. Fishburn, former president of the Southwest Virginia Trust Co. and former owner of the Roanoke Times. The park’s early development was shaped by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built its lake and many structures still in use. It remains a significant part of Virginia’s park history.