Historic Appomattox
Looking to learn more about Appomattox County? Take a look at the official visitor’s site below.
About Appomattox
Located in the middle of the State of Virginia you will find Historic Appomattox County, where our nation reunited.
Our area has abundant historical sites for the avid history buff to explore. The nature enthusiast in the family will enjoy days full of hiking and biking the many trails in the county, horseback riding in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest and the James River State Park or swimming at Holliday Lake. Fish, canoe, kayak or float the James River and camp out at Paradise Lake. Appomattox has something for every family member to enjoy!
Come and stay at a Bed and Breakfast or the new Appomattox Inn and Suites. Take a leisurely stroll down our historic Main Street and visit the shops, have coffee or lunch. Take a walking tour or just explore the area on your own time. And don’t forget to check the schedule and attend a play at the Appomattox Court House Theater.
On the second weekend in October come to join us for the Rail Road Festival weekend. Kick-off Saturday morning with a parade then enjoy a sweet treat or lunch from the food vendors, shop local artisans and crafts, enjoy exhibits and demonstrations or grab a cold drink or coffee and sit and enjoy one of the many bands. And don’t forget the amusement rides for the kids! Later that evening, enjoy the fantastic fireworks display at the Appomattox County High School. If you missed anything on Saturday you can come back for more on Sunday!
During the year there are many things to enjoy in Appomattox such as the Lavender Festival, Historical events at the Surrender Grounds, Civil War Museum and Clover Village, the Watermelon Festival at DeVault Family Vineyards, Independence Day Fireworks and of course our Open House Weekend to kick off the Christmas Season where you can enjoy a day of shopping and food. At the beginning of December get ready to revel in a Merry Main Street Christmas starting at 10:00 a.m. with an Artisans Festival followed by a full day of events for the entire family.
Just West of Appomattox is Lynchburg where you can shop, dine and explore all the Hill City has to offer. If you are looking for a larger city to explore Appomattox is within a 2-hour drive to Roanoke, Richmond, and Charlottesville. And for the horse enthusiast, we are just an hour and a half from Lexington!
Central Virginia is not just a great place to visit. It’s an even greater place to live! Come visit our area and you will see why so many people are relocating here. Let us help you find your dream home, horse or cattle farm, a cabin in the woods to relax and hunt or a great commercial parcel/building to establish a new business or move your existing business to. Appomattox is a growing community with a small home town feel. Once you experience it you won’t want to leave!
Things to Do
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park – Come and enjoy an afternoon of history! Explore the Historic Village of Appomattox Court House where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant bringing the end to the Civil War. Please visit their website for information on reenactments, walking tours and more. https://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm
The American Civil War Museum – Appomattox – Explore 5,000 sq. ft. of exhibits, educational programming and lectures. Please visit their website for further information to plan your trip!
https://acwm.org/
Holliday Lake State Park – Outdoor enthusiast paradise! Fishing, swimming, hiking trails including a connecting trail to the 10.2-mile Carter-Taylor Multi-Use Trail for hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. Enjoy its campgrounds, picnic shelters, seasonal concessions and boat ramp. Or rent canoes, kayaks, Jon boats, stand up paddleboats and paddleboats. Please visit their website for hours of operation and additional information. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/holliday-lake#general_information
Paradise Lake Family Campground – Picnic, swim in the pool or lake, fishing, camping, concessions and more. http://www.paradise-lake.com/
Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest – 19,808 wooded acres where you can hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and hunting. The park is open from dusk to dawn. http://www.dof.virginia.gov/stateforest/list/absf.htm
James River State Park – Hike, bike, canoe, kayak, fish, picnic and camp while enjoying the grasslands, quiet forests and 3 miles of shoreline along the James River. The Park is 1,561 acres with cabins, visitors center, gift shop, playground, picnic shelters, multi-use trails, boat launches, primitive camping, equestrian camping, universally accessible fishing pier and a .25-mile-long wheelchair accessible trail.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/james-river
Other Area Attractions
Bedford D-Day Memorial – Breathtaking memorial to honor those lost during WW II. Overlord arch, reflecting pools, gardens, tours, WW II equipment and a wall of names of fallen soldiers.
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest – Thomas Jefferson designed this plantation and used it as a working plantation as well as a recreational retreat. Visit the museum shop, enjoy a tour and learn about special events such as lectures, musical performances and wine and craft beer tastings.
/www.poplarforest.org
Blue Ridge Parkway – Enjoy the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, where no matter what season it is there are always beautiful views to take in. The Parkway carves a 469-mile path through Virginia to North Carolina. www.blueridgeparkway.org
High Bridge Trail State Park – The trail is 131 miles long, once a rail bed it is wide, level and generally flat. Perfect for hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/high-bridge-trail
Smith Mountain Lake – Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia. Come and enjoy a day on the lake, fish, swim or just relax. Wine tastings, fireworks, vacation lodging, boat rentals, Virginia Dare Cruises and more!
http://smith-mountain-lake.com/
Kerr Lake/Buggs Island Lake – 50,000-acre lake where you can enjoy fishing, camping, swimming, boating or just relaxing and enjoying the scenic beauty. There are 30 recreation areas around Kerr Reservoir: campsites, swim beaches, picnic areas, hiking, nature trails, marinas all available for public use.
www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/458