Fairfax Stone State Park
Fairfax Stone State Park
3.5
About
Fairfax Stone State Park is comprised of four acres and named after the Fairfax Stone, a surveyor’s marker and boundary stone used in the 1700s to settle a dispute over land in the English colonies of Maryland and Virginia. One of the oldest markers in the United States, the stone rests at the junction of Tucker, Grant and Preston counties and marks the boundary between Maryland and West Virginia.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles45 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
10
Average
18
Poor
3
Terrible
1

OlSloaner
DC Region66 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2012 • Couples
Not the most accessible park in the state but for those interested in history it marks an important boundary and of course, the geographic significance of the headwaters of the Potomac is evident.
We didn't see a soul on our side trip to the stone and that made the visit all the more fascinating.
Written March 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Broderipii
Shrewsbury, PA21 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017
There really isn't much to see here. However, knowing a bit of the history does make it a bit more worthwhile.

Lord Fairfax was granted a charter to the lands between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. In 1746 a survey was made that connected the headwaters of the two rivers. The original Fairfax Stone was laid at that time.

The Potomac River is divided into the North Branch and South Branch. These two streams flow together near Oldtown, MD to become the Potomac. The South Branch is the longer of the two tributary streams. As such, the headwaters of the Potomac perhaps should have been at the spring that fed the South Branch -- but this would have meant less territory for Lord Fairfax.

By the 1770s, as more was learned about the frontier, Lord Baltimore, the proprietor of the Maryland colony, began to suspect that Fairfax had pulled a fast one. He never had a chance to test his claim in court due to the outbreak of the American Revolution -- in which all Englishmen lost their lands in America.

Maryland never seriously pressed the issue about the South Branch boundary. However, it did pursue a readjustment of its western boundary with West Virginia.

The headwater stream which becomes the North Branch actually flows westward from the spring at the Fairfax Stone before curving north and finally northeastward. Maryland asserted that its true western boundary was the westernmost edge of the stream -- located a mile or so west of the spring -- and not the line based on the Fairfax Stone.

The court did not accept the argument, saying that Maryland's boundary began at a point due north of the Fairfax Stone where the North Branch of the Potomac crossed on its northeastward course. Thus the location of the Fairfax Stone is not on a boundary of two states -- it does, however, mark the point where three West Virginia counties come together.
Written May 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul S
Marion1,565 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016 • Family
The Fairfax Stone is two miles off route 219. The road is narrow but paved and in decent condition. However, i was a little concerned when I drove a half mile and then faced a right turn at a sign directing me to the "Fairfax Stone two miles." Had it moved? Was the distance measured wrong from the highway or was I in some kind of time warp? Did I hear dueling banjoes? Anyway, made it to the parking area at the four acre park on a very cold and windy April morning.. We had the place to ourselves. It amazed me that the surveyors could locate such a small spring in a remote place more than 250 years ago without roads, maps,and GPS. The original stone was placed in 1746 by a group led by Colonel Peter Jefferson, whose son Thomas wrote the declaration of independence 30 years later and went on to become president. The original stone stayed at the spring until vandals destroyed it in 1910. A replica was soon constructed and in 1957 the boulder with the plaque we see today was placed over the spring that is the source of the North Branch of the Potomac River. The Fairfax Stone marks the southwest boundary of Maryland and the Fairfax Grant of 1683 in what is now West Virginia. It is also the end point for the Deakins Line survey forty years later (1788) which surveyed the western line of Maryland and West Virginia from the Mason Dixon line (Pennsylvania border) to the Fairfax stone. Again, the placing of the Fairfax Stoneis even more amazing because it was never disputed. The Deakins Line was challenged by by both states until the Supreme Court set the boundary more than 100 years later- in 1910!
Written April 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chekist
Arlington, VA37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
This is a very unusual place worth taking a side trip to see. It's a 4 acre West Virginia State Park and there is really a "Fairfax Stone" here. It's quite worn since it dates back to the early days of the country. The stone serves several purposes. First it marks the Western edge of the vast lands once owned by Lord Fairfax. It's also marks the extreme southwestern border of Maryland and the western edge of Maryland goes north from this point. There is also a spring near the stone which is the beginning of the Potomac river basin, which stretches all the way to Washington, DC.
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SavantIII_11
Centerville, OH111,196 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2012 • Couples
Folks, the Fairfax Stone Historical Monument Park is not Disney World! For those with Grey Matter and a sense of history, the Fairfax Stone Historical Monument Park is well worth the time and effort. The stone marked the western boundary of land granted to Lord Fairfax by the King of England in the 1700s. This small stream of water marks the boundary between WV and MD, and forms the mighty Potomac River that flows through Washington, D.C. The the stone marked the western boundary of land granted to Lord Fairfax by the King of England in the 1700s. This is precisely the place for a family to visit, but please learn some history. BTW notice the windmill farm.

It is really the task of parents and grandparents to preserve this nation's heritage. Please read some history or at least use the WWW to become informed!
Written February 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hodag21378
Charleston, WV147 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2011 • Friends
I have been to the Fairfax Stone several times to show people. The stone is fairly near a highway and is a short trip over a slightly rough road. Once you arrive, you are in a small parking lot in the middle of a medium sized grassy area and bordered with trees. There isn't much to see since the Fiarfax stone is a small stone with markings on it. This is the source of one branch of the Potomac River though there is not a flowing stream. The entire place will take about 5 minutes to see. It is a mildly interesting place to make a stop if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.
Written October 31, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SavantIII_11
Centerville, OH111,196 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Friends
The history of the Fairfax grant is interesting as is the history of the Fairfax Stone. The Fairfax Stone is set in WV in the Fairfax Stone State Park.

Our experience: Paved road and re-paved road to the State Park. This WV State Park is an excellent picnic location.
Written February 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul N
Kalamazoo, MI17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Couples
I visited the Fairfax Stone by accident. In West Virginia for a wedding, companion Katie and I decided to visit Maryland just to say we've been there. Well...On the way to Maryland on Hwy. 209, we came across a sign, Fairfax Stone 2 miles. We went right by the sign but decided to go back for a look. We found the stone , read the plaque on the stone, took a couple pics and left. After returning home, I googled Fairfax Stone and got an education. A ton of information about pre-Revolutionary War America and how English kings rewarded friends at home with enormous amounts of American land. I highly recommend visiting the Fairfax Stone, especially for families who are interested in History. It is a wonderful educational opportunity for scoolage children and their parents. And...You can always say you visited the Fairfax Stone. How many people can say that??
Written March 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Charles S
Cogan Station, PA76 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
This is not much to see, but a true part of American history. There is a placard describing the importance of this location, and a few picnic tables. Twenty minutes is plenty of time to see it all.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William F
Monroeville, PA452 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Friends
This small park is about 2 miles off the main road. There's a marker at the headwaters of the Potomac just a small spring actually. Not much to do here except view the marker and the small spring. Not a very well travelled park but it is in a beautiful out of the way setting.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 45
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Fairfax Stone State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Fairfax Stone State Park