View map of Mayo River State Park Study Area - pdf

The Study Area Map portrays a general area along the river corridor within which a state park unit may be located. (It does not identify proposed boundaries for a state park.) The Study Area includes roughly twelve miles of the Mayo River corridor. Property boundaries are presented in red.

Introduction
Latest News
Legislative Action
Natural Resources Summary
Potential Recreational Activities

All Sections

Introduction

Through its New Parks for a New Century initiative, the NC Division of Parks and Recreation identified the Mayo River as one of 47 sites in North Carolina worthy of becoming new units of the state parks system. Criteria included quality of natural resources, geographic location and suitability for recreation. Thirteen of these sites were identified as potential state parks; one as a state recreation area and 33 as state natural areas.

For some time, there has been strong local support for a state park within the Mayo River corridor. The division has worked closely with the Dan River Basin Association and the Rockingham County Planning Department to identify a study area along the river corridor from the Virginia/North Carolina border south to just above the town of Mayodan in Rockingham County.

Latest News

The NC Division of Parks and Recreation has acquired two properties for future use as part of Mayo River State Park. Those are:

• The former Compass Avalon Industrial Park on US 220 Business; 116 acres; purchase price $1.5 million.


• The former Mayo Park and other acreage from Avalon Development Corp.; 415 acres on US 220 Business; purchase price $2.47 million


• On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Council of State will consider four land acquisition projects for Mayo River State Park. The Council must approve all state land acquisitions. All the properties are currently under option by the division. They are:


• 288 acres (including 57 acres in Henry County, Va.) owned by Ferguson Lumber Inc.; located on Smith Road and on the east side of Mayo River; negotiated price is $650,880.


• 10 acres on the south side of NC 135 near Mayodan; negotiated price is $25,000.


• 0.876 acres and a brick house at 7700 NC 135 at Mayodan; negotiated price is $50,000.


• 3.8 acres and a mobile home at 941 Cedar Mountain Road; negotiated price is $70,000.


• On Oct. 25, the NC Parks and Recreation Authority, at the request of the state parks system, set aside $2.56 million for land acquisitions for Mayo River State Park. These funds are part of the 2004-05 distribution of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, supported by a portion of the state's tax on real estate deed transfers.

Legislative Action

General Assembly of North Carolina
Session 2003
Session Law 2003-106
House Bill 1078

An act to authorize the addition of Mayo River State Park to the state parks system.

Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of North Carolina states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas, and in every other appropriate way to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State, its open lands and places of beauty; and

Whereas, the 1987 General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act, which declares that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geologic, biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State, which should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and

Whereas, the Mayo River in Rockingham County supports many rare species and possesses biological, geological, and scenic resources of statewide significance; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Mayo River State Park to the State Parks System as provided by G.S. 113-44.14(b).

SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of May, 2003.

s/ Beverly E. Perdue
President of the Senate

s/ Richard T. Morgan
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/ Michael F. Easley
Governor

Approved 11:16 a.m. this 31st day of May, 2003

Mayo River State Park Natural Resources Summary

Over the past several years, resource management specialists from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation examined the Mayo River corridor to identify natural resources of significance. Here is a summary of their findings.

Study Area

The study area lies along the Mayo River in Rockingham County, beginning at the Virginia/North Carolina border and continuing south to just upstream from the town of Mayodan. The river floodplain, adjacent bluffs/uplands and several small creeks that feed into the Mayo River were the focus of the study.

Resources of Statewide Significance

Biological

• Piedmont and Coastal Plain Mesic Forests


• Low Elevation Cliffs and Rock Outcrops


• Piedmont and Mountain Floodplains


• Riverine Aquatic Natural Communities


• Nine rare species

Geological

• Cliffs


• Gorges, Rapids, Waterfalls


• Sedimentary Features


• Unusual Rock Types

Senic

• Forests


• Caves and Cliffs


• Rock Outcrops


• Scenic Vistas


• Rivers


• Whitewater Streams

Potential Recreational Activities

• Canoeing/Kayaking


• Freshwater fishing


• Visiting natural areas


• Hiking


• Viewing scenery


• Primitive camping


• Nature study/environmental education


• Picnicking


• Tent and trailer camping

N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation • 1615 MSC • Raleigh N.C. 27699-1615 (919) 733-4181