Belle Grove Plantation
Episode Guest
Kristen Laise, Executive Director
Belle Grove Plantation
Park Stats
Location: Middletown, Virginia and is part of Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
Park established: December 19, 2002
President in office: President George W. Bush
Park size: 283 acres of the park’s 3,700 acres
Plantation features:
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Manor House
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Ice House
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Smokehouse
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Teaching Garden
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Enslaved Burial Ground
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Heritage Apple Orchard
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Fun fact:
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- Home of Major Isaac Hite and Nelly Madison Hite (sister of President James Madison)
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Grew to 7500 acres
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Headquarters of the Union army for the Battle of Cedar Creek
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It’s growth is credited to the enslaved people
Speed Round
What is your earliest park memory?
I think my earliest park memory was at Death Valley. So a camping trip with my family. I was not terribly enamored with the accommodations. It’s an interesting place to visit – it was very windy and just very sandy.
What made you love the parks?
My family lived out west for a while and traveled back east a couple of times, so we hit a lot of National Parks. It is amazing just to see how much, the Grand Tetons or, how much has been preserved and these vistas just as nature had them, it’s really amazing.
What is your favorite thing about Belle Grove Plantation?
My favorite thing is uncovering stories like we’ve talked about. When you do that research you have a point of information that connects you to a story, whether it’s with the Hite family, the enslaved community, or anything else. It is so satisfying to get another little piece of information to help flesh out the stories.
What is your favorite thing to do at Belle Grove Plantation?
So my favorite thing to do at Belgrove is to enjoy the golden hour of the day. Late in the day, we have beautiful mountain views throughout the property. Right now we’ve got a lot of trees that are beautifully in color. But it’s equally beautiful in the spring and the summer when the leaves are green and full on the trees. But watching the sunset is a really wonderful thing to do here at Belle Grove.
What park have you yet to visit but is on your bucket list and why?
Yeah, so that was a toss-up because I do have Key West on my bucket list. And I’ve heard of the Dry Tortugas as a very interesting national park. But truthfully, like if I, if you, if you gave me an all-expenses paid trip, I probably want to go back to Acadia. I’ve been there just really very briefly, but I really didn’t have a chance to explore or be in the park for very long. So I think that’s, that’s where I’d go.
What are three must-haves you pack for a park visit?
Comfortable shoes, a camera, and maybe bug spray.
What is your favorite campfire activity?
I’d have to go with the classic s’mores.
Tent, camper, or cabin?
I’m not that particular, but if given a choice, I’m going for the cabin.
Hiking with or without trekking poles?
So, I would say without, only because if I need trekking poles, I probably shouldn’t be on that trail.
And what is your favorite trail snack?
I’d say almonds.
What is the best animal sighting that you’ve had?
So that would have been at Cumberland Island National Seashore. It’s an amazing place off the coast of Georgia. And I think that was the first time I saw an armadillo in my life.
What is your favorite sound in the parks?
It’s a toss-up between birds and probably crickets at night.
What is the greatest gift the parks give to us?
I think it’s the protection of unspoiled lands. And a real chance to escape to nature and, and sort of see the history of our country before a lot of human intervention.