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Warren
County
is abundant in recreational areas and offerings.
The
Shenandoah
River
is used for boating, canoeing, swimming, and fishing.
There are five public boat ramps owned by the Virginia Game and
Inland Fisheries Commission.
The State‑owned boat ramps in the County are located near
Bentonville, Karo Landing, in Front Royal, at Riverton, and at Morgans
Ford Bridge.
In 1999, Front Royal was designated “Canoe Capital of Virginia,” by
Governor Mark Warner.
Canoe
races are held every spring on the South Fork of the Shenandoah
River
south of Front Royal.
Approximately 12,700 acres of the
Shenandoah
National Park are located in
Warren
County.
The park provides hiking trails, swimming areas, picnic areas,
campsites, and fishing areas.
The scenic Skyline Drive winds its way through the
park.
The Appalachian Trail
also goes through the park and eastern
Warren
County.
There are approximately 5,900 acres of the George
Washington
National Forest in the
County, which provide hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking areas.
In addition to these public parks, there are also numerous
private camping facilities in the County.
Situated on the South
Fork of the
Shenandoah
River with more than 1,600
acres along 5.2 miles of shoreline, the Raymond R. “Andy” Guest, Jr.
State Park opened in May 1999. A large riverside picnic area with
shelters, trails, river access, a scenic overlook and a car-top boat
launch make this a popular destination for families, anglers and
canoeists. Ten primitive riverfront campsites and a group campground are
available along with a new full-service bathhouse. With more than 15
miles of trails, the park has plenty of options for hiking, biking and
horseback riding, including seasonal guided trail rides. The Indian
Hollow Horse Livery operates April 1 - Oct. 31. It’s in
Warren County, just off U.S. 340 between Front
Royal and Luray. Some of the park borders U.S. 340 on the east and the
South Fork of the
Shenandoah
River on the west.
The 75‑acre Front Royal Golf Course, located off Route 522 about one
mile north of Front Royal, provides a 9‑hole golf course, a boat
landing, boat docks, and a club house.
The Course is owned and operated by
Warren
County as a public park
facility.
The 200‑acre Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, located in Rockland, has a 27‑hole
golf course, pool, two tennis courts equipped with lights, and a large
club house for social gatherings.
The 100‑acre Bowling Green Country Club, also in Rockland, opened in 1984
with a 36 hole golf course and a club house accommodating 300 for
banquets and other social activities.
Jackson's
Chase is an 18 hole, year round facility. Designed by Shape Masters, the
course is 6,429 yards of golf from the longest tee.
Blue Ridge Shadows is a championship-caliber golf course with five sets
of tee boxes ranging from 4,994 to 7,301 yards.
Crooked Run Creek and five lakes come into play on eight holes
with 65 bunkers. The fifteenth and seventeenth holes share a 120 yard
wide double green.
Blue Ridge Shadows is open to the public for daily fee play, and offers
a limited number of memberships.
Blue Ridge Shadows also contains a Holiday Inn hotel and
conference center, Houlihan’s restaurant and Shadows Spa for a total
experience.
The Warren County Agricultural and Industrial Fair, sponsored by the
Warren County Fair Association, is held each summer at the Fairgrounds
located five miles north of Front Royal.
Situated on a 20‑acre site, the Fairgrounds has an outdoor
covered stage, pavilions, and livestock buildings.
Horse show rings lie adjacent to the Fairgrounds.
An archery range with 28 targets is located on the Skyline Caverns
property one mile south of Front Royal on Route 340.
The range is approved by the National and Virginia Bow Hunters
Associations.
Some of the recreation subdivisions in the County have swimming pools,
picnic areas, small parks, fishing sites, and clubhouses.
The Warren County Department of Recreation
maintains recreational areas for the use of the Town and County
residents.
Bing Crosby
Stadium, located just off the
Commerce Avenue bypass, includes 60 acres of
land and a baseball stadium.
Surrounding it are two softball fields, four picnic pavilions, several
large recreation fields, two paved tennis courts with lights, a
basketball court, a volleyball court, and a small child "kiddie" park
complete with swings, sliding board, jungle gym, and merry‑go‑round.
Bing Crosby Stadium and the surrounding facilities are the center
of recreational activity for
Warren County and Front Royal.
Groundbreaking was held in June, 1991 for a Town‑County Swimming
pool located next to Bing Crosby Stadium.
In 2006, the Bing Crosby Stadium underwent a complete
renovation.
In 2010, Warren County Skate Park, a 15,000 s.f. skateboard
and bicycle park was opened to the public.
The
Raymond
E.
Santmyers
Youth
Center
building is located on land adjacent to Bing Crosby Stadium.
The Youth
Center
provides teenagers with a place to have dances, play games, hold
meetings, events, etc.
Although designed to meet the needs of Town and County youth, this
facility is also utilized by the general public.
The Front Royal Cardinals, members of the Valley Baseball League, play
their home games at Bing Crosby Stadium.
The Valley League, which contains teams from Harrisonburg, New Market,
Staunton,
Waynesboro, and Winchester, is a summer college league
sanctioned and funded by the NCAA and Major League Baseball.
Players must be in college and have at least one year of college
eligibility remaining.
The
Valley League recruits players from all around the country.
Many current Major League players are former members of the
Valley League.
All elementary schools and the intermediate school in Warren
County
have playgrounds.
The newly
renovated Warren
County
High School has a football
field, baseball field, softball field, track and tennis courts.
The newly built Skyline
High School
also has a football field, baseball field, softball field, track and
tennis courts.
The Northern Virginia 4‑H
Educational
Center is located on 229 acres
beautifully situated in the foothills of the
Blue
Ridge.
The
Center is a $5.5 million complex with lodging, conference and food
service accommodations for 200.
Recreational facilities include a junior olympic‑size swimming
pool, three outdoor tennis courts, two volleyball courts, a softball
field, a soccer field, a 2‑1/2 acre lake for fishing and canoeing, three
spacious shelters for picnics and recreation, a fitness trail, several
hiking trails, a campfire circle, outpost camping sites, stables for 44
horses, three horse show rings, two archery ranges and an outdoor
amphitheater with designated seating for 450 and lawn chair seating for
2500.
Summer months are designated for 4‑H Youth camping.
Teen and adult leadership programs are offered on weekends
throughout the year.
Workshops and conferences in traditional extension programs are the
focus during non‑summer months.
Facilities are open daily for public recreation at little or no cost.
Picnic shelters are available to families, companies and groups
for reunions and socials.
Program assistance to conference planners is provided by staff.
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