Twin Lakes State Park (dcr.virginia.gov) provides fishing and boating access on Prince Edward and Goodwin lakes, where anglers drop their lines in search of largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish and sunfish. Only boats with no motors or electric motors are allowed on the lakes. Rental canoes and rowboats are available year-round, and paddle boats and kayaks can be rented in the summer. A day-use area includes a fishing pier, a bathhouse, concessions, a playground and picnic shelters. Goodwin Lake's swimming beach is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The park charges nominal fees for swimming and boat launching. Twin Lakes also has a 5.25-mile trail system that provides access to an 8-mile, multi-use trail for hikers, bikers and equestrians in Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest (dof.virginia.gov).
Twin Lakes State Park has several year-round lodging choices in the park's Cedar Crest area, including seven two-bedroom cabins that sleep up to six, many of which provide scenic views of Prince Edward Lake. The cinderblock cabins have English Tudor-style exteriors, screened porches, full kitchens with cookware, a bathroom and linens, but do not have televisions. The four-bedroom Hill Lodge -- appropriate for larger groups -- sleeps 16 and has a back deck, common bathroom, full kitchen, linens, television and a DVD player. The park's Cedar Crest Conference Center (dcr.virginia.gov) includes three meeting rooms and a gazebo, decks and shelters that can be rented for corporate events, retreats and weddings. Week-long lodging rentals are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; otherwise, a two-night minimum applies. Overnight guests swim in the lakes for free.
Twin Lakes is home to 33 mostly shaded campsites for tents, trailers and RVs. Thirteen of the sites are for tents or pop-up campers 20 feet or less in length, and 20 sites are for RVs that range from 20 feet to 36 feet. All sites include electric and water hookups and a fire ring with a grill; firewood is available for purchase. Other campground amenities include a bathhouse and an RV dump station.
While in the area, visit some interesting regional attractions within a short drive of Twin Lakes State Park. The Crewe Railroad Museum (crewerailroadmuseum.org) in Crewe, less than 10 miles east of the park, has a collection of historic trains, including a diesel engine, a steam engine and a caboose, along with other railroad memorabilia. Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park (dcr.virginia.gov) in Rice, 14.5 miles northeast of Twin Lakes, is the site of a Civil War battle known as Black Thursday of the Confederacy, where more than seven thousand Confederate soldiers were lost, causing Gen. Robert E. Lee to surrender three days later at nearby Appomattox. The park's Overton-Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during and after the battle, is open for free tours from April to October.
