Fairy Stone State Park, VA: The Legend of Fairy Stones

A small Virginia State Park named Fairy Stone State Park is close by to our campground. The legend of the Fairy Stone is as follows:

"Many hundreds of years before Chief Powhatan’s reign, fairies were dancing around a spring of water, playing with naiads and wood nymphs, when an elfin messenger arrived from a city far away. He brought news of the death of Christ. When these creatures of the forest heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept. As their tears fell upon the earth, they crystallized to form beautiful crosses."

These Fairy Stones are made of Staurolite (a mixture of silica, iron, and aluminum) which, when under great heat and pressure, crystallizes at 60 or 90 degree angles, giving the stones a cross-like structure. The stones were believed by many to have superstitious power, protecting the owner against witchcraft, sickness, accidents and disasters. It is said that President Theodore Roosevelt, President Wilson, Thomas A. Edison, and Colonel Charles Lindbergh, carried one or more of these little lucky pieces.

The stones are usually shaped like a St. Andrew’s cross, an "X," but "T" shaped Roman crosses and square Maltese crosses are the most sought-after.

MLA and I have an interest in gems and minerals. Actually we have an interest in digging for our own gems like they do on that Discovery Channel show called cash & treasures. We've kept our eyes peeled for any of these 'lucky' stones however no success so far.

I said Fairy Stone State Park is close by; it's actually right next door to our Corps of Engineers Campground. However our COE campground is at the end of a five mile roller coaster of a road, so to get there takes about 20 minutes by car, maybe a little less. This State Park is the repository for more Fairy Stones than any other (known) place on earth.

There's not a whole lot of interest (color, sparkle, $$$ value) to these stones but it is very cool that these rocks/crystals form such a unique configuration.

Looking out for lucky charms in Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia -- See Ya!