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Recently, the Grateful Boomers spent a beautiful fall day at picturesque Pleasant Grove Park in Fluvanna County. Located on the Rivanna River less than an hour’s drive from Curdsville, the Fluvanna County Park system now owns this former tobacco plantation. Once 3,000 acres, 830 of the original acres were purchased in 1994. Admission-free, all visitors are connected to the river, local history and the natural world within a few miles of Palmyra.

As they hiked along heavily wooded, multi-use trails, they were able to observe local gardeners working their plot in a fenced community garden and volunteers caring for the charming Pollinator Garden. They had brought lunch and enjoyed picnicking just outside the 1854-built brick home that was the centerpiece of activity generations ago. It was here that Col. William Haden began his agricultural efforts and his 12 children were born.

Visitors can also spend the day touring the restored plantation home which houses an informative museum on the history of tobacco growing, use the large enclosed dog park and enjoy 22 miles of trails. Learning the importance of the Rivanna River as a thoroughfare for The Monacan Indians, prior to its role of transporting tobacco, helped put this area’s history into perspective. “Rivanna” is the name the English Colonists gave the river in honor of their Queen Anne. Unfortunately, there is no documented native Monacan name.

And if that isn’t enough, every summer they offer a free-admission outdoor concert series, “Groovin’ at the Grove”. With live music offered the 2nd Saturdays May – September, four picnic shelters, the Fluvanna Farmers Market and three multi-use fields, visiting Pleasant Grove Park offers fun, year-round outdoor pursuits.

Who are the Grateful Boomers?

And if you’re wondering who the Grateful Boomers are, they’re a group of friends from Buckingham County, all over the age of 60, who want to enrich their lives through both meaningful friendships and challenging outdoor adventures.

They believe that aging gratefully with a high level of curiosity about everything, will create the best environment to remain mentally and physically active. Collectively, the group’s interests run from biking to hiking, kayaking and photography to reading, knitting, gardening and travel. They hope that by sharing their adventures, the group will inspire others to do the same.

To read about more of the Grateful Boomers’ trips, you can click here or here.

Editor’s note: Katherine Brooks wrote this for the Farmville Herald.