Virginia’s 40th state park—Machicomoco—was officially opened in Gloucester on Friday.

Machicomoco, formerly Timberneck Farm, has been under development since the groundbreaking took place in March 2018. Following a dedication ceremony featuring speeches from Gov. Ralph Northam, Chickahominy Tribe Chief Steve Adkins and others, the park’s gates were opened to the public.

Located on the shores of the York River off Timberneck Farm Road in Hayes, the park encompasses 645 acres, 13 full-service sites, 14 walk-in primitive sites, three yurts, an interpretive area, two picnic shelters, a 0.7-mile interpretive walking trail, an ADA-compliant car-top launch, a boat slip for larger motorized craft, three miles of paved trail and two miles of wooded trails.

Machicomoco is the Algonquian word for “special meeting place,” which highlights the park’s intent to be a place where people can gather and learn about the history of the local Native American tribes. The park features an open-air ...