The TV ShowLeesylvania.
Let it be known, by the way,this show is completelyfictional, and no, they did not receive permission from usto portray Leesylvania in such a manner (view theshow on CBS' websitehere andfast forward to 23 minutes and 24:45).
Personally, I was ecstatic to see producers chose Leesylvania State Park to be the featured parkof the story line.Of course, it would have been nicer if they shed us in abetter light, but if you have ever visited the park, you would know they had their facts all wrong! So, for the record, let'sset 'em straight:
The railroad (or "toll road" in the show)crosses over a nearby marina and Neabsco Creek from Leesylvania State Park
-Thereare noreports of Leesylvania State Park.
–Leesylvania does not have a major highway running through it, nor does it have two toll booths.
-The numerous live oak trees featured during the recovery of the second body are not indicative of the native flora in the park: beech, sweet gum, tulip poplar, white and red oaks, and holly are much more appropriate.
-In theaerial photograph map of the park, the line noted as a major highway/toll road is actually arailroad, there are no toll plazas here.
–Leesylvaniais a day use only facility, the area closes at dusk and would not be accessible to arriving visitors except during the daytime.
-The “stream at the northwest corner of the park” is actually Neabsco Creek, but this is actually located outside park property.
Park Manager Karen Lambey evencommented on the show,"…while it is wonderful that the NCIS team (of questionable jurisdiction) assisted with the law enforcement investigation, there are actually four full time park law enforcement officers who work at Leesylvania. Officers make regular patrols through the park…they work with the Prince William County police force…a mile and a half west of the park – and probably only a couple hundred yards where the second body was supposedly found! Prince William County police also train with park police for search & rescue operations within the park itself."
There arefour full time park law enforcement officers who work at Leesylvania
Now, for the two things that NCIS did get right:
–Leesylvania State Park is actually just over five hundred acres
-The officers on the show didcorrectly pronunce the parkname
Since I am biased,I enjoy pointing outall the misinformation and chuckling at"hollywoodized" parts of the show.Asthe show is supposedly set in Quantico, Virginia, it is actuallyfilmed inSanta Clarita,California.With that being said, they may have been better offfilming onthe beach since that's one thing we both have in common- but hey, how can I complain when they chose our park over any other park!The fact remains, Leesylvania State Park was top pick and it was pretty cool to hear our name mentioned on tv!
Drive Time: Northern Virginia, half an hour; Richmond, one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half hours; Roanoke, four hours
For more information about thepark please call (703)583-6904 or email us at Leesy[email protected] .