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From VA State Park Blog: Johanna Petrosky, District III Visitor Services Specialist, Virginia State Parks

The TV Show NCIS crew investigates a murder  which they traced back to Leesylvania State Park.

Let it be known, by the way, this show is completely fictional, and no, they did not receive permission from us to portray Leesylvania in such a manner (view the show on CBS’ website fast forward to 23 minutes and 24:45).
Personally, I was ecstatic to see producers chose Leesylvania State Park to be the featured park of the story line. Of course, it would have been nicer if they shed us in a better light, but if you have ever visited the park, you would know they had their facts all wrong!
So, for the record, let’s set ’em straight:
-There are no reports of rusty crayfish at 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 the aerial photograph map of the park, the line noted as a major highway/toll road is actually a railroad, there are no toll plazas here.
-Leesylvania is 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 even commented 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." 
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 did correctly pronounce the park name
Since I am biased, I enjoy pointing out all the misinformation and chuckling at "hollywoodized" parts of the show. As the show is supposedly set in Quantico, Virginia, it is actually filmed in Santa Clarita, California. With that being said, they may have been better off filming on the 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!

more information on VA State Parks here

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