SOUTH MILLS — William Byrd II, who founded the city of Richmond, Va., in 1737, clearly was not impressed on his first visit to the Dismal Swamp.

During a trip to survey territory between North Carolina and Virginia that both colonies claimed, Byrd wrote the following about the land that later would become the Dismal Swamp:

(ENLARGE)

Park Superintendent Joy Greenwood speaks during the park's dedication ceremony.

Brett A. Clark/Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Visitors cross a floating pedestrian bridge to get to the visitors center at the new Dismal Swamp State Park during a ceremony to celebrate the new park's opening in South Mills, Friday.

SLIDE SHOW See photos from the Dismal Swamp State Park grand opening

"Never a bird or a beast, nor an insect, nor a reptile, could live here," Byrd wrote. "The swamp is mysterious, unknown, unorganized and unutilized."

Nearly 300 years later, North Carolina officials are hoping to prove Byrd wrong on all counts.

On Friday, officials with the Dismal Swamp State Park began making the swamp less mysterious, less unknown, more organized and more utilized.

A crowd of elected officials and local residents were on hand to celebrate the park's grand opening.

"Its been along time coming," state Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, said of the park. "It's good to see it become a reality. ... Days like today make it all worthwhile when you can see everybody pull together and make something really worthwhile happen."

The park is located next to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center on the west side of U.S. Highway 17 near the Virginia line. Behind the $2 million visitors center is a 14,344-acre swath of conservation land slated to become North Carolina's 32nd state public park.

To access it, pedestrians need to cross over the Dismal Swamp Canal via a new $1.2 million, 80-foot-long pedestrian floating bridge. The new bridge will open up 16 miles of trails that were created years ago but not accessible to the public.

Local residents attending Friday's ribbon-cutting said they can't wait to use the new trail system, which delves into portions of the swamp where bears and other wildlife roam.

"It's finally open, and it looks nice," said Camden resident Susan Thompson. "I've been waiting for this for a while."

Susan and Doug Hinkle, also of Camden, have also been eager for the swamp trails to open.

"Since last year we could see the progress of it," Susan Hinkle said of the park. "This will be a great draw for tourism too, for boaters coming down through the Dismal Swamp Canal. It's something else to do to make more of a time out of it."

Doug Hinkle said he hopes to make a long day of his next trip to the park.

"I'd like to backpack some in here and camp overnight," he said.

Officials aren't allowing camping just yet, but are considering permitting it in the future.

Park Superintendent Joy Greenwood said the new park will help people enjoy the great outdoors.

"Please take this message home to your kids, your grandkids: Have them get outside a little bit every day," she said. "It will be amazing what joy and happiness that will bring."

Greenwood pointed out that the exhibits in the new visitors center detail the swamp's rich history.

"When you think about how far back the history of this park (goes), it's just incredible," she said. "From the very roots of our country the Dismal Swamp was born."

Col. Dionysios Anninos, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, detailed the history of the swamp from its beginning, noting that presidents George Washington and Andrew Jackson had played a role in its development.

Greenwood also noted that the swamp was part of the Underground Railroad — the network of roads, woods and safe houses where escaped slaves hid from bounty hunters on their way to freedom.

For some slaves, work in the swamp provided means of purchasing their freedom, Greenwood said. These slaves either worked in cedar and cypress timber production or on building the Dismal Swamp Canal.

"We are designed as part of the National Park Service's national Underground Railroad network to freedom, which I find a special honor and privilege," Greenwood said.

With the exception of Christmas Day, the new park will be open from sundown to sunset every day.