Security Level 5 — maximum security (men) · State Prison · VADOC

Wallens Ridge State Prison

Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (276) 523-3310 Info last verified: June 2026

A maximum-security men's prison in Big Stone Gap, in far southwest Virginia — one of the state's two highest-security prisons, holding men serving long sentences, and a long drive from central Virginia.

Statewide rules that apply at every Virginia state prison

These rules are set by VADOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Virginia.

Dress code

Clothing must cover from the neck to the kneecaps. Underwear is required, and footwear is required — bare feet are not allowed.
No form-fitting clothing — leggings, spandex, jeggings, or leotards — unless worn under clothing that meets the code; no tube, tank, or halter tops unless covered.
Nothing that exposes the midriff, side, back, or cleavage, nothing see-through, and no mini-skirts, dresses, shorts, skorts, or culottes at or above the kneecap.
Nothing resembling what incarcerated people wear, and nothing with gang, racist, or inappropriate symbols. No watches or wearable technology; umbrellas stay in the vehicle.

ID: Every approved adult visitor shows a valid government-issued photo ID, held until the visit ends, with the name matching the application. A minor is vouched for by the approved adult they come with (plus a notarized parental statement if that adult is not the parent or guardian).
What to bring: No food, drinks, or vending money — visitors bring little beyond ID, and coats and bags go in a storage area. Medication a visitor must keep on them needs a doctor's note and approval at least a week ahead. What else may be brought in varies by facility.
Scheduling: Every visitor applies online and clears a background check through the Central Visitation Unit (the incarcerated person no longer keeps a list); approval lasts three years. Visits are booked through the online scheduler up to 14 days ahead — one visit per weekend — and a newly arrived person cannot have visits for their first 60 days.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Virginia

Overview

Wallens Ridge State Prison, in Big Stone Gap, is a maximum-security prison for men at Security Level 5 — one of Virginia’s two highest-security prisons, alongside Red Onion. It opened in 1999 and holds men serving long sentences. In its early years (about 1999 to the mid-2000s), Wallens Ridge held inmates from other states under contract — most prominently roughly 500 sent from Connecticut — an arrangement that drew litigation and criticism and ended when those states withdrew their prisoners; it now operates as a Virginia men’s facility.

What Makes Wallens Ridge Different

It is a maximum-security prison. At Virginia’s highest custody level, visiting conditions are stricter, and whether a visit is contact or non-contact depends on the person’s status — confirm with the facility.
It is remote. Far southwest Virginia, about six hours by car from Richmond, with no convenient public transit.
An out-of-state history. In its early years it housed contract inmates from other states, a now-ended arrangement that is part of the prison’s history.

Visiting

The statewide VADOC rules above — the online application and background check, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Wallens Ridge. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Dogwood Drive in Big Stone Gap, in Wise County.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Big Stone Gap, Norton, and Wise — clustered within about 15 miles — have gas, food, and lodging, with Norton the area’s commercial hub. Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap runs a 24/7 emergency room in the same town as the prison, and Norton Community Hospital is about 10 miles away.

Mail

Personal letters go to the facility at P.O. Box 759, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219, with the person’s name and seven-digit DOC number — where they are photocopied and the copies delivered. Books, photos, and legal mail go instead to the Central Mail Distribution Center in State Farm. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Virginia state prison:

Visiting in Virginia — the online application, dress code, and search rules
Mail & Packages — the two mailing addresses and what can be sent
Phone & Video Calls — the phone system, video visits, and tablets
Sending Money — depositing through JPay
Medical & Mental Health — health care, the grievance process, and the Corrections Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — the one-year line, jails, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.