由營(ying)山縣令楊尚容于1824年(清(qing)道光甲申年)建造(zao)。
一(yi)、三、五、七、九(jiu)級門、窗上有橫額(e)楹聯。分(fen)別是“回(hui)龍塔”、“砥(di)柱回(hui)瀾波澄朗水、奇峰拔地(di)秀啟(qi)綏山”、“威震(zhen)山河”、“小鷹塔”、“光耀(yao)紫極”、“文運出海”。南(nan)充市人(ren)民政府于1994年11月定(ding)為市級文物保護單位。
相傳寧遠楊(yang)尚(shang)容(rong)來營(ying)山(shan)作縣令時,聽說營(ying)山(shan)人(ren)才輩出,就(jiu)是(shi)走不(bu)出去,便帶(dai)領縣衙隨從(cong)站在縣城至高點,即(ji)南(nan)門外印臺山(shan)觀察,頓覺悟(wu)出因果,是(shi)因縣城形(xing)若船形(xing),東西南(nan)北(bei)均被南(nan)、北(bei)河圍繞,由于船無桅桿(gan)不(bu)能靠岸(an)所致。于是(shi)他決定在城東梅(mei)家(jia)梁(liang)上建此(ci)(ci)回龍塔(ta)(ta)。塔(ta)(ta)建成后,營(ying)山(shan)連續三(san)年出了9個翰林這就(jiu)與(yu)此(ci)(ci)塔(ta)(ta)九層橫額“文(wen)運出海”相呼應。并以修塔(ta)(ta)架料建造了“云鳳書院”,即(ji)現在的營(ying)山(shan)師范(fan)附小。
為(wei)充分挖掘公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)的文化和(he)(he)商(shang)業(ye)價值,拉(la)動城市向東拓展,營山縣(xian)在(zai)實(shi)施南北(bei)兩河綜合整治(zhi)和(he)(he)白塔棚戶區(qu)改造工(gong)程中,決定(ding)規劃(hua)建設(she)白塔公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)。
據《零陵(ling)縣志》載:“因郡城水(shui)勢瀚(han)漫(man),呂藿捐金(jin)造(zao)回龍塔(ta)于此(ci)口,以鎮懾水(shui)患(huan)。”現塔(ta)門額有(you)“回龍寶塔(ta)”四字(zi)。屬省重點保(bao)護文(wen)物。
據(ju)《永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)府志》載,明朝(chao)萬歷時(shi)(shi)(shi),外地做大官(guan)的(de)(de)零陵人(ren)(ren)呂(lv)(lv)藿(huo)(呂(lv)(lv)藿(huo),字沈卿(qing),號日州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),零陵人(ren)(ren),明嘉靖壬戌年(nian)(nian)(1562)進(jin)士,官(guan)至都(dou)(dou)察院右僉(qian)都(dou)(dou)御史,是(shi)(shi)朝(chao)廷(ting)要(yao)員。)巡(xun)(xun)視零陵,見零陵田園荒蕪,人(ren)(ren)們(men)饑不果(guo)腹,就(jiu)來(lai)到民(min)間了(le)解(jie)情況。老百姓說:都(dou)(dou)是(shi)(shi)瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)里(li)的(de)(de)一(yi)條孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long)在(zai)作怪。傳說瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)里(li)的(de)(de)這(zhe)條孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long),好(hao)吃(chi)懶(lan)做,還專干壞事。每(mei)(mei)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)上(shang)半年(nian)(nian),它都(dou)(dou)要(yao)去參加在(zai)東(dong)(dong)海(hai)龍(long)(long)(long)宮(gong)里(li)舉行的(de)(de)比武。龍(long)(long)(long)王爺(ye)規定,凡打贏了(le)的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long),就(jiu)可以留在(zai)東(dong)(dong)海(hai)成(cheng)精(jing),享受龍(long)(long)(long)宮(gong)里(li)的(de)(de)榮華富貴,打輸的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)就(jiu)回(hui)到原地繼續修練。這(zhe)條孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long)參加了(le)十幾(ji)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)比賽,每(mei)(mei)年(nian)(nian)都(dou)(dou)慘輸而歸。回(hui)到瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)時(shi)(shi)(shi),它惱羞(xiu)成(cheng)怒,大發脾氣,搞得瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)洪波(bo)滾滾,泛(fan)濫成(cheng)災,淹(yan)田淹(yan)地淹(yan)房舍(she),害苦(ku)了(le)永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)老百姓。一(yi)位風水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)先生說,永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)是(shi)(shi)一(yi)塊龍(long)(long)(long)地,可喜可賀,但有(you)了(le)這(zhe)樣一(yi)條孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long),使永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)這(zhe)塊寶(bao)(bao)地不得安生。若要(yao)永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)太平(ping),必須在(zai)河邊(bian)建(jian)(jian)一(yi)座(zuo)寶(bao)(bao)塔,鎮(zhen)住孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)這(zhe)股邪氣。作為(wei)(wei)巡(xun)(xun)撫(fu)的(de)(de)呂(lv)(lv)藿(huo)聽了(le)人(ren)(ren)們(men)活靈活現的(de)(de)訴說,當然也不能(neng)無(wu)動(dong)于衷。為(wei)(wei)了(le)讓家鄉人(ren)(ren)民(min)能(neng)安居樂業(ye),呂(lv)(lv)藿(huo)慷慨解(jie)囊,捐出(chu)(chu)重金,又請來(lai)能(neng)工(gong)巧匠,在(zai)瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)岸邊(bian)建(jian)(jian)起了(le)這(zhe)座(zuo)寶(bao)(bao)塔。待寶(bao)(bao)塔建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)后,這(zhe)條為(wei)(wei)妖的(de)(de)孽(nie)(nie)龍(long)(long)(long)馴服得多了(le),它潛心修道,不再興風作浪(lang),并為(wei)(wei)永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之野(ye)辦了(le)大量的(de)(de)好(hao)事,每(mei)(mei)當暴(bao)雨(yu)成(cheng)災、洪水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)泛(fan)濫時(shi)(shi)(shi),它積極疏浚(jun)河道以排水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui);每(mei)(mei)當天旱莊稼需(xu)要(yao)雨(yu)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)時(shi)(shi)(shi),它不失時(shi)(shi)(shi)機(ji)地將(jiang)瀟(xiao)(xiao)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)吸(xi)入自己的(de)(de)腹中,然后飛到天庭再吐將(jiang)出(chu)(chu)來(lai),澆灌干枯的(de)(de)莊稼和樹(shu)木,使永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之野(ye)糧豐林茂。東(dong)(dong)海(hai)龍(long)(long)(long)王得知小(xiao)龍(long)(long)(long)為(wei)(wei)老百姓做了(le)許多好(hao)事,要(yao)召它回(hui)龍(long)(long)(long)宮(gong)成(cheng)精(jing)。小(xiao)龍(long)(long)(long)回(hui)東(dong)(dong)海(hai)的(de)(de)那天,人(ren)(ren)們(men)備了(le)三(san)牲九禮(li)來(lai)歡送。由于永(yong)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)奇(qi)山異水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)與物華天寶(bao)(bao),令小(xiao)龍(long)(long)(long)有(you)些戀戀不舍(she),在(zai)游至湘口館時(shi)(shi)(shi),小(xiao)龍(long)(long)(long)將(jiang)頭(tou)冒出(chu)(chu)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)面,回(hui)過(guo)頭(tou)來(lai)望了(le)一(yi)眼矗立(li)在(zai)陽光下的(de)(de)寶(bao)(bao)塔,然后就(jiu)往東(dong)(dong)海(hai)龍(long)(long)(long)宮(gong)去了(le)。以后人(ren)(ren)們(men)就(jiu)將(jiang)這(zhe)座(zuo)寶(bao)(bao)塔叫做回(hui)龍(long)(long)(long)塔。塔底層(ceng)朝(chao)南(nan)鎮(zhen)門上(shang)方(fang)嵌(qian)“廻龍(long)(long)(long)寶(bao)(bao)塔”石匾,是(shi)(shi)另一(yi)個(ge)欽差巡(xun)(xun)撫(fu)湖廣(guang)右僉(qian)都(dou)(dou)御史的(de)(de)福建(jian)(jian)人(ren)(ren)陳省(sheng)所(suo)題,字跡瀟(xiao)(xiao)灑(sa)風流,讓見過(guo)的(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)終身難忘。