Supporting VAFP

 Membership

info@virginiaparks.org

Our host state park was Natural Tunnel – Craig Seaver, Manager. Our host national park was Cumberland Gap National Historical Park – Mark Woods, Superintendent.

Most attendees arrived in the afternoon or early evening of Thursday, May 5. The Natural Tunnel staff provided complimentary hors d’oeuvres and our “hospitality period” stretched well into the evening. After exhausting the snacks, we ordered delivery pizza around 9:30.

Reveille came early on Friday morning. After breakfast at the Cove Ridge Center, we boarded the bus for our 7:30 a.m. departure to begin our touring activities for the day. Our first stop was Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

We were met outside the National Park visitor center by Park Superintendent Mark Woods and members of his staff. Following some welcoming comments and introductions, we moved into the Park’s theater facility where Mark gave us the contextual background needed to help us understand what we would see and hear during our tour. This was followed by two short movies that were of high quality and particularly informative.

Next, we spent a half hour or so exploring the visitor center exhibits, shopping in the very well provisioned gift store, and chatting individually with Mark and members of his staff. We were then taken to the Virginia portion of the Wilderness Road and given more time to explore.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park contains more than 20,000 acres in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee.  Cumberland Gap, a natural pass through the wilderness, has been used as a transportation corridor since prehistoric times. In the 1700s and 1800s, the gap became a route for commerce and western migration. The Park offers a 160-site campground, 50 miles of hiking trails, and many interpretive programs.

From this point in the National Park, it was a short bus ride to our next destination – Wilderness Road State Park. The first order of business upon arriving was to partake of a delicious complimentary lunch provided by the Park and it’s Friends Group.

Wilderness Road is one of the newer state parks, the land having been purchased in 1993. Much has been accomplished since then.  Perhaps most notable in this respect, is the historic reconstruction (accomplished by volunteers using period tools) of Martin’s Station, an outdoor living history museum depicting life on Virginia’s frontier in the 1700s. The Park’s interpretive staff and volunteers from the Friends Group dress in period costume, use period tools, and perform period tasks that truly make the period come alive for visitors.

Approximately 200 acres are open for seasonal living history programs, picnicking, and hiking. Visitors can hike the 12-mile section of the Wilderness Road that links the State Park to the National Park and it’s 50 miles of hiking trails. Special events include an annual reenactment of the Raid at Martin’s Station in the spring and the Wilderness Road Festival in the fall.

Following lunch, we toured the new visitor center; were given an overview of the Park’s history, present, and future by Donnie Harris, Park Manager; and viewed a movie about Martin’s Station and the history of the era. This movie is high quality, was done by the same professional production company that made the movies we saw at the National Park, and provides additional context about the area. The movies complement each other quite nicely.

We then spent an hour or so touring Martin’s Station and chatting with the interpretive staff and volunteers who were in period costume. They succeeded in transporting us back to the 1770s and made our visit truly memorable.

Around 5:00 p.m., we arrived back at Natural Tunnel State Park. Even though it was past the normal operating hours, park staff had stayed to operate the Chair Lift so that we could visit the focal point of this park – the natural tunnel. More than 850 feet long and as high as a 10-story building (hence the need for the chairlift) this natural tunnel through a limestone ridge was carved by nature over thousands of centuries.

William Jennings Bryan called the tunnel the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Other scenic features include a wide chasm between steep stone walls surrounded by several pinnacles or chimneys. Park facilities include a campground, picnic areas, amphitheater, visitor center and gift shop, swimming pool, and chair lift to the tunnel floor. The Park also offers wild cave tours, canoe trips on the Clinch River, and the new Cove Ridge Center which provides environmental education programs, conference facilities, and overnight dorm accommodations.

After a break to freshen up, relax, and catch our breath, we convened at the Cove Ridge Center for a hospitality hour followed by dinner. At the dinner, Joe Elton, Park System Director, surprised us by presenting VAFP with a beautiful cake resplendent with the VAFP logo. Joe said that the cake was in appreciation for all of the successful work done by VAFP that contributed to the unprecedented park system appropriation received this year from the General Assembly –an additional $18 million and 57 new positions.

 Dinner featured two wonderful guest speakers. Delegate Terry Kilgore shared with us his love for the Park System and the need for increased funding. Dr. F. E. Fugate shared with us some photos and memorable experiences from his RV trip that took him completely around the perimeter of South America. Following dinner and the speakers, we adjourned to the “great room” where we continued to socialize to the accompaniment of live music provided by two of the Park’s volunteers – a father and son duo. 

On Saturday morning, after breakfast at the Cove Ridge Center, we kicked off our business meeting with some brief comments by Craig Seaver who then introduced Joe Elton, Park System Director. Joe again expressed appreciation for VAFP’s work in support of the park system. He then spoke on a variety of issues the system faces and took questions from the floor. As usual, he was articulate and did a great job of informing the audience. 

Next, Bob McConnell, Cove Ridge Foundation President, spoke to us about the Foundation. In a very interesting and informative presentation, he covered the Foundation’s history, it’s present activities, and the efforts planned for the future. Many attendees left this presentation with some ideas for things to pursue in their home park. 

After our “officer reports”, which provided clear and convincing evidence that VAFP is becoming an increasingly recognized and effective presence at both the state and national levels, Jo Finch explained a recent change in state law pertaining to requirements for obtaining exempt status for state sales tax by non-profit organizations. Jo also asked for a list of those attendees who wanted more specific information on the issue and said that she would email the information during the coming week.

 Roy Allan Dudley refreshed our memory about the by-law amendments that have been proposed and will be voted on at our 2005 Fall Conference. He also announced the slate of officers that the Nominating Committee was proposing for the positions that will  be involved in the fall elections. And, Roy also discussed the Jamestown 2007 initiative. He encouraged each group to check on the status of their home park’s participation and related paperwork.

 Next, Johnny opened the floor for discussion of any topic the attendees wished to raise. Many topics were discussed and ideas exchanged. Perhaps the most significant action item that came from this segment was the need to tell the Governor that the implementation of his real estate initiative is causing some willing sellers of future parkland to become unwilling sellers. The Friends of Hungry Mother State Park will write a letter on a specific problem there and VAFP will gather information on this and other examples across the state for use in preparing a letter on this issue. Bill Pratt said that he would bring this issue to the attention of, and ask for help from, the Sierra Club.

 Attendees were provided with a copy of the Department of Conservation film “Reining in the Storm” to take with them and consider the implications for their home parks and the meeting was adjourned at noon.

 The VAFP Executive Committee will now begin work on scheduling our 2005 Fall Conference. Information about the fall conference will be provided to members and posted to the website (www.virginiaparks.org) as soon as arrangements are firm. We hope that you will join us at that conference.