Explore Park in Roanoke County, the future of which has been in doubt since the living history attraction there closed some years ago, looks much brighter these days. Once proposed to be the site of a major destination attraction – a proposal pitched by a Florida developer – it now appears as if it will become a county park geared towards passive recreation.
There could be cabins, campgrounds, RV parks, zip lines etc. built on the 1100 acre site, which has been operated on a shoestring by the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority since Roanoke County ceased running the state-owned historical park. Roanoke County officials and the VRFA made that announcement recently at Explore Park, with the county planning to enter in to a 99 year, $1.00 per year lease agreement with the authority.
Operations for the park will be folded in to the Parks & Recreation Department budget. “Explore Park brings about such a unique opportunity for Roanoke County,” said executive director Doug Blount. “It going to offer opportunities for people to recreate in different ways…[outdoor] amenities that we don’t have in the Roanoke Valley. I think it’s important that we have a major tourist draw for Roanoke County.”
“Under the terms of the lease Roanoke County will preserve the historic structures while they complete a master plan for the future development of the park,” said VRFA chairman K.C. Bratton to those gathered at the Blue Ridge Visitor’s Center for the announcement. Those historic buildings may be reopened in the future as an educational attraction.
One of the first orders of business: remaining VRFA funds will be used to renovate the Brugh Tavern building, which has been operated as a restaurant in the past, along with the Taubman visitors center and the old county church on the property. “Hopefully turning those into revenue-generating structures,” said Roanoke County Board of Supervisors chairman Mike Altizer during his remarks from the podium. “Today this grand lady again is stable… and her future is secure,” he noted about the park’s future.
The county’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department will seek private partners for development at Explore Park, where additional amenities (there are already trails and a boat ramp on the Roanoke River) could take a year or more to start taking shape. Altizer said the county might want to look at “down-zoning” some aspects of Explore Park, since a special district was created that allowed extensive commercial development by right when Larry Vandematen pitched the destination attraction.
Altizer said he was concerned that the state was going to take back control of the park from the VRFA, “and really lock it down,” letting it fall into disrepair. “I wanted to give it one last shot to see if there was a way we could put it together for Roanoke County,” said Altizer, who said it might have been 10-15 years before it could have been become a state park.
Rupert Cutler, the first executive director for Explore Park, was also happy to see Roanoke County step up: “”I’m really glad to see that the park is secured for the future [but] I will watch very carefully to see what the development proposals are.” The long time environmentalist says the 1100 acres at Explore Park “are resources that need to be protected.”
“If the place can be maintained and developed into something people will all have an opportunity to enjoy, it can be done by Roanoke County. There’s no better hands to put Explore in [to],” said Windsor Hills supervisor Ed Elswick, who asked for “ideas and volunteers,” since the county is cash-strapped. He can see a lodge on the site, maybe a bed and breakfast. “We absolutely have to have an amphitheater [as well]. I think we can do it.”
Greenways Coordinator Liz Belcher, Altizer and others also expressed optimism that utilizing Explore Park as a major recreation site may also generate momentum for finishing the Roanoke River Greenway, which is now making its way towards the park. Funding and right of way acquisitions from landowners along the Roanoke River have to be dealt with first.
“I think Roanoke County is all on board with that,” said Belcher, who has spent almost 20 years as the valley’s most visible greenways advocate. “They’re working hard now [on right of ways] from the [13th St.] waste-water treatment plant to the parkway. To have the county in control of the land here gives us a great opportunity to finish the greenway through to Explore Park. We’re already talking about how soon can we have a marathon from Green Hills Park to Explore Park.”
Pete Eshelman, the director of outdoor branding for the Regional Partnership and the major force behind the roanokeoutside.com website, likes the “synergy behind [the plan]. Hopefully we’ll see the rebirth of Explore Park. It’s a tremendous outdoor asset.” Getting more people off the adjacent Blue Ridge Parkway, to give them a sense of what the valley has to offer recreation-wise, is a big plus according to Eshelman.
“Hopefully 20 years from now you’ll remember this morning – its monumental for the future of Roanoke County [and] this valley,” said Altizer of the new proposal for Explore Park. It will take some time, considering the county’s tight budget, “but we’ll be proud of every small victory along the way,” said Altizer, who will retire from the Board of Supervisors in December.
By Gene Marrano
