Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for May 10th
PEMBROKE, Va., May 7, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony with stakeholders
and regional partners will be held on May
10th to herald the grand opening of The
Giles County Trail Center – the gateway to numerous
attractions and outdoor experiences across the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia. The region's best in-class
hub, located on the grounds of historic Mountain Lake
Lodge and near the Appalachian Trail, will directly
connect visitors, hikers and the community to Giles County and 20 miles of trails, natural
beauty and cultural activities. In addition, a new four-mile
loop trail to Bald Knob will make the highest point in the New
River Valley readily accessible to hikers of all skill levels and
allow public access to trails.
The nearly 3,000 square-foot Trail Center has been specially
designed to help visitors plan their day and discover Giles County's many attractions and hundreds
of miles of trails. It features spacious outdoor decks, interior
gathering space, public and ADA restrooms, changing rooms,
exhibit areas and public parking. Trail maps, itineraries,
brochures and videos on multiple oversized screens showcasing
the area are available.
According to Giles County
Administrator Chris McKlarney, the
Trail Center is being dedicated in memory of local leader and
Giles County native Mark Collins, an avid hiker and longtime
advocate of the project.
"The Giles County Trail Center was designed to be a place where
guests can be immersed in the outdoor adventure and amenities found
throughout our region," said McKlarney. "Given the remote nature of
this area and tremendous increase in number of day users over the
past few years, creating adequate facilities to accommodate this
growth was necessary."
McKlarney pointed to such amenities as the Mountain Lake
Wilderness area, UVA Mountain Lake Biological Station, Glen Alton Farm, Wind Rocks, section hiking on
the Appalachian Trail, Cascades Falls, Barney's Wall, White Rocks
Campground, Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory, and trail system at
Mountain Lake including a new trail to Bald Knob and the trail head
at the Trail Center.
"The Giles County Trail Center stands as a remarkable asset for
both the New River Valley and broader Southwest Virginia region, fostering
connections and educational opportunities for visitors like never
before," said Kim Davis, Executive
Director of Friends of Southwest
Virginia, which served as the fiscal agent and assisted with
project management. "We take pride in the visionary leaders who
brought this project to fruition through partnership, and resulting
in a state-of-the-art center."
The Trail Center is a $1.2 million
project funded through a 2016 Appalachian Regional Commission POWER
grant with funding administered by Giles
County, Giles County Industrial Development Authority (IDA),
Friends of Southwest Virginia,
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Virginia Department of
Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Appalachian Trail
Conservancy (ATC), Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division and
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Building Specialists, Inc. (BSI) of the Roanoke Valley
transformed an existing structure into the new Trail Center
creating stunning timber-framed canopies, an open layout, and a
spacious interior public and gathering space. Founded
in 1974, BSI is a Class A General Contractor and has
spearheaded more than 3,200 construction projects – several in
Giles County and at Mountain Lake
Lodge – including the historic Grandin Theater. In 2005, BSI was
chosen by ABC TV Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to construct
a home in Blacksburg, VA.
"It has been an honor to be back working at Mountain Lake Lodge
and teaming with Giles County on
this project. Turning an existing 30-year-old structure into a
modern facility associated with the Appalachian Trail and
promoting tourism in Giles County
was a thrilling opportunity for Building Specialists," commented
Darrell White, BSI Project
Manager.
"Giles County Trail Center is a centerpiece for the miles of
gorgeous hiking trails, scenery and activity-filled days that
adventure-lovers come here to enjoy," said Heidi Stone,
president and CEO of Mountain Lake Lodge. "We're excited to welcome
visitors for a seamless experience exploring the area's natural
beauty, casual dining, drinks with friends and unwinding in a truly
magical setting."
The land and building provided for the project are a partnership
with Giles County, Mountain Lake
Lodge and the property's owner, the Mary Moody Northen Endowment.
Mountain Lake Lodge is where the iconic Dirty
Dancing (known as "Kellerman's Mountain House" in the movie)
was filmed 37 years ago, and still the place "to have the time of
your life" mixing modern amenities with eateries, shops, activities
and traditional family fun. For reservations, visit
https://www.mtnlakelodge.com or call 540-626-7121.
The Giles County Trail Center, located at 2125 Doe Creek Rd.,
Pembroke, VA 24136, is open daily
to the public from 9 a.m. to dusk.
For information, visit VirginiasMtnPlayground.com or contact
Giles County Visitor Center at 540-921-2079.
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SOURCE Mountain Lake Lodge