ATTACHMENT G - V1 - Site Specific Information_GH_SR_SB.pdf

ATTACHMENT G: SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

1. Grayson Highlands State Park

2. Staunton River State Park

3. Staunton River Battlefield State Park

1. Grayson Highlands State Park (GHSP) Park Manager – Marceia Holland marceia.holland@dcr.virginia.gov

1.1 For more general park information and location details, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands. For site photos, please visit: https://www.flickr.com/gp/vastateparksstaff/8X28zgtn93

1.2 Park Overview: GHSP, located in Grayson County, opened to the public in 1965 with over 4,500 acres of iconic mountainous views and elevations over 5,000 feet. The park serves as a gateway to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Mount Rogers and Whitetop – the two highest peaks in the state and contains 2.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

GHSP has a long history of showcasing traditional mountain music with two festivals honoring local luthiers and is quickly becoming known as a bouldering destination for climbers from across the country. GHSP also contains several unique habitats including two Appalachian Bogs and multiple sites classified as High Elevation Outcrop Barrens. Visitors are able to experience local history through exhibits in the Visitor Center and walking through the Homestead Area.

Overnight accommodations include multiple campgrounds, a group campsite, bunkhouse and yurts. Recreational opportunities are found in hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, fishing in three native trout streams, an open hunting area and boulder fields throughout the park. In 2023, GHSP welcomed nearly 170,000 visitors and recorded 21,000 visits to their current interpretive exhibits.

1.3 Park Purpose Statement: The purpose of GHSP is to provide in perpetuity the opportunity for visitors to enjoy the natural and scenic beauty of Virginia’s High Country and to learn about the region’s rich Appalachian Culture while providing access to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

1.4 Project Location: The Park Visitor Center overlooks an incredible vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Because of the location and harsh winter weather, the Visitor Center is only open May – October each year. During the winter, the building is closed with no climate control. This project will focus on the 1900 square foot exhibit space and roughly 550 square foot lobby/welcome desk area for a total of approximately 2,450 square feet.

1.5 Interpretive Topics: The following list of potential interpretive topics is not all inclusive or in priority order:

o Unique Natural Resources/Landscape – Boreal Forest, Geology, Nocturnal Wildlife, Rare and imperiled habitats and species o Settlement of the region key elements are lumber, American chestnut, farming & railroads (Virginia Creeper line) o Adaptation – both in the natural community and the community of settlers – adaptation to climate, elevation, remoteness o Culture and history of the region – Music, community, and settlement of the harsh landscape o Wilderness o Recreational resources – Appalachian Trail, Mount Rogers, hiking, bouldering, backpacking, being prepared for a wilderness adventure o History and development of the park

1.6 Additional information:

1.6.1 Since the building is closed and without climate control November – April, exhibits will need to withstand fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while peak temperatures in the summer rarely go above mid-70s.

1.6.2 The current exhibit features a large number of items available for use including actual and reproduction representations of household items and tools important to early region settlers, many of which were donated by the local community. Taxidermy animal mounts, chestnut fence railings and large items like a wagon and a loom are also part of the current design, but staff agree that the large items take up too much room for the portion of the story they are able to convey. Local luthiers have donated a guitar, banjo, fiddle and dulcimer to the park, and a park volunteer hand crafted cases out of American chestnut and plexiglass that will be incorporated into the final design.

1.6.3 Design will incorporate updates to the lobby and welcome counter.

1.6.4 Design shall incorporate an area designated for demonstrations, crafts, and music. This could be incorporated into a settler’s home scene to further interpret the day-to-day life of early European inhabitants to the region.

2. Staunton River State Park (SRSP) Park Manager – James Wright james.wright@dcr.virginia.gov

2.1 For more general park information and location details, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/staunton-river.

For site photos, visit https://www.flickr.com/gp/vastateparksstaff/Ax84H92q42.

2.2 Park Overview: SRSP, located in eastern Halifax County, is one of the six original Virginia State Parks opened on June 15, 1936. The park, and many of its existing structures, were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. SRSP consists of over 2,400 acres, and is bordered by two major Virginia rivers, the Dan River and Staunton River. This confluence creates ideal habitat for migrating birds and the perfect location for water-based recreation with access to Virginia’s largest lake – Buggs Island. Attractions include 8 rental cabins, campground, equestrian campground, boat launches, picnic shelters, amphitheater, multi-use trails, and concession stand. SRSP became the first Virginia State Park to gain International Dark Sky Park Certification in 2015. It hosts two yearly star party events that attract visitors from multiple states and offers ideal conditions for incredible night sky photography. Visitation is largely made up of overnight visitors, with 2023 visitation totaling just over 72,000.

2.3 Park Purpose Statement: The purpose of Staunton River State Park, an original CCC park built at the confluence of the Staunton River and the Dan River, is to provide water access, traditional outdoor recreation experiences on Buggs Island Lake, and to preserve the views of the dark sky.

2.4 Project Location: The SRSP Visitor Center is one of the original CCC buildings in the park. The exhibit area is separated into two spaces. A) The first is currently serving as the check-in/reception area. This area with ample windows and tile flooring will become a nature focused space. Upgraded reptile tanks and fish aquariums should be incorporated into the design. This space totals approximately 400 square feet. B) The second space is a large hall currently functioning as the park’s main retail space. The 1,195 square foot space has a non-functioning fireplace at one end and connects to area A through one doorway. A successful design will incorporate continued retail operations and welcome/check-in counter with interpretive storytelling and exhibits. A small entry room (approximately 96 square feet) provides access to restrooms and the main exhibit hall and should be used to orient visitors to the exhibit. A 200 square foot concrete patio at the entrance to the building can be used to set the stage for the visitor experience.

2.5 Interpretive Topics: The following list of potential interpretive topics is not all inclusive or in priority order:

Dark Sky Park o Significance of dark skies to humans and animals o What does it mean to be a dark sky site and how the park became one o What visitors can do to protect dark skies o Astronomy, Night Sky Viewing

Cultural Resources o Civilian Conservation Corps history of the park

Natural resources o Rivers, habitats o Wildlife, birding o Changes to the landscape overtime – plantation, logging, etc

2.6 Additional Information:

2.6.1 Being an International Dark Sky site, all lighting must be dark sky compliant.

2.6.2 The park currently houses the following list of live animals. Upgraded tanks shall be included in the design for the nature section of the display. Park will be responsible for all materials to fill the tanks. Current exhibited species include:

bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), Northern rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus), Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), red corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus), Eastern milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum), and Eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna).

3. Staunton River Battlefield State Park (SRBSP) Park Manager – David Gunnells david.gunnells@dcr.virginia.gov

3.1 For more general park information and location details, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/staunton-river-battlefield For site photos, visit https://www.flickr.com/gp/vastateparksstaff/0i8EXv8T6m

3.2 Park Overview: SRBSP is a 300-acre Civil War historic site where a group of 700 Confederate old men and young boys beat the odds and held off an assault by 5,000 Union cavalry on a bridge of strategic importance to Gen. Lee's army, then under siege in Petersburg. The existing Confederate earthworks are a short walk away from the Visitor Center along the historic bridge trail. The park includes a 1.2-mile self-guided trail through the battlefield and a .75-mile nature trail with two wildlife observation towers overlooking wetlands. This newly renovated visitor center exhibit will take visitors Beyond the Battlefield to discover the many other stories that make the park incredible. Situated along the Staunton River, the adjacent floodplain wetlands offer important wildlife habitat and excellent birding opportunities. SRBSP is a day-use park, and many community members are frequent visitors for recreation and exercise. The park is also the site of two other significant historic resources. The first, Mulberry Hill, a plantation dating back to around 1755 and the home of Paul Carrington, a lawyer, judge and politician who played a role in the establishment of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the founding of the Nation. Finally, the Wade Archeological Site provides significant evidence of habitation between 1000 – 1400 A.D., most likely by the Saponi Indians. This well-preserved resource provides insight into the life, technologies, art, and trade of the Late Woodland peoples of this region.

3.3 Park Purpose Statement: The purpose of SRBSP is to protect, preserve, and interpret the natural, historic, cultural, and archaeological resources of the Civil War battlefield, Native American village site, and the Mulberry Hill Plantation site while providing educational and recreational opportunities to visitors to southern Virginia.

3.4 Project Location: The Park Visitor Center is the main location for park staff workspace, retail operations, restrooms and interpretive exhibits in the park. The exhibit space is approximately 1,770 square feet and also houses a small welcome desk and retail area. Current exhibits may be reconfigured and incorporated into the final design as reasonable.

3.5 Interpretive Topics: The following list of potential interpretive topics is not all inclusive or in priority order:

o Wade Archeological Site/Saponi Indians – archeological work, significant findings, life and advancements of the early Saponi, history of the Saponi Tribe and contributions of the Saponi people today o Mulberry Hill Plantation – history and significance, life and contributions of Paul Carrington, life of the enslaved men, women and children of the plantation o American Civil War Battle of June 1864 – events leading up to and immediate aftermath, specific to the local area, landscape of the site and existing evidence o Natural resources – the river, wetlands, and other diverse habitats, how they influenced events of the past and what they offer today o Historical Resources – history of the bridge, railroad, steamboats

3.6 Additional Information:

3.6.1 How do we use one landscape to tell many stories? A current exhibit element features a model landscape and projected story telling of the American Civil War battle that took place on the land where SRBSP sits today. This exhibit element should be reimagined to tell the multiple stories that inhabit the same landscape including archeological evidence of Indigenous settlement, the day of the battle, the unique and diverse habitats created by the river, and others.

3.6.2 The current exhibit has a variety of items on display which can be incorporated into the final design including reproduction artillery, models of the earthworks, a wooden canoe, taxidermy, and a selection of other artifacts. A life size cavalry mount will be incorporated into the final design but must remain mobile.

3.6.3 The park often sees repeat visitors and wants to become a resource for local schools. As such, the exhibit design should include elements that can be changed out periodically to keep audiences engaged throughout the year. A current exhibit element is designed as a representation of an indoor home space. It has served as the home of Ms. McPhail who played a key role in the events leading up to the battle, as a work kitchen for the enslaved cooks of Mulberry Hill and is in planning to be transitioned to demonstrate the law office of Paul Carrington. Upgrades or reimagining of an exhibit like this is an important element of this design.