Featured Project

Damascus trail center ribbon cutting

Friends of Southwest Virginia and the Town of Damascus partnered with ARC POWER, Tobacco and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to construct a 2,100-square-foot education and welcome center.

“The Damascus Trail Center (DTC) was built to educate, empower, and protect the region’s visitors, volunteers, and communities. The DTC educates by focusing on the principles of responsible recreation and environmental stewardship. High-quality exhibits and programming will showcase the nearby landscape and share stories of stewards who protect nearby outdoor spaces. Instilling a sense of stewardship will be the foundation for programming and activities at The Center.

The DTC empowers by promoting volunteerism, community building, and connections to and stewardship of the region’s outdoor assets. Finally, the DTC protects local outdoor spaces, providing a destination where the relationship between the region and its outdoor resources can be fully explored and where people can learn how to develop a closer connection to the outdoors.” Emily Mayo Trail Center Director.

• 2,100 Square feet • 1,000 Square feet of outdoor programming space • .41-acre lot in the heart of “Trail Town, USA” • Hands-on learning and training workshop.

grayson highlands state park