Containing Wonder - Creating Terrariums

While walking through the woods, there are endless sources of amazement. Entire worlds teeming with life exist under every rock and at the base of each tree. But as the days get shorter and nature prepares to rest, getting outside can be harder—and certainly colder! Now is the perfect time to bring a little bit of nature inside by crafting a terrarium. 

Terrariums are small, enclosed indoor gardens. They can be as tiny as the smallest jar, or as large as an aquarium. Terrariums, once established, can contain entire self-sustaining little ecosystems. They are a wonderful way to see natural cycles at work on a small scale. When it rains in the forest, plants and soil absorb some water, and the excess collects as groundwater or flows into the watershed as runoff. As the sun comes out, water evaporates from transpiring leaves, and from lakes, rivers, and oceans, creating clouds and repeating the cycle. In a closed terrarium, a similar cycle takes place: initial water is added to the system, which gets absorbed into the soil and plants within. As water evaporates and transpires, it will collect in the form of condensation on the walls of the container, before dripping down to moisten the soil again.

Photosynthesis and decomposition go hand in hand within a terrarium; microbes in the soil use oxygen and work to break down any decaying material (producing carbon dioxide in the process), meanwhile, plants within the system are using that carbon dioxide, along with water and sunlight, to photosynthesize (producing sugars to feed on and oxygen that gets released into the system). Terrariums do best in partial or indirect sunlight, so that light can be used for processes like evaporation and photosynthesis without overheating the system.

Here at BRDC, we recently revamped our library terrarium to house a small-scale native forest floor ecosystem. A living library centerpiece that highlights the natural beauty of the blue ridge, this is a relatively large terrarium that houses mosses, ferns, lichens, and some small vascular plants. Displayed inside are some collected treasures including a box turtle shell, the skull and antlers of a white-tailed deer, and adorable little hemlock cones.

Making your own terrarium is a great activity to get creative while bringing a way to appreciate nature daily into your home, and learning a bit to boot! Terrariums can be designed to replicate specific ecosystems or biomes, to feature a certain plant, or to showcase a natural trinket. Let nature inspire you, and your interests guide you. To create your own terrarium, start with any container that can be covered or closed. Most terrariums contain four basic layers: rocks, soil, plants/decor, and moss. Rocks are layered in the base of a terrarium, providing an area for excess water to collect within the system. This helps ensure that the soil layer is not constantly saturated with water, which could drown your plants or cause unwanted bacterial or fungal growth. Next, soil–where microbes work, and plants take root. It’s important to use a soil that will provide proper nutrients for the specific plants you choose for your terrarium. 

Once layers of rock and soil are inside your container, plants and decoration can be placed. Ensure that any plants selected are of an appropriate size for the container you use, you don’t want to pick plants that will outgrow or overtake your system. Decor can be rocks, sticks, bone, really anything you find beautiful or interesting. Once plants are in the soil, moss is usually placed on top of any bare areas. Moss helps regulate moisture, and looks good doing it. 

All of these materials can be bought at a local garden store, or collected from outside. If you do choose to collect from nature, know that this is not technically in line with Leave No Trace principles. Be respectful of the larger ecosystem and conscious of what you take from it. While harvesting living materials, such as moss, take only small sections from patches large and healthy enough to regrow.

If you attempt to make your own terrarium, take care and have fun! We would love to see what you create, so tag us or reach out on social media, or email us a photo of your terrarium crafting endeavors. Get creative, get your hands dirty, and take in all the wonders as you watch your own little world come to life.

For further reading and more information on making your own terrarium, check out these links:

https://outdooradventures.wp.tulane.edu/2020/04/18/bring-the-great-outdoors-inside-native-terrarium-diy/ - Webpage, step by step instructions on crafting a terrarium native to your area 

https://www.rooseveltspdx.com/blog/how-to-water-terrarium-95jrg - Webpage, terrarium care basics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6DnKCnlSxE - Video, how to make a terrarium native to your area 

Summertime Fun at BRDC

When our rain garden is at peak green and the pollinators are in full swing, we know a lively summer has begun at Blue Ridge Discovery Center. We began the month with our Summer Butterfly Count through the North American Butterfly Association! A butterfly count is an event that is organized for the purpose of identifying and counting butterflies in a specific geographical area, raising awareness and identifying any changes to butterfly habitats. Over 13 different species of butterflies were spotted during this expedition in multiple locations within the Mount Rogers Recreational Area.

Currently, we are guiding students from Grayson County Schools, specifically Independence Elementary School and Fries School, for aquatic adventures and discovery day camps. These camps consist of students grades K-6 participating in macroinvertebrate studies, watershed projects, dendrology surveys, and birding activities.

Our BRDC Nature Day Camps for ages 6-10 begin June 20th. BRDC places a strong emphasis on developing a desire to know more about nature and acquiring a deep respect for the place we call home. Our focus is on natural curiosity and self-discovery by engaging children in meaningful, fun-filled learning activities. Day camps will focus on the importance of symbiotic relationships between our flora and fauna. Stay tuned for pictures of our upcoming camps on our Instagram and Facebook!

2023 BRDC Awards

Blue Ridge Discovery Center and staff have won several awards this year. These awards truly encompass how much the individuals of our non-profit are embodying our mission of inspiring curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge.

Lisa Benish, our Executive Director, was awarded a 2022 Community Conservation and Service award by the New River Wildlife and Conservation Club (NRWCC). Through her dedication to BRDC and our community, Lisa provided after school programs, residential programs, day camps, and community naturalist events to a community in need of environmental education. These programs will continue to help students and community members explore the wonders of the Blue Ridge for years to come. Check out this link to read more about Lisa’s award!

Ali Reilly, BRDC Program Coordinator, also received an award this year. Ali was awarded Young Alumna of the Year by the Emory & Henry Alumni Association for her leadership in restoring the wetland at BRDC. This wetland now allows many species to thrive in an environment where they can be studied. Not only did Ali lead this project, she has also led and continues to lead many educational programs focusing on the wetland ecosystem. Check out this link to read more about Ali’s award!

Blue Ridge Discovery Center as an organization also received an award. We were given the Hope Award from Emory & Henry College’s Appalachian Center for Civic Life. This award recognizes the work that organizations do for their community. We are truly honored to be presented with this award, and hope to continue to provide environmental outdoor education opportunities for our community and beyond! Check out this link to read more about it!

Stay tuned to see what’s in store for us next!

A Year in Review

As we close 2021, a year of stress and uncertainty due to the continued pandemic, social distancing, mask mandates, travel restrictions, and construction projects, the myriad of photos taken throughout the year shows another story. You, our community and participants, coming together to help us meet our mission to inspire curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge. From naturalist rallies, to summer camps and construction projects, you’ve supported us all year long by sharing, guiding, and giving. Look at what you helped us achieve in 2021 and join us in ringing in the New Year!

Programs

Through the support of local foundations and public schools, we have been able to get youth outside and engaged in nature both on and off campus.

Summer Camps

From June through August, we provided day camps for youth 6-11 years old and overnight camps for youth 11-17 years old. Day camps were held at Matthews State Forest and the BRDC Campus while our overnight camps traveled along the New River, hiked the wilderness areas of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, fished the Blue Ridge, and explored the 12+ acres of the Center and the adjacent lands.

In The Field

Staff continued to pursue their passion as naturalist on day trips and research projects. Through citizen science and data collection, we learn from nature and each other to better share our stewardship of the place we call home.

Volunteers

We had so many wonderful volunteers join us for a variety of projects. Not everything was for everyone but we managed to find something for all. Many hands make for light work. Hundreds of hours were donated by the volunteers who painted, dug, built, hauled, moved, and lifted all kinds of things to help us build our Center!

Construction

A lot of changes have taken place this year on our schoolhouse! The restoration is nearly complete. The building has had major restoration from floor to ceiling. We also restored a wetland, built trails and a brand new pavilion!

Here’s to 2022!

$25,000 Gift of Support from Food City

We were very excited to receive $25,000 from Food City at their grand opening for the brand new Independence location last night! This generous support will build out our commercial kitchen to feed the participants coming through our programs. Our vision for food service is not all that different than the original 1924 Konnarock Training School kitchen. We aim to reconnect the kids to the local sources of food and supplement the menu with regional specialties, including partnering with our local neighbors and the Konnarock Community Center to provide apple butter, blueberries, maple syrup, fresh fruits and vegetables, sustainably harvested ramps, wild mushrooms, branch lettuce, and much more! Thank you Food City for making this vision a reality!

A Lotta Help from Our Friends

As disappointing as it was to cancel the Mt. Rogers Summer Naturalist Rally, we couldn’t be more thankful or appreciative of all the help the multitude of volunteers did to support our Center last weekend! In lieu of our Naturalist Rally, we solicited the help of our friends, members, partners, board, and families to help us create the Discovery Center through various projects.

Friday Friends

Beginning Friday morning at 9:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm on Sunday these dedicated volunteers accomplished a tremendous amount! They painted 10 picnic tables and 5 custom made exterior doors, polished and constructed nearly 80 brass light fixtures, built three large bee houses and filled them with cut wood and bamboo (all drilled with various sized holes for our solitary bees), and constructed and stained six “rocket box” bat houses - all with repurposed, hand hammered copper roofs.

Then there was the planting! Hundreds of small trees, shrubs and native plants were put in the ground throughout the BRDC Campus. A small orchard was planted with apple trees (4 species) grafted by staff back in February. They protected them with fencing along with some prior planted American chestnut trees. Brush was cleared and burned, cuttings were potted, weeds were pulled, and gardens were mulched…it was magnificent!

On Saturday evening, we broke bread, shared stories, and in the tradition of a naturalist rally, took an evening hike to watch a maternal colony of big brown bats leave the roost on their nightly hunt…all 224 of them! We listened to crickets, katydids, and screech owls and ended the night with a view of Jupiter and its moons alongside our own beautiful full moon.

This would not be possible without the help of so many of you…our friends, our community, our support. We thank you for all you did and do for and with us last weekend and always!

Schoolhouse Walkthrough & Update

The schoolhouse took another step towards completion last week with the addition of our gorgeous stained glass window. Sitting at the forefront of attention in the back wall of the chapel, this beautifully created window depicts the southeastern view from Whitetop Mountain and features rhododendron blooms, trilliums, red spruce trees, and our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. The piece was brought to life by Marilynn Peacock of The Glass Peacock in Abingdon, Va, and was inspired by the original stained glass windows of the chapel.

We broadcasted a live walkthrough of the schoolhouse, complete with Aaron’s commentary on its progress, last week via Facebook and Instagram. We have downloaded that video to YouTube, which can be viewed here- https://youtu.be/ilXfybXodME , or seen below.

The schoolhouse is now entering phase 2 of construction. The exterior of the building has been polished up with refreshed poplar siding, refurbished windows, and a new roof. On the interior, the foundation has been strengthened and the walls have been demoed. Walking through the building you can imagine children running from the dining room to the front porch to watch the birds fly over our rain garden. You can picture the chapel full of eager learners listening to a wildlife rehabilitator talk about some of his ambassador animals. You can practically hear the giggling coming from the dormitory rooms on the second floor as school groups bond over their excitement for the natural world.

We can’t wait for this space to be bustling with visitors eager for their next adventure. 

Cabell Foundation Challenge Met!

In May 2019 the Cabell Foundation of Richmond challenged Blue Ridge Discovery Center to raise $200,000 through community support for a 1:1 match. What has transpired in less than a year’s time turned out to be worth even more than that. 

Those who have been involved with BRDC for years, along with others who have only just learned about the organization, gathered for fundraisers and other special events throughout the fall and winter in a collaborative effort to support BRDC’s mission and vision for the creation of a discovery center at the base of Virginia’s highest mountains. These private donations were paired with a significant contribution from the Jack Matthews Foundation, meeting the Cabell Foundation’s challenge and resulting in $400,000 raised for the restoration phase (Phase II) of the future Center!

The BRDC property is now showing visible signs of transformation. An old stone staircase found in the hillside along the driveway leads up to the schoolhouse where the window sashes have been removed for refinishing. Inside, a skeleton of the entryway and dining hall is now visible following the removal of deteriorated plaster and lath.

With construction underway, we are now looking ahead to Phase III of our Capital Campaign. This next phase of fundraising for furnishings, interpretive displays, and landscaping will transition these buildings and grounds into the Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

Give the Gift . . . of a Toilet?

Do toilets and door knobs make good gifts? We think so!

This holiday season, when you give the value of one of the restoration items listed below to Blue Ridge Discovery Center, you are making an impact for generations to come. What’s more, these contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Cabell Foundation in support of BRDC’s Capital Campaign for the Center.

Whether you’re fond of the bark siding or cherish the thought of restoring an historic window that will soon overlook children observing butterflies in a native plant community or studying wetland ecology, there is an element and donation value to match your level of support.

When you visit our Donation Page, consider giving the value* of one of the following restoration items for yourself or in honor of a loved one:

·       2 Square Feet of Floor Refinishing $5

·       Square Foot of Staircase Refinishing $10

·       Door Hinge $15

·       Set of Drawer Pulls $20

·       Door Knob $25

·       Square Foot of Plaster Restoration $30

·       Pendant Lamp $35

·       Panel of Bark Siding $50

·       Wooden Chair $75

·       Linear Foot of Exterior Hand Railing $125

·       Dining Table $200

·       High-efficiency Toilet $300

·       Bunk Bed $400

·       Interior Door Restoration $500

·       Window Restoration $600

·       Front Door Restoration $1,500

·       Species Room Sponsorship $10,000**

*These values represent the cost of items and services, and are being used for symbolic purposes only.

**Anyone interested in sponsoring a Species Room is encouraged to contact Keith Andrews at 276.237.3654.

Thank you for your support!

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BRDC is also participating in Giving Tuesday in support of the Capital Campaign for the Center.

Help us spread the word by sharing our website or hosting a Facebook fundraiser on Tuesday, December 3rd!

The Cabell Foundation Grants BRDC Opportunity to Complete Restoration Goal

We are excited to announce that we have recently been awarded a challenge grant that, when matched by donations within the community, will push us to fully achieving our restoration goal for our future Center! 

In 1957, Mr. Robert G. Cabell, III, and Mrs. Maude Morgan Cabell established the Cabell Foundation to support charitable organizations in Virginia through a collective effort with engaged and active communities. The Cabell Foundation recognizes the value of Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s goal to restore the Historic Konnarock Training School into a discovery center at the base of Virginia’s highest mountain, and has awarded us a $200,000 Challenge Grant to be matched by community donors by June 2020 for a combined total of $400,000. Achieving this $400,000 grant and donation match will complete our restoration fundraising goal of $2,250,000 for the Historic Konnarock Training School. At 90% of our goal, we now need your help to finish the restoration fundraising effort! Bringing this project to life will be a tremendous achievement. It will launch Blue Ridge Discovery Center into a new era of impact and directly change the trajectory of Southwest Virginia and beyond.

This challenge grant and the final piece of our restoration fundraising relies on your contribution! It is time to dig deep and determine how much you can contribute. If it helps for personal budgeting, we welcome monthly, quarterly, or multi-year pledges. To give you perspective, we need 200 people to give $1,000. That is a big challenge for both BRDC and our community. Help us raise the challenge match of $200,000 by making a donation today. Every gift counts! Call us at 276-293-1232 to discuss your pledge.

Your personal contribution can come in the form of a one-time cash donation, a financial pledge over a period of time, and in-kind gifts.

Contact Aaron Floyd (276-293-1232) or Keith Andrews (276-237-3654) if you have any questions about the project or about how to make a contribution.

You may also visit https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/capital-campaign.

Our future discovery center: a residential education facility, interpretive center, and biological field station in one!

KTS Historic Photos

Recently we were gifted a treasure trove of over 500 historic photos of the old Konnarock Training School by Sheila (Blevins) Brown and the Blevins family. Their family managed to keep this invaluable resource safe since the school closed in 1959, nearly 60 years ago. The three albums appear to have been compiled over the lifespan of the school, from 1924-1959, with photographs ranging from the construction of the facility to field trips up Whitetop Mountain to yearbook-style portraits. We here at Blue Ridge Discovery Center are very honored to have been entrusted with this resource.

Historic Photo Album 1

Historic Photo Album 2

Historic Photo Album 3

Our first step has been to digitize the photographs, and we will be delivering copies to the Grayson County, Smyth County, and Washington County Historical Societies. In the long run, these photos will form the core of the historic interpretive displays about the property, but in the short term, we have created a page to view the photos on our website, which is listed below.

The full wealth of information in this archive has yet to be discovered. It will take the eyes of family members and the community to draw out the entire story. Please share this archive with friends and family so they can let us know more about these photos. Anyone with more information can contact us at info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org.

The timing of this gift could not be better. With the imminent restoration of the building, these historic photos are directly informing our design decisions. But beyond that, these photos are giving us an incredible insight into the landscape at that time. By observing the background carefully you will see landmarks, trees that where saplings then and a massive stump now, old roads and paths, outbuildings, pastures, and more. There are photos of a steam powered excavator, a basketball game in the 20’s, the old Roosevelt Farm, early girl scout activities, and Whitetop’s bad weather (ha!).

One of the greatest joys of scanning these at 600dpi and looking at them full-screen is realizing that when a photographer goes to take a photo, kids will be kids regardless of the era! Their fidgeting, their expressions, picking on one another, the poses, and their boundless smiles are timeless and tell all!

Emory and Henry College's 2018 Service Plunge at BRDC

Thanks to Emory and Henry College’s dedication to serving local communities through acts of service, BRDC gained a crew of helping hands for a morning of ground maintenance during E&H’s 2018 Service Plunge. Students and staff from Emory and Henry joined BRDC staff on the Center grounds to tackle our crop of non-native, invasive plants. After a brief introduction to invasive plants by Jay Martin, the crew got to work eradicating the thorny thicket of Japanese barberry and the low light-loving Japanese stiltgrass around the property.

In the 1920’s, during the time that the Konnarock Training School was built, Japanese barberry had a 50-year history of being selected as an ornamental shrub in the United States. The plant grows under a variety of light and soil conditions, requires little maintenance, is deer-resistant, and turns a beautiful shade of deep red during autumn. Its size and thorns also contributed to its use as a hedge. However, its hardiness and browse resistance also allow it to thrive, outcompeting native plants. Further, its seeds are readily dispersed by birds and can remain viable in the soil for up to ten years.

Similar to the barberry, Japanese stiltgrass was also introduced in the United States from Asia – although accidentally – and also grows in a variety of habitats. Each plant is capable of producing 100-1,000 seeds which can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. This unpalatable annual grass both crowds out native plants and increases deer browse on more palatable natives.

Little by little, we pulled, trimmed, and hauled, removing these unwanted residents manually. In doing so, we uncovered salamanders, a young ring-necked snake, and a stone wall that was previously masked by shrubs.

Thank you, Emory and Henry College, for helping us to eradicate these invasives, making way for a future of healthy, native vegetation!

An introduction to non-native, invasive plants

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

E&H students tackling the thicket

Juvenile ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus)

The stone wall unveiled

A Reunion of the Konnarock Training School Alumni

Blue Ridge Discovery Center and the Konnarock Retreat House hosted the alumni of the historic Konnarock Training School and their families on July 7th, 2018. Since the 1960's this group has been getting together to share stories and pass down the oral history of the KTS.

The group has dwindled but the ones in attendance were no doubt as feisty as ever. Beyond the stories of polishing the dining room floor with the weight of their rumps being pulled around on a rug, of climbing out on the roof for fresh air, tending the school garden, of the inspiring Biology teacher Mrs Kirby, and riding the school truck to Whitetop. Beyond all of that. The most inspiring part of the event was the engagement of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It is very clear that the impact of the Konnarock Training School has reverberated throughout the community for generations, affecting the trajectory of all sorts of families. It is a powerful idea, to build an educational institution, but often times it is difficult to see the broad-reaching impacts.

This weekend, we not only got to look into the past, but we also got to see our future, an insight into the potential impacts BRDC can have on individuals, families, and a community. It was heartwarming and inspiring and we can't wait to continue that legacy in Konnarock!

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Cottage Renovations Underway

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Cottage Floor Plans

Over the past month, Blue Ridge Discovery Center has begun renovations on the cottage adjacent to our center! Our aim is to move our offices out there by the Spring Naturalist Rally in early May and set up shop! Our new office will allow us to offer some programming, establish fundraising headquarters for the center, get to know the Konnarock community, secure the site, and most of all, be an example of what is to come!

This project has made swift progress due to some invaluable support by volunteers, donors, and the hard work of local contractor David Hood. We began with a volunteer demo session that prepped the site in a heartbeat, demoing old flooring, fixtures, trim and cabinets. With a generous private financial contribution, we began restoring the structure, fixing leaks, guttering, insulating and installing the flooring. Local materials suppliers have contributed essential in-kind donations, including Grayson Millworks who is producing custom period white oak molding and Berry Home Center who has supported BRDC with building supplies, along with a brand new set of cabinets and countertops for the project! If you don't know Berry Home Center, you should: http://www.berryhomecenter.com/

Many thanks to all involved, we look forward to hosting you at our new offices this spring!

Support from Smyth County

We are excited to receive the recent resolution from the Smyth County Board of Supervisors supporting our mission and application to the Department of Housing and Community Development Industrial Redevelopment Fund grant. 

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Blue Ridge Discovery Center has spent the majority of our existence networking and serving the Upper New River Plateau region in the counties of Grayson, Alleghany, Carroll, and the city of Galax. That region is geographically isolated from the I-81 corridor including Smyth and Washington Counties by the massive Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. With the establishment of our future center in Smyth County, at the base of that mountain, it has been a pleasure getting to know the local community and I-81 region more. It is especially appreciated to see the recent support given by the Smyth County Board of Supervisors for our mission and vision. 

We see the future Blue Ridge Discovery Center location, and Mount Rogers as becoming less of a dividing line for our area and more of a focal point for the region at large, bringing the surrounding counties together around one of the greatest natural assets in North America. 

Our Future Center

For the past nine years, Blue Ridge Discovery Center has operated without a physical place, utilizing state, federal, and private property to implement programming. Although that period allowed us to develop a strong resume of impact-driven programs, we were constantly faced with the question: Where is your Center?

Today, Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC) is very excited to announce the site of our future home! In partnership with the Konnarock Retreat House (KRH), BRDC has received the generous contribution of the historic Konnarock Training School, in Konnarock, VA. Located at the base of the highest mountain in Virginia, the property is ideally situated to explore, discover, and share one the most dynamic ecosystems in North America. With this Center, we have the opportunity to fulfill our long-term vision by offering residential education, supporting research, and outfitting our very own interpretative center. 

Built in 1925, this structure stands today with a storied past of education and community service. Constructed by the Lutheran Church with the support of the Hassinger Lumber Company, the building operated as a girls school for 34 years, serving a chronically underserved mountain population. In 1967 the property was purchased by the United States Forest Service as part of the Mount Rogers Recreation Area. It housed the original Konnarock Trail Crew that built the vast network of trails currently giving us access to the high country. In 1974, it hosted the formation of the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally, an event that BRDC continues today! After sitting empty for many years, the USFS deeded the property back to the community in 2006. With the mission to restore the historic structure, the Konnarock Retreat House was formed and began fundraising. Having stabilized the building and saved it from certain destruction, KRH came together with Blue Ridge Discovery Center earlier this year to marry a perfect match of a placeless non-profit with a property needing an institution to continue its legacy of community service. Today, we are honored to take on that challenge, continue the great work of those who came before us, and to call Konnarock our future home. 

Arriving at this historic step required the sacrifice and dedication of many. As President of the Konnarock Retreat House, the late Dr. Jean Hamm championed the history, mission, and value of this property without rest. Her strength in leadership, no doubt preserved the building and its legacy. The same can be said of Peggy Baldwin, a Whitetop resident who attended the school as a child and who was instrumental in having the property transferred from federal ownership back to the community. The entire KRH board deserves credit for countless hours of on the ground volunteer service and at the same time, having the broader awareness to connect BRDC with this opportunity.

Blue Ridge Discovery Center gives special thanks to its broad network of supporters who have been with us for many years and helped develop our organization. In particular, the Harris and Francis Block Foundation, and the Judge Matthews Foundation who believe in our mission to inspire curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge. 

What all of these people have in common is that they have a great love for this region and have dedicated their lives to sharing what makes it so special. We stand now, with the potential of achieving that great goal of elevating our collective understanding and appreciation of the Blue Ridge. 

We would like to invite you to join us for an Open House on December 9, 2017, from 10 to 2 pm, where we will share our full vision of how this property can serve the community. This is also an opportunity to gather stakeholder ideas, build inspiration, and together step into the future of Blue Ridge Discovery Center. 

- Aaron Floyd, Executive Director, Blue Ridge Discovery Center

Directions to the Open House and Center:

From Troutdale (Hwy 16)

• Turn from Highway 16 onto Rte 603, Fairwood Rd. 

• Continue 10.4 miles to a stop sign

• Turn Left onto Whitetop Rd/Konnarock Rd towards Damascus (Rte 603/600 Combined) 

• Travel 500ft and the Center will be at the intersection of Whitetop Rd and Konnarock Rd, where Whitetop Rd turns left and goes towards Elk Garden and Whitetop.

From I-81 North or South

• Take Exit 35 at Chilhowie, VA

• Turn South onto VA-107 (This road may change names a number of times but you do not turn off of it)

• To arrive at the Center, travel 11.4 over Iron Ridge and back down towards Konnarock and the base of Whitetop Mountain

• The Center will be at the intersection of Whitetop Rd and Konnarock Rd, where Whitetop Rd turns left and goes towards Elk Garden and Whitetop.

From Damascus (Hwy 58)

• Head East on Hwy 58 out of town, turning left just under a mile out of Damascus to stay on Hwy 58 (Hwy 91 continues straight towards Mountain City)

• To arrive at the Center, stay on straight on Hwy 58/Konnarock Rd for 12.5 miles (very curvy road and Hwy 58 turns right to go to Whitetop) 

• The Center will be at the intersection of Whitetop Rd (Rte 600) and Konnarock Rd (Rte 603), where Whitetop Rd turns left and goes towards Elk Garden and Whitetop.

For more information about the Open House, or our future Center, please email info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org