Friends of Grayson Highlands State Park

>1/01/12 - Treasurer's reports posted

12/21/2011- The weather server is back on-line!

Did you know?

Two horses and riders

Grayson Highlands State Park is a favorite destination for exiciting trail rides. There is a horse camp area with covered and open stalls for the four-legged friends, and camping sites for their owners.

Blueberries grow wild all over the park property! Come visit us this summer and pick wild Blueberries!

Random image from the photo gallery

Near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia’s two highest mountains, you’ll enjoy scenic views of alpine-like peaks of more than 5,000 feet. Facilities include a visitor center, campgrounds and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks.

Scenic horse trails and a horse camping area with stables and parking for trailers are also available. The park provides access to the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail.

Special events include the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition the third Saturday in June and Grayson Highlands Fall Festival the last full weekend in September.

From Interstate 81, take exit 45 in Marion, then Route 16 to Volney and west on U.S. 58.

Action Alert!
The Legislatures are now in session, please stay informed of changes that concern our parks.
Please read the letter below from Johnny Finch, President of Virginia Association For Parks

To: All VAFP Members

One down and one to go!

Delegate Farrell has responded to many of us and said that due to the abundance of similar information received in opposition to HB 1225, he plans to strike his bill. That he has now done so has been reported in the media. Congratulations and Well Done... to this point!

Regretably, Senators Reeves and Garrett remain entrenched on SB 571. So, it's time to rachet up the heat!

SB 571 currently sits with the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committe. This Committee has 15 members. The contact information for each member is shown below.

Please send these members messages telling them basically that SB 571 will have an unacceptable negative impact on the State Park System, Virginia's citizens, and Virginia's out of state tourists. Respectfully ask them to vote "NO" on SB 571 or to at least table the bill for study.

Also, please continue your efforts to generate letters from your local Chambers of Commerce to these same 15 members.

Here's a list of the Committee members and their respective contact info:

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources

Senator Hanger (Chairman)                      district24@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Watkins                                         district10@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Puckett                                          district38@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Ruff                                                district15@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Blevins                                          district14@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Obenshain                                    district26@senate.virginia.gov

Senator McEachin                                     district09@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Petersen                                       district34@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Northam                                        district06@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Stuart                                            district28@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Marsden                                       district37@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Stanley                                          district20@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Black                                             district13@senate.virginia.gov

Senator J.C. Miller                                     district01@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Ebbin                                            district30@senate.virginia.gov

This is a critical opportunity to send a powerful group of our elected officials a strong signal about how much we appreciate, cherish, and support our state parks.

Thanks for all you do for Virginia's parks.

Johnny

****For a sample letter click the "Get Involved" link above

Friend's Mission Statement

The mission of Friends of Grayson Highlands State Park, Incorporated is to identify and promote activities to preserve, conserve, and enhance the natural, historical, cultural, scenic, educational and recreational resources of the Park

Interesting Internet resources:

Blog for Virginia Parks
Facebook for Virginia Parks
High Road Trail Guide to the Virginia Mountains
Wayne C Henderson Music Festival and guitar competition
The Crooked Road - Virginia's Heritage Music Trail