And the Beat Goes On.....

National Trails Day was a WONDERFUL day in Elkin on Saturday, June 5th. Duke Energy donated land which we were able to get paved as a road-side pull off, with Stimulus funds if I am not mistaken, so that tourists have "someplace to go" to see the Surry Muster Ground and the wayside exhibit on the trailhead of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.


Check out this video from one of our OVTA members.

It was just a great day!! This is all made possible by funding via the National Parks Foundation 2009 Active Trails grant from the support of The Coca-Cola Company.

We were also supported in our efforts to dedicate the space by Boy and Girl Scouts groups coming from Allegheny to Yadkin counties. They came from all over the backcountry just like the patriots of 1780 to help patrol and clean-up the National Trail in Surry county. They earned National Historic Trail patches by their efforts and walked a tremendous number of miles in the 3 hours between 8 and 11 am.

We were SO grateful too for the support from Greg Jones from Ft.Dobbs who led the Blackpowder exhibition and dressed out in 1780 militia wear instead of his normal Provincial Soldier from the French and Indian War.

The National Parks Service brought us the Guilford Fife and Drum Corps from Greensboro. Senator Jim Broyhill from Winston-Salem told the scouts and public the story of establishing the historic trail and why it was meaningful. Mrs. Broyhill came too!

The town of Elkin did a tremendous job of preparing the landscape, red, white and blue ribbon and giant sissors to cut the ribbon.

The SAR presented the colors, the DAR cheered us on and the public came out to give us support.

Great, great day!!