News Release

Ribbon Cutting Celebration Held

Home for the Holidays

NPS

News Release Date: November 28, 2023

Contact: Park Contact, 828-693-4178

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, local partners, and park staff held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the Friends’ donation of an accessible visitor shuttle. The shuttle improves ongoing efforts to provide visitor access, which was impacted by the August 2022 failure of historic Front Lake dam. 

In August 2022, a portion of Front Lake dam failed. When the dam eroded, it washed away part of the park’s shuttle route, which was serviced by a golf cart. The park had to map out a new shuttle route that involved driving on county roads—something a golf cart can't do.  

The Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara provided emergency funding in 2022 for a "street legal" visitor shuttle. For these efforts and for ongoing and outstanding park support, the Friends received the 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.  

The Friends then raised $80,000 in 6 months to buy and donate a new, accessible visitor shuttle. They raised this money with support from numerous partners, including The Village of Flat Rock; The Community Foundation of Henderson County; the Perry N. Rudnick Fund; and the Hunter Hometown Foundation. 

“Carl Sandburg once said, ‘I see great days ahead. Great days possible to men and women of will and vision.’ The will and vision of the Friends and other partners in donating this shuttle has significantly improved access for visitors of all ages and abilities,” said Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “We are grateful for their support.”  

The six passenger / two wheelchair shuttle will operate Thursdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm and will continue to serve visitors after the dam is repaired. For more information on why the dam failed and an estimated repair timeline please visit: FrontLakeDam - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).  

Images:

The six passenger / two wheelchair shuttle, donated by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and other local partners made it to the Sandburg Home just in time for the Holidays!