News Release

Shenandoah National Park ceremony celebrates donation of nearly 1,000 acres to the park

Photo of land on Tanners Ridge acquired by the Shenandoah National Park Trust (taken fall 2021). Of note, there were a number of large, healthy hemlocks near the creek (Naked Creek), and also a waterfall.

NPS

News Release Date: May 18, 2023

Contact: Claire Comer, 540-999-3500 x 3183

In a mountainside dedication ceremony on May 18, Shenandoah National Park officially commemorated the 2022 donation of nearly 1,000 acres of land from the Shenandoah National Park Trust. The historic donation is the result of a collaboration with partners from local, state, and national levels.

The ceremony included remarks from National Park Service Associate Director for Partnerships and Civic Engagement Lauren Imgrund, Department of the Interior Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment Director Emily Joseph, and representatives of the Trust and previous landowners.

Nearly 1,000 acres of woodlands including the headwaters of Naked Creek in the Tanners Ridge area of Page County are now protected as part of Shenandoah National Park through a donation made possible by a proposal by the Shenandoah National Park Trust to the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. Achieved by the united effort of landowners, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies, these lands and headwaters of Naked Creek are now protected and preserved as public lands in perpetuity.

“The Shenandoah National Park Trust is proud of the strong collaborations that have led to this momentous addition to the park,” said Jessica Cocciolone, executive director of the trust. “These partnerships have ensured that this majestic property will be preserved for generations to come.”

The Shenandoah National Park Trust worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (NRDAR), the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as local partners and landowners to purchase three contiguous properties with funds from the 2016 DuPont environmental damage settlement. Funds from the settlement were to be used for “land protection, property acquisition, and recreational and wildlife enhancements – riparian habitat along the South River or South Fork Shenandoah River.”

“We are thrilled that the settlement funds enabled the addition of these lands to Shenandoah National Park,” said Cindy Schulz, field office supervisor at the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s Virginia Ecological Services Field Office. “Conserving this area meets the goals of the settlement by protecting tributaries to the South Fork Shenandoah River and providing and improving habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.”

“We are honored to be entrusted with the protection of these lands for the American people," said Pat Kenney, superintendent of Shenandoah National Park. “We appreciate the willing sellers for their recognition of the importance of protecting these lands for future generations.”

The donated land is rich with history reflecting generations of family ownership and natural wonders, including waterfalls and sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley. Former landowners Camille Bradford, Carol Dean Campbell, Connie Dean Kerlin, and the Graves family have made the restoration and protection of these lands a priority by making their properties available for purchase.
 

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About the National Park Service: Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of America’s more than 400 national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with millions of people every year. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Shenandoah National Park added 969 acres of land to the Tanners Ridge area. This ceremony celebrated the landowners and partners that made this acquisition possible.

NPS