Accomplishments

Synopsis of Elkin Valley Trails Association

Achievements since the Summer 2011

Researched and wrote the Elkin & Alleghany Railroad (E & A RR) Revisited book in 2012
Researched, had knapped, secured a location and placed a 4,000 pound granite Daniel Boone Arrowhead bearing the brass Daniel Boone plaque and had it dedicated.
Collected, mounted and saved hundreds of old photos of the region and specifically related to the E & A Railroad and displayed those at the Elkin Library as an opening exhibit of the EVTA
Rediscover old railroad tracks in Elkin near the old E & A RR office
Hailed the restoration of the old E & A RR office as a downtown lodging
Place eighteen historical and wildlife markers along the E & A Rail-Trail (E & A RT)
Discovered a 35-ft brick bridge hidden in the forest

John McComb, Artist designed, built and placed at the entry of the E & A RR, an art sculpture of the E & A Smokestack dedicated to the founders of the E & A Railroad
Chazz Elstone, Artist, designed, built and placed by the Shoe Factory Dam . . . a Sculpture dedicated to the E & A Railroad and EVTA
Coordinated a grant with the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club for two peace benches along side the Elkin Library Dam Waterfall
Obtained old rails from Yadkin Valley Railroad for use in construction
Helped initiate the Town of Elkin purchase of 3.1 acres in town for the Elkin Heritage, Art and Trails Center

Developed and built the Trail Town entry kiosk with help from our local Lowes (we are a Lowe’s Hero) and the Winston Salem Foundation
Painted MST direction signs on sidewalks
18 multimodal QR Coded history and biology signs in Elkin and along the E & A Rail-Trail
Installed two information kiosks provide by our local Lowes Store as their Lowe’s Hero of the year
In junction with the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club placed rescue, maintenance and location signs on the EVTA section of the Mountains to Sea Trail

Damien Spicer built and installed a kayak and canoe rack at Crater Park and with help from EVTA build a trail and cleared land for a campground at Crater Park
Spencer Douglas had build and permanently places three cement, wood facsimile, benches on pads along the E & A RT/MST
Jarrett Peterson rebuilt a old pump house into a rest area and rain shelter that include a viewing deck with stainless steel railings donated by Tampco, a wooden viewing bench, wooden fences, plantings and art sculpture a the Shoe Factory Dam
Harrison Hall had built and construction for a 40-ft bridge, on three 18-in over Grassy Creek
Coordinated with Eagle Scout on two trail benches on Wells Knob

Jarrett Peterson Senior Project for steps down to the Elkin Creek at the Shoe Factory Dam
Multiple Elkin Middle School project including trail repair, rock stacking, seeding
EHS Art Class trail entry signpost
Trail Town entry signage
Elkin Interact Club, Beta Club and East Wilkes Beta Club

Two Federal RTP Grants administered by NC State Parks and Recreations for $218,500 for 178-ft bridge and 80-ft culvert, ill and trail (EVTA raised over $160,000 in matching money)
Three Winston-Salem Foundation grants of $5,000, $5,000 and $10,000 for a new picnic area with five table and trash system; 550-ft of in-town trail; and for heavy machinery work and materials for part of the Mountain Bike Course.
Lowes Foundation Grant for $25,000 for 140-ft bridge
Jandy Ammons Grant for $10,000 for a 1.33-acre wildlife meadow, native species walk and signage including 20 tree Identification signs.
Yadkin Valley Rotary Club grants for emergency rescue location signs and two Peace Benches at the Library Dam Waterfall
Multiple Wal-Mart grants for materials
Chatham Foundation grants
Boyles-Eidson grants
Anonymous Foundation grants for $30,000

E & A Rail-Trail named a Birding Hotspot on ebird
Built bridges of 178, 140, 40 x 2, 25 x 2, 12, 15 x 2, 23-ft Bridges on the trail
Built and decked walkways and bridges of 110 and 58-feet
Built 3 miles of Mountain Bike Trail
Began 16 miles of horse/hike trail from Stone Mt to Elk
Prompted 3 additional miles of horse/hike trail inside Stone Mt.
Prompting 1 additional mile in the park to result in 10 miles of horse hike trail in St. Mt. Park and connected to the EVTA 16 miles = 26 miles of horse and trail
Uncovered 35-foot arched brick bridge build over 100 years ago and added it to the mountain bike trail loop.
Prompted Trail Town Mural 2015
Developed multiple business partnership for trail construction, wellness, etc.
Hospital Wellness initiative
Successful worked to have Elkin Creek Designated as a NC Hatcher Trout Stream and stocked annually in April
Decorated trail with garlands, bows and scarecrow Santa Elves
Have conducted six Trails Boogies, five Insane Terrains races, four Yadkin Valley Tour de Vinos (31, 50, 71 and 100 mile rides), five Duck & Turtle Regattas, two Fiddler’s Paddles, numerous vineyard stomps
Set up a Trail Angel group and housed multiple hikes including Warriors walking off the war.

Sent monthly newsletters via email Constant Contact to over 1,000 members
Connected on Facebook with over 1,700 person
Established an Elkin Valley Trails Association Website
Host a weekly Trails Talk Radio Program and podcast
Have been featured in the Elkin Tribune, NPR, Public Radio, WXII News, Public TV, Time Warner, Yadkin Valley magazine, NC Wildlife Magazine, Roots Rated on line Outdoor site
Provided annual updates to our larger community
Made regular reports to Wilkes and Surry County Commissioners and to Town of Elkin Commissioners

Conducted Multiple Trail workdays to build and maintain trails between Stone Mountain State Park and Elkin and then to Pilot Mountain State Park
Set up the canoe and paddle float from Elkin to Rockford and then to Pilot Mountain State Park
Initiated Survey of five mile of trail between Elkin and Mitchell’s River
Built 2 miles on Sawyer property
Built 3 miles on Wells Knob 3 miles
Built 2.7 miles at Grassy Creek,
Built 3.5 miles in the town of Elkin
Worked with Stone Mountain State Park to finish 3 miles in the park equaling a total of 9 miles of the Mountains to Sea Trail
Working with Stone Mt. to complete one more mile to complete 10 miles in the park from Devil’s Garden to the Sawyer property.
Working to complete 36 miles of horse and hike trail from Devil’s Garden Elkin and then 36 miles to Pilot Mt. State Park

Over 65 businesses and clubs including extensive help from Yadkin Valley Riders Club, Yadkin Valley Rotary Club, Captain Mark Garner VFW Post, Boy Scouts of America, Prism Medical Products, Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin and East Wilkes Schools, multiple vineyards and restaurants, Tampco, AllStar Rental, Jimmy Chappell businesses, Foothills Forestry, Joe Snow, Greenhill Environmental, Tri-County Signs, Nu-Line and Graphic Printing, Walmart, Liberty and 222 Public House, Speedy Chef, Elkin Parks and Recreation, Round Peak Vineyard, Skull Camp Brewery, Lowes Hardware,