Superintendent's Message
To all of you who visit Lake James State Park and love it so well, I’d like to wish a very happy New Year.
As we reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the one ahead, I want to take a moment to thank all of the people who care enough about this amazing place to volunteer their time and efforts into making the park the place of beauty, peace, refection, recreation and education that it is. Lake James State Park means so much to so many, without the help of our dedicated volunteers, the staff and I would be quickly overwhelmed.
Since they opened in 2014, our 15-mile mountain bike trail system has benefited from the expertise and unflagging enthusiasm of the members of the Northwest NC Mountain Bike Trail Alliance. The MBTA organizes regular trail maintenance workdays that keep the sprawling single-track fast and smooth and free of obstructions. Anyone who has ever ridden the Wimba or Tindo loops can thank the MBTA for the experience.
Our two day-use campgrounds, consisting of 53 primitive campsites, are stewarded by a terrific corps of volunteer campground hosts. Our hosts, some of whom return for duty year-after- year, are in charge of maintaining the sites, welcoming campers and selling firewood. Most importantly, they act as ambassadors to the hundreds of visitors they interact with on a weekly basis; answering questions, giving advice and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
The annual lake clean-ups, in both McDowell and Burke counties, are spearheaded by hundreds of volunteers who seek nothing more than to provide a clean lakeside environment for wildlife that lives here and the people who love to recreate here.
During the course of the year, Lake James State Park benefits from many other volunteers who assist our staff in providing educational programs, festival staffing, trail clean-ups and a variety of other tasks. I would be remiss not to include our incredible Friends of Lake James State Park members for all the work they do to make the park the best it can possibly be.
As we embark on 2020, I invite you to join the volunteers who help make this park great. Ranger Wade Engels is our new volunteer coordinator and he will be happy to add you to our list of passionate park-lovers who give their time and effort. He can be reached through the main office by calling (828)-584-7728.
I hope you’re planning a year filled with visits to Lake James State Park. The staff and volunteers look forward to seeing you.