Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Minutes of the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, [please note specific dates and accessions used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 43592 was transferred by the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, December 20, 2007.

Accession 51149 was transferred by the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, January 6, 2014.

Processing Information

This collection has been processed using minimal processing standards. The original arrangement has been maintained, the container list is brief and simple, and the records have not been refoldered and fasteners have not been removed.

Historical Information

The Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority was established in 1986 to provide a high quality recreational attraction in the western part of the Commonwealth; expand the historical knowledge of adults and children; promote tourism and economic development in the Commonwealth; set aside and conserve scenic and natural areas along the Roanoke River and preserve open lands; and enhance and expand research and educational programs. The authority was governed by a board of directors consisting of nineteen members including thirteen non-legislative citizen members appointed by the Governor on recommendation by the River Foundation. The Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority was created to operate Virginia’s Explore Park which was originally intended to be a zoological park and scenic highway in the Roanoke Valley joining the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bern Ewert, former Roanoke city manager, was hired as project director and developed the Explore Park Master Plan for a $349 million history theme park and zoo.

The Authority purchased 818 acres of land for Explore Park for $3.7 million in 1988. In 1990, officials announced a scaled-back version of Explore Park called Explore ’94 which originally called for a zoo, frontier town, living history exhibit, and environmental center. The park opened for the first time in June 1993 with a two-building 19th century farmstead. The park officially opened on 2 July 1994 under Director M. Rupert Cutler. On 16 October 2007, the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority voted to cease regular operations of Virginia’s Explore Park due to a lack of funds. In 2013, the park was leased to Roanoke County on a 99-year lease term so that the County could operate the park.

Scope and Content

Minutes, 1987-2013, document the efforts of the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority in the planning, management, and operation of Virginia's Explore Park in Roanoke, Virginia. Also included is a videotaped public service announcement for Explore Park and a dvd of the U.S. Challenge held at Explore Park in 2006, as well as a copy of the 2013 lease for the Explore Park in Roanoke County.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in original order.