Rutherford County's network of hiking trails, greenways, and blueways are the result of a collaborative effort between a team of trail partners working to build and maintain these outdoor spaces. Each partner has a crucial role to play in making Rutherford County's trails safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors.
Rutherford Bound invests in local trails -- greenways, blueways, and hiking trails -- that make the county an even better place to live, work, and play. By funding the construction and improvement of area trails, Rutherford Bound is improving the quality of life for residents and actively attracting more visitors to the area. Rutherford Bound has also formed the Rutherford County Trails Collaborative, a group of stakeholders with the goal of guiding trail infrastructure development in the county. By providing a framework of organization, leadership, and teamwork, Rutherford Bound is moving outdoor recreation and trail construction forward in Rutherford County.
Conservancies help to secure land where trails are built and work to oversee the maintenance of existing trails. They have a hand in the design and layout of new trails and contract with trail builders for construction. Foothills Conservancy and Conserving Carolina are instrumental in trail building, preservation, and upkeep in Rutherford County. Because it is their primary mission to preserve and protect land, water, and wildlife, these conservancy groups are valuable trail partners.
State Parks offer protected areas of land where new trails can be built and are the site of numerous existing trails for visitors to enjoy. Combined, Chimney Rock State Park and South Mountain State Park oversee, upkeep, and maintain more than 63 miles of hiking trails for some 800,000 visitors each year.
Towns and Municipalities in Rutherford County advocate for new trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. They are also responsible for the long-term maintenance of trails within their borders. During the past seven years, towns in Rutherford County have come together like never before to create new greenways, and hiking & biking trails. These towns know that, if they invest in trails and outdoor spaces, their communities will reap an outstanding economic return. In addition to creating more attractive communities, every $1 spent on trail construction returns $1.72 annually to local businesses.
Rutherford Outdoor Coalition (ROC) promotes outdoor recreation across Rutherford County by building and developing new trails, and protecting existing ones. ROC advocates for expanding trail opportunities and mobilizes volunteers to do trail work. By organizing local recreation groups, holding monthly meetings, and circulating information, ROC is an instrumental trail partner in Rutherford County. Additionally, the Carolina Climbers Coalition is a valuable partner in building and maintaining climbing routes and the necessary access trails.
Working together, Rutherford Bound and each of these trail partners are improving the quality of life for residents, attracting visitors to the area, and enhancing the outdoor experience that already surrounds us in Rutherford County.
Rutherford County's network of hiking trails, greenways, and blueways are the result of a collaborative effort between a team of trail partners working to build and maintain these outdoor spaces. Each partner has a crucial role to play in making Rutherford County's trails safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors.
Rutherford Bound invests in local trails -- greenways, blueways, and hiking trails -- that make the county an even better place to live, work, and play. By funding the construction and improvement of area trails, Rutherford Bound is improving the quality of life for residents and actively attracting more visitors to the area. Rutherford Bound has also formed the Rutherford County Trails Collaborative, a group of stakeholders with the goal of guiding trail infrastructure development in the county. By providing a framework of organization, leadership, and teamwork, Rutherford Bound is moving outdoor recreation and trail construction forward in Rutherford County.
Conservancies help to secure land where trails are built and work to oversee the maintenance of existing trails. They have a hand in the design and layout of new trails and contract with trail builders for construction. Foothills Conservancy and Conserving Carolina are instrumental in trail building, preservation, and upkeep in Rutherford County. Because it is their primary mission to preserve and protect land, water, and wildlife, these conservancy groups are valuable trail partners.
State Parks offer protected areas of land where new trails can be built and are the site of numerous existing trails for visitors to enjoy. Combined, Chimney Rock State Park and South Mountain State Park oversee, upkeep, and maintain more than 63 miles of hiking trails for some 800,000 visitors each year.
Towns and Municipalities in Rutherford County advocate for new trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. They are also responsible for the long-term maintenance of trails within their borders. During the past seven years, towns in Rutherford County have come together like never before to create new greenways, and hiking & biking trails. These towns know that, if they invest in trails and outdoor spaces, their communities will reap an outstanding economic return. In addition to creating more attractive communities, every $1 spent on trail construction returns $1.72 annually to local businesses.
Rutherford Outdoor Coalition (ROC) promotes outdoor recreation across Rutherford County by building and developing new trails, and protecting existing ones. ROC advocates for expanding trail opportunities and mobilizes volunteers to do trail work. By organizing local recreation groups, holding monthly meetings, and circulating information, ROC is an instrumental trail partner in Rutherford County. Additionally, the Carolina Climbers Coalition is a valuable partner in building and maintaining climbing routes and the necessary access trails.
Working together, Rutherford Bound and each of these trail partners are improving the quality of life for residents, attracting visitors to the area, and enhancing the outdoor experience that already surrounds us in Rutherford County.
Shredders of all ages in western North Carolina will find a warm welcome in downtown Spindale next year as town leaders move forward on plans for the region's first skatepark and pump track.
Thanks to a generous 1.6-acre donation of land from Spindale United Methodist Church and a $300,000 leadership grant from Meta, the company that pioneered the social media platform Facebook, the state of the art skatepark and pump track will offer visitors to Spindale yet another reason to enjoy the town's recreation-oriented outdoor spaces. Spindale town leaders have continued to prioritize investment in outdoor recreation opportunities as a means of improving quality of life for residents and visitors and to draw business opportunities to the downtown.
"We're proud to support the Spindale Skatepark & Pump Track. It's an exciting enhancement to the Thermal Belt Rail Trail and will be a tremendous amenity for our community. We are grateful to the team of local business, civic and government visionaries who have come together to create this unique experience that will be enjoyed by all of our neighbors in Rutherford County."
Tara Tenorio, Meta Community Development Regional Manager
The future Spindale Skatepark & Pump Track will be located at the intersection of East Main and Steward Streets in Downtown Spindale, on 1.6 acres of land donated by the Spindale United Methodist Church and is directly adjacent to the Thermal Belt Rail Trail (TBRT). Scott Webber, Spindale's town manager, says the skatepark is a long-held dream that is now becoming a reality. He says Meta, in combination with other generous donors, has helped them move forward with a tangible timeline toward completing the project some time in 2023. Meta has been part of the WNC community since breaking ground on its Forest City Data Center in 2010.
“If it weren’t for Meta’s investment in our community, the Skatepark would simply not be possible at this time. Their initial funding has been the catalyst, the spark needed, to move this project from concept to reality and has led to additional funding partners coming to the table to help bring this project to fruition.”
Scott Webber, Spindale Town Manager
The proximity of the Spindale Skatepark & Pump Track to the Thermal Belt Rail Trail is an excellent opportunity to attract a brand-new user group to the trail. The TBRT is a remarkable community asset that originated from a concerted effort to connect several municipalities and encourage collaboration within the county. As the trail continues to grow, these relationships have been cemented and additional communities have been brought into this joint effort.
Spindale United Methodist Church leadership says this is an exciting opportunity to promote activities in this thriving community.
“As longtime advocates of the revitalization of the town of Spindale, the people of Spindale United Methodist Church are exceedingly excited about the vast possibilities a new skatepark brings to the area. As is gleaned from the early church in antiquity, having a sense of community (Greek “Koinonia”) is woven into the very fabric of who we are as God’s people. Thus, in donating our front property to the town of Spindale to be used as a safe connecting point for people of all ages, Spindale UMC is humbled by the opportunity to take faithful steps in expanding the boundaries of God’s purest space (Koinonia) within our beloved community.”
Eric Mashburn, Pastor at Spindale United Methodist Church
“The town is grateful and appreciative of the generosity of Spindale United Methodist Church. This gift will benefit the town and its citizens and will take advantage of the proximity of the property to the “Rails to Trails”, said the Mayor of Spindale, Mickey Bland.
Alex Gotherman with Boone-based planning and design firm, Destination by Design (DbD), presented plans for the Spindale Skatepark & Pump Track to area leaders at a January 24th Board of Commissioners meeting. The American Ramp Company, a national leader in skateparks, will be responsible for the final design and construction of the skatepark and pump track. In addition to these recreation facilities, current plans include new restrooms near the TBRT, a shelter with picnic tables, and custom bike racks and benches.
The Spindale Skatepark & Pump Track initiative was initially introduces as part of the Thermal Belt Rail Trail Enhancement Master Plan, which was led by Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority, Rutherford County, and municipal leaders from Rutherfordton, Spindale, and Forest City.
The Town of Spindale has secured approximately $820,000 for this project thus far and will continue to pursue additional grant opportunities throughout 2022 while engineering documents are being prepared. A groundbreaking for the project is expected in spring 2023.
On behalf of the Town of Lake Lure, Rutherford Bound, and the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority, we would like to remind you about the Ribbon Cutting of the new Lake Lure Boardwalk and Washburn Marina this Friday. Completed in 2020, the new boardwalk now features a durable metal hand railing and walkway with non-slip tread. Connected to the boardwalk are the new boat slips and expanded marina, all built on a floating dock system. This event is a great opportunity to learn about these new improvements, as well as the Town’s plans for future projects.
You can watch the recorded event later that day on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RutherfordBound
Facebook's generous support shows the importance of the visionary Rutherford Bound project.
Watch This Video To Learn More
We have some exciting news to share with Rutherford County and our KidSenses family! We are thrilled to share that KidSenses has received a $300,000 grant from the Facebook Forest City Data Center to support our capital campaign for The FACTORY, which includes a 2,000-square-foot Tech Lab, a hands-on, advanced maker space for children. Partnerships like these are so important to KidSenses and help us continue to provide open, engaging spaces for kids and teens to use their imaginations and create new things. Check out this video for more about the project!
A re-envisioned streetscape provides a “leap forward” of long-needed improvements and upgrades, promising a heightened experience for travelers and a better community for residents in idyllic Chimney Rock Village– the gateway to one of NC’s most treasured State Parks.
On January 21, government, business, and community leaders, along with project planners, commemorated Phase 1 of the streetscape revitalization project, a bold new step that’s been years in the making.
The project will enhance and expand the decades of forethought and hard work that have made Chimney Rock a worldwide attraction for more than a quarter-million visitors every year.
The streetscape plan will draw together the town’s existing structures and spaces into a more cohesive and walkable experience for visitors. Phase 1 of the project will include a new Riverwalk Plaza between the Gem Mine and Bubba O’Learys. This new 1,200-square-foot plaza will provide for new gathering and seating areas, improved access to the Riverwalk along the First Broad River, street trees, lighting, and parallel parking.
“I want to help develop, protect and showcase the abundant natural resources here and protect it so it can be enjoyed forever. We want to build this as a tourism mecca but also protect and preserve the natural beauty, wonders and resources.”
Peter O'Leary, Mayor of Chimney Rock Village
A convergence of the new Thermal Belt Rail Trail with a revitalizing Main Street, promises to remake Spindale, NC’s, historic downtown.
On November 19th, leaders from across Rutherford County and the State of North Carolina gathered for a socially-distanced celebration of phase one of a new streetscape redevelopment project for downtown Spindale.
As part of this project, Downtown Spindale, which is positioned immediately opposite the popular Thermal Belt Rail Trail, will receive several new features such as widened sidewalks, street trees and lighting, and new crosswalks linking Main Street to the Rail Trail. The improved streetscape will offer trail users and downtown visitors unparalleled access to the idyllic small-town experience of strolling, shopping, and dining in a historic downtown.
Government, business, and community leaders, along with project planners, are commemorating the beginning of this streetscape master plan that will help preserve the historic integrity and legacy of Spindale while strengthening its economic future.
The project in many ways represents an ideal prototype for revitalizing rural Main Streets by increasing walkability, enhancing connectivity of green spaces to historic districts, and incorporating industrial-era assets into public spaces for commerce and recreation.
The forward-thinking design for spaces in the center of town will link both east and west sections of downtown and will include repurposing the historic Spindale depot building, across from the main street, into a brewery or retail space.
Downtown Spindale and the vicinity around the historic Spindale House was once known as the gathering place for all of Rutherford County. The town of Spindale was established around the local textile industry, but since the town’s last mill closure in 1999 the beloved downtown has faced the ongoing challenge of re-establishing itself. Through this innovative approach to rural economic development, the Town hopes to once again reclaim its place as a main street destination in Rutherford County and a center of recreation and commerce for the community.
The Phase 1 Streetscape project, which extends from Nebraska Street to Revely Street, is under construction and will be complete by the first quarter of 2021. This area represents approximately 15 percent of the total streetscape project.
Multiple phases will be required to complete the entire streetscape master plan, and fundraising and grantmaking efforts continue as the town and community stakeholders work to further realize downtown revitalization efforts.
The Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority and local leaders have worked for nearly two years to develop a vision for improving the quality of life infrastructure to meet the new economy's demands. The Rutherford Bound Master Plan outlines a bold vision for community revitalization, streetscape investments, and a destination-quality system of greenways, trails, and parks. These elements are not mere "wants." We must make critical investments as a community to ensure Rutherford County can effectively compete for visitors, new business and industry, and a talented workforce.
