Artisans Community Loop Trail Being Finalized for Patrick County
May 1, 2009
Our absolute last date we can accept trail site applications is May 15,� said Charlotte Gardner, Chairman of TAC, in a recent meeting.
10,000 brochures will be printed for distribution at Welcome Centers, visitor’s centers, and other points througho
First version had "though" instead of "through"--see underunlined word
TAC Counting Down on ‘Round the Mountain Trail Sites
The final opportunity that Patrick County artisans, farmers, bed and breakfast owners and other qualified business have to take their place on the ’Round the Mountain Artisan Community Loop Trail is slipping away, according to Patrick County’s Tourism Advisory Council (TAC). “Our absolute last date we can accept trail site applications is May 15,� said Charlotte Gardner, Chairman of TAC, in a recent meeting.
10,000 brochures will be printed for distribution at Welcome Centers, visitor’s centers, and other points throughout Virginia through a joint effort of Patrick County, the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce and ‘Round the Mountain. Any sites that do not join ‘Round the Mountain, Southwest Virginia’s Artisans Guild and apply to become trail sites, will not be included in this printing. “It will be some time before the county can afford to print more brochures,� explained Ms. Gardner, pointing out that a grant had been obtained to cover some of the cost of design and printing.
“I see this as a wonderful opportunity for Patrick County,� commented Karl Weiss, member of the Board of Supervisors for the Blue Ridge District. “Bed and breakfast type lodgings especially should benefit from participating in this project.�
In addition to their appearance on the Patrick County Community Loop Trail and brochure, trail site members are also featured on the ‘Round the Mountain web site at
http://www.roundthemoutain.org. Brochures will be showcased at Heartwood, the Artisans’ Center that will be opening in Abingdon, Virginia, in 2010.
All trail site members must be signed up by May 15, 2009, in order to be included in the project and brochure. Artisans with studios open to the public, farmers with pick-your-own or other public facilities, restaurants and bed-and-breakfast type lodgings are encouraged to apply for membership. Although TAC members will attempt to contact all artisans and other qualified venues that they are aware of, interested parties should contact Ms. Pendleton at 276-694-8367 or Pat Sharkey, Trail Development Coordinator, RTM at 540-651-4819
