Overview of Explore Park Adventure Plan

The future of Explore Park is coming together.

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors approved plans for campsites, cabins, yurts at the 1,100-acre park this week. The hope is that some of the new sites will be ready for visitors as early as this summer.

The broader vision for Explore Park includes more than campsites; the Adventure Plan will bring new outdoor recreation amenities to the park which already features acres of rolling hills, woodlands, hiking trails, river frontage, and several buildings.

Overnight camping is just the first part of the plan to gain public approval. From primitive camp sites and canvas platform tents or tree houses to small cabin rental, there will be a campsite for every experience level. Roanoke County has partnered with several outdoor businesses – Blue Mountain Adventures of Bent Mountain and Don’s Cab-Inns of Vinton – to begin fulfilling the community’s vision. Rental pricing and information is coming soon.

Learn more about the camping companies

Here are some of the other things you can expect to see in the future:

Bike Skills Park

Explore Park is already known as a destination for biking and hiking, with over 14-miles of trails to explore. Significant changes are coming this year as Roanoke County works with community advocates and some of the best design firms in the country to establish a new Mountain Bike Skills Park. The goal is to be the starting place for individuals and families seeking adventure and enrichment in the outdoors. Plans for the bike area include an emphasis on beginner and intermediate level skills development.

Get involved

Disc Golf Course

Designed by local disc golf enthusiasts, the Mayflower Hills Disc Golf Course near Explore Park will feature 18 tournament quality baskets over scenic and diverse terrain. Choose from a family friendly front nine or challenge yourself to the full course including loads of elevation changes, creative shot angles, and fun. Slated to open by early summer 2018.

Aerial Adventure Course

Roanoke County is finalizing negotiations with an international vendor to build a unique aerial adventure course. Set to open in spring 2019, the course will feature several skill levels of ziplines, tree-to-tree obstacle challenges, and immersive treetop adventures for all ages.

Explore Park saw more than 70,000 visitors in the 2016-17 fiscal year, and implementation of the Adventure Plan is expected to increase visitation at the park. That visitation rate is an increase over the previous year which was fueled by community interest in the park as well as program and event visits generated by 37 recreation programs, eight public events, and 21 private rentals, according to Roanoke County.

The next steps are already in place to keep the plan moving forward. Roanoke County will work on finalizing current contracts, and due to continued private interest will likely issue additional RFPs in the coming months. Capital improvements are required to further develop park infrastructure, such as road improvements, water/sewer, building improvements and a proposed bike skills park. Grant opportunities are being regularly sought out. A more formal public timeline of new development implementation will be released later this fall.

Keep up with Explore Park and download the Adventure Plan here.