The 2002 Virginia Outdoors Plan Region 6: Central Shenandoah Planning District The Central Shenandoah Planning District was named for its geographic location in the heart of Virginia’s famous Shenandoah Valley. The district comprises Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge and Rockingham counties; the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro; and the towns of Bridgewater, Broadway, Craigsville, Dayton, Elkton, Glasgow, Goshen, Grottoes, Monterey, Mount Crawford and Timberville. According to the 2000 Census, more than 258,750 people live in the region. For the district, this represents about a 15% increase from the 1990 census numbers. The Central Shenandoah Planning District has a total area of approximately 3,437 square miles. The Blue Ridge Mountains form the eastern boundary and the Allegheny range lies along the western part of the region. Nestled between these mountains, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley contains beautiful and diverse landscapes of fertile farmland, rolling fields and forests. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River flows through the valley, creating one of the premier fisheries in the state, while providing opportunities for swimming, canoeing and camping. Many of the headwater streams that form the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River originate in Augusta and Highland counties. To the south, the James River cuts through the corner of Rockbridge County. Numerous streams in Augusta, Highland and Bath counties form the headwater sections of the James River system. A variety of natural and recreational resources are present in the region. Federal holdings total more than 618,170 acres, and include the Shenandoah National Park and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The Appalachian Trail skirts the eastern boundary of the region. Douthat State Park, state-owned wildlife management areas, forests and other state resources contribute an addi- tional 66,132 + acres of valuable open space, and provide numerous and varied recreational opportunities, as do the regional recreational areas of Natural Chimneys CHAPTER IV-F and Grand Caverns. 197 The 2002 Virginia Outdoors Plan The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive are among mainly to the large state and federal holdings. There the nation’s premier scenic roads. These major scenic remains a shortage of land and facilities for close-to-home highways attract tourists from throughout the nation, activities that local residents desire in their communi- as well as international visitors. The character of the ties. Currently, the greatest needs for local facilities parkway, as well as some sections of Skyline Drive, include courts and fields, outdoor swimming pools, have been altered from that of a pastoral scene to playgrounds, and other resources usually provided by landscapes that are sometimes marked by incompati- local parks and recreational departments. See Table 8, ble development. Overlooks that once featured page 205. breathtaking vistas of farmsteads or forest now reveal factories and expanding suburban residential develop- The following recommendations could contribute to ment. In some cases, subdivisions are being developed regional open space and/or recreational opportunities within a few hundred feet of these magnificent corri- for meeting current and future needs of area residents dors. As development continues to expand in these and visitors. sensitive areas, there will be major impacts on the quality of the visitor experience. Those communities Private sector that benefit most from the presence of these scenic The private sector has numerous opportunities to highways should consider strengthening local compre- become involved in the recreation-tourism economic hensive plans and creating special zoning regulations activities that result from the region’s unique natural, that will take into account the unique scenic and eco- cultural, and historic resources. The increased demand nomic benefits associated with the scenic values of the for facilities to house, feed, and provide services to the parkway and Skyline Drive and their viewsheds. millions of visitors is obvious. The private sector will provide most of the future development of golf courses, The Central Shenandoah Valley is a major tourist des- pools, and other similar facilities. The ecotourism tination for visitors from throughout the country who related demands for the Central Shenandoah Valley are are attracted by the region’s many natural and historic steadily increasing. Many of the significant battlefields resources. Nationally known resorts, such as the from the Civil War remain in private ownership. The Homestead, are popular destinations offering year-round Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation will rely opportunities such as snow-skiing and championship heavily on public-private partnerships in order to golf courses. The Museum of American Frontier implement the many recommendations found in the Culture near Staunton has become a major attraction Management Plan for protecting these historic areas for the region. The Virginia Horse Center near Lexington and helping to meet the ever-increasing demands gener- attracts equine enthusiasts from throughout the Mid- ated by Civil War enthusiasts. Private companies support Atlantic region. Events like Staunton’s Fourth of July the most of the demand for canoes and other recreation- celebration and the Highland Maple Festival increase al watercraft for visitors seeking to explore the leg- in popularity every year. endary South Fork of the Shenandoah, the James and Maury Rivers. However, additional opportunities exist All the localities in this region have resources on the to provide access points and visitor accommodations. National Register of Historic Places, including a num- ber of historic districts that date back to the first set- Federal facilities tlement in the area. The entire region is dotted with 1. In 1997 Congress enacted legislation creating the historic villages, farms, and inns. Since the area has Shenandoah Valley Battlefield National Historic remained largely rural, most of these historic sites have District (SVBNHD). Augusta, Highland and retained a high degree of integrity. Rockingham counties and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro are included within that Due to the vast natural resources and outdoor recre- designation. The legislation authorized a commission ational facilities on state and federal lands, the central whose charge was to develop a plan to promote the Shenandoah region is a net importer of recreational protection and continued appreciation of the historic, demand. The results of the 2000 Demand-Supply-Needs cultural, and natural resources that are associated with Analysis for this region indicate a surplus of park and the battlefields and are important to the people of the open space lands. However, this abundance is due region, the Shenandoah Valley and the nation. The 198 The 2002 Virginia Outdoors Plan Shenandoah Valley Civil War Battlefields Foundation 3. The George Washington and Jefferson National was also created to serve as a catalyst for implementing Forests completed its Revised Land and Resource the management plan. Management Plan in January 1993, which calls for additional resources to support the dispersed recre- This district contains some of the most remarkable ation associated with the forest. Under master plan and intact Civil War battlefields in the United States. goals and objectives, the forest will operate using a The landscape of the valley, its natural beauty, farms, balanced approach; recreation and conservation will small towns and tradition makes it one of the most have equal weight with other forest activities. There “characteristically American” regions in the country. will be additional facilities provided during the life of More than 325-armed conflicts took place in the eight the plan, including trails, camping, water access, nat- counties (includes all of PDC 7) that comprise the ural resource interpretation and environmental educa- SVBNHD and lay at the heart of the struggle. tion. Implementation of these recommendations According to the management plan, about 70% of the could provide new and improved recreational oppor- core areas identified in the management plan retain tunities for forest visitors. their original integrity, while only about 7% of those areas are in some way protected. Today the district 4. Local governments should support efforts to remains a vital, yet vulnerable national resource. encourage adjacent landowners, localities and plan- Protection and interpretation of the core resources ning district commissions to develop a scenic overlay should be a priority for all of the partnering agencies. zone adjacent to and within the viewshed of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive as part of a multi- The SVBNHD Management Plan outlines a program regional parkway viewshed planning process. to preserve the districts historical character, protect and interpret the Civil War battlefields and related 5. Segments of the Bullpasture, Cowpasture, Jackson, resources and increase the public’s awareness of the North and St. Mary’s rivers, as well as Back Creek, war’s legacy in the valley. The plan contains dozens of have been identified in the Forest Service’s Revised recommendations for protecting the fragile resources, Land and Resource Management Plan as eligible for providing visitor information services, interpreting consideration for potential federal Wild and Scenic the activities that occurred