About F3ST
Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization.
Mission
The mission of F3ST is to connect mountain communities in western North Carolina through the Fonta Flora State Trail to promote physical health, mental wellness, economic development, and outdoor recreation with trail partners for the enjoyment and education of all people.
How F3ST Started
How F3ST started: At the end of 2019 a more coordinated effort was needed between the three counties — Burke, McDowell, and Buncombe — to complete a trail project of this scale. The Friends of Lake James State Park (FLJSP) led the way to form this cohesive group. FLJSP Vice President and Emeritus Member Judge Robert C. Hunter graciously accepted a leadership role, befitting his background working in the NC Legislature on State Parks and State Trails.
Friends of Fonta Flora State Trails, Inc. was effectively born on December 18, 2019, when the FLJSP hosted a reception at Fonta Flora Brewery at Whippoorwill Farm. Nearly 100 people — state and local officials, businesspeople, conservationists, and others — gathered to celebrate the official formation of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. (F3ST).
F3ST hit the ground running. McDowell County generously “loaned” staff member Blair Melton to help get the new organization off the ground. With the help of Shane Prisby from Burke County, Heather Cotton with the City of Marion, McDowell County Economic Development Director Charles Abernathy and Josh Harrold, Town Manager for the town of Black Mountain, the team developed bylaws and put together the foundational strategy for an effective 501c3 organization.
In the spring of 2021, F3ST was awarded 501c3 status and had a fully formed Board of Directors with equal representation of 9 jurisdictions within the three counties. The Board of Directors is composed of five representatives from each of the three counties (3 local government representative, a trails representative, and an economic development representative) plus designated seats for the Friends of Lake James State Park, Inc. the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Inc. the YMCA of Western North Carolina, NC State Parks and a member from the WNC Bridge Foundation.’
F3ST is grateful for past and present funding support from: McDowell County, City of Marion, Town of Black Mountain, Town of Old Fort, Town of Glen Alpine, Burke County, City of Morganton.
Fonta Flora Flash E-Newsletter
2026 Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Kenny Greene - President
Mark Cobb - Vice-Chair/Secretary
Ed Phillips - Treasurer
Steve Pierce - At Large, President of the McDowell Trails Association
Julia Weatherford - At Large, Town of Black Mountain
Chuck Aldridge - Town of Old Fort
Sarah Chabaane - Trials Director of Burke County
Megan Foy - Equinox Environmental, Landscape Architect
Wes Shelley - Attorney, Evans & Shelley
Shyla Miller, Landscape Conservation Program Coordinator, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Beth Heile - Board Member Emeritus
Robert Hunter - Board Member Emeritus
Advisory Council
The F3ST Board is supported by an Advisory Council. Members are employees and volunteers from the various stakeholder groups and local governments working to get the trail on the ground.
Town of Black Mountain Josh Harrold Town Manager
Connect Buncombe Linda Giltz President
City of Asheville Lucy Crown Greenway Planner
Buncombe County Recreation Services Director
City of Morganton Phillip Lookadoo Director of Development and Design
Burke County Community Development Shane Prisby Operations Manager
Foothills Conservancy Tom Kenny Land Protection Director
Marion Chamber of Commerce Kim Effler Executive Director
Overmountain Victory Trail Association Bryant Lindsey Member
McDowell Economic Development Association Inc Charles Abernathy Executive Director
City of Marion Heather Cotton, AICP Planning and Development Director
Camp Grier Jason McDougald Executive Director
People on the Move Old Fort Lavita Logan Old Fort People on the Move
McDowell Technical Community College Stacy Buff Dean
McDowell County Tourism Authority Carol Price Executive Director
Friends of Lake James State Park Jim Williams Friends of Lake James State Park
Friends of Lake James State Park Jeff Stark Friends of Lake James State Park
USFS Lisa Jennings Grandfather Restoration Project Coordinator
Lake James State Park Nora Coffey Park Superintendent
