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Position Title: Executive Director, Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. General Job Description: The Executive Director will provide leadership, advocacy, development, and general operations for the organization. They will oversee all affairs related to the organization’s administration, strategic plan,…

The State Budget includes $29.25M in nonrecurring funds in FY 21-22 for the Complete the Trails Fund, marking the first time North Carolina has made a significant direct investment in trails. The Complete the Trails Fund will provide grants for…

Monday, November 22 – All Day – For every Hillman Beer draft poured on this day in Old Fort, $1 will be donated by HB to the two projects directly associated with Old Fort. That’s right! “Power in Pints” for…

McDowell Trails Association organized the fundraising, building and installation of three new Fonta Flora State Trail signs. They are at Copper Ridge Trailhead Point Lookout Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway. The signs were fabricated in McDowell County by Turtle Labs…

On a cold, crisp Saturday morning, 20 hikers gathered at the Ride House to learn about the trail and involved organizations – F3ST, McDowell Trails Assoc and Foothills Conservancy. After the learn jam packed with info – attendees headed over…

F3ST kicked off its Fall Hike & Learn Series in Asheville, where the Fonta Flora State Trail ends. The Learn was provided by two sources – Connect Buncombe (of which F3ST is a sponsor) and City of Asheville Greenway Planner…

As a non-profit, Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail is able to accept donations from individuals and hold them until needed. That was the case for the $100,000 donation used for some of the match for the $330,000 PARTF…

A future section of the Fonta Flora State Trail in Old Fort is now open to the public! On October 7 a ribbon cutting was held for the Copper Ridge section and attendees heard from some of the partners that…

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) has awarded the Town of Old Fort $330,000 for the Old Fort Fonta Flora Trailhead and Park. A local match of $330,000 is required and being covered by McDowell County, Old Fort, Community…

To ensure F3ST continues to thrive, we are forming three new committees that are open to board members, advisory council members and the community. If you have an interest in getting involved with F3ST in this way, let Beth know.

Instead of a brochure with an FFST map of trailheads that will be out of date before printed, F3ST went with a rack card with a QR Code to access our Trail Access Page. The cards have been distributed to area…

F3ST organized a meeting with FFST Land Managers and Smith Raynor, State Trails Planner for an overview of the state trail process. The goal was to make sure everyone understands what is expected in planning state trail, building state trail…

Burke and McDowell County Officials toured the new Lake James State Park Visitor Center with Superintendent Coffey. The Fonta Flora State Trail will cross the 250-foot Cove Bridge and enter the Visitor Center. McDowell County: Cheryl Mitchell, Clerk to the…

Executive Director Beth Heile was the guest of the popular podcast Exploration Local. She spoke about the goal to get the 100-mile Fonta Flora State Trail completed in 10 years, the efforts to get state funding and where you can…

F3ST met with Friends of Lake James State Park for their August 19 Board Meeting. The meeting started with a tour of the Lake James State Park Visitor Center by Superintendent Nora Coffey. The mall hall entrance of the new…

Even though there are orange feathers on the barrier of the NC 126 bridge, this is not designated FFST – yet. For the State to designate trail, it must be safe for users and this shoulder is not.

Thanks to Heather Cotton, City of Marion Planning and Development Director, we are getting closer to an interactive FFST map for the public. Today, land managers came together for Heather to explain what data they could add and edit. Hopefully,…

North Carolinians have something new to look forward to in 2023. Under the leadership of Representative Dean Arp, R-69 (Union), Representative Hugh Blackwell, R-86 (Burke), Representative Pat Hurley, R-70 (Randolph), Representative Larry Strickland, R-28 (Harnett, Johnston), the NC House and…

F3ST Executive Director Beth Heile loves to talk about the Fonta Flora State Trail. She would love to be a part of your online or in-person meeting. She has spoken to Rotary Clubs, Hiking Groups, and other Civic Clubs. The…

David Billstrom with Kitsbow Cycling Apparel contacted F3ST about a safer route for bicyclists leaving the Old Fort Ride House and travelling to the USFS Trails on Curtis Creek. With Highway 70 being both busy and narrow, Billstrom thought a…