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Hill Station Boat Site Unveiled

From staff reports

Scott County Recreation Department Director Skip Sheets wanted to find a way to open up access to the county's two rivers to local residents and visitors alike.

So last year he pitched an idea to the Scott County Board of Supervisors about giving a few bucks to his department to be used solely at three boat sites on local waterways.

Sheets used the funds to purchase trash receptacles, picnic tables and gravel, pay for site development and some for the construction of ramps or steps at three sites on the Holston River. The investment has paid off in dividends as traffic has dramatically increased at each of the hand launch sites and into an increase in tourism dollars spent in the county.

A year later, Sheets has opened up a total of eight sites combined on the North Fork of the Holston River and the Clinch River including a new site at Hill Station on the Clinch last Friday.

At Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newest location, the recreation director noted that the site enhances canoeing opportunities available at Natural Tunnel State Park.

"This site can be used for a wide variety of outdoor recreation, such as canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing," Sheets explained. "We are extremely proud to continue showcasing Scott County’s natural beauty with this wonderful addition to the Clinch River, thus bringing tourists here to discover all that Scott County has to offer. Developing this site will enhance the “Quality of Life” for the surrounding communities and greatly aid Scott County’s Eco-Tourism. This site will be a great asset to Natural Tunnel State Park, for use in their “Canoe the Clinch” trips."

Natural Tunnel State Park's operates a "Canoe the Clinch" program each year, which allows participants to join a three to four-hour-long canoe trip that showcases the beauty of the Clinch. Participants are invited to explore and learn of the rich history of the river from the time when Native Americans and long hunters lived along its banks to current significance of the pristine river.

Park Manager Craig Seaver thanked the department for their persistence and action in developing the boat access sites.

"You all deserve a great "atta boy" for initiating and establishing these river access points for the county," Seaver said to Sheets in an email. "I can remember serving on a committee many years ago that only talked about this, you and your staff have made it happen. The establishment of these ramps not only helps Natural Tunnel State Park deliver better programming, it increases the potential and real time tourism benefit of having two of the most scenic rivers in the Commonwealth now accessible for guests to our region."

Sheets noted that improvements at the site included site preparation work, the addition of rock for access and public parking, signage, a picnic table and trash cans. He added that Rick Begley performed the majority of the rock work while detainees from the Appalachian Detention Center cleared much of the brush at the site.

A land-use permit was also secured from the Virginia Department of Transportation to allow the site to be open for access. Sheets also acknowledged the assistance of a local volunteer, who helped in preparing the site.

"I send a word of special thanks to Tim "The River Access Guru" Wininger for his ward hard in preparing this site," Sheets remarked.

The recreation director plans to open more sites, specifically one in the works at the river bridge in Hiltons. He explained that work on that site in a spot that is currently used by local boaters will begin when VDOT completes construction of a new bridge.

Estimated completion date is next year.

The Scott County E-911 Office has compiled digital maps of access points on both rivers that will be available online.

For more information on river access projects, contact the recreation department at 452-2442.