With its rural setting, river access, and historic associations, Foster Falls State Park is a hidden jewel in the New River Trail State Park system. It offers camping, river tubing, fishing, horseback riding, educational opportunities, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
New River Trail State Park stretches 57 miles along the New River from Galax, Virginia to the Town of Pulaski. The park, which opened for public use in 1987, was constructed on an abandoned railroad right-of-way donated by the Norfolk Southern Corporation to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the intervening years, the Commonwealth has acquired additional parcels for inclusion into the Park.
An old farm and part of the Village of Foster Falls was one of the later acquisitions. Now one of the park’s regional headquarters, Foster Falls is one of the major draws of the park. Located at the entrance is the Foster Falls Hotel, a two-and-a-half brick building built in 1887, with a past history of being a hotel, children’s home, and orphanage, is scheduled for renovation. As part of that renovation, Draper Aden Associates provided site planning and engineering and environmental services.
The project, partially due to adding a staff parking area, will increase the total impervious areas. As such, stormwater quality compliance is being provided by using a low-impact design strategy of a bioretention area. This aesthetically pleasing design, seen below, is the perfect solution to match its beautiful surroundings.
