Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Shenandoah Valley County’s reputation as outdoor hub grows

County’s reputation as outdoor hub grows

Published June 28, 2013 by Veronica Garabelli

Shenandoah Valley was Howard Thompson’s get-away from Northern Virginia. “I used to escape the city on weekends and camp and hike and play in the Shenandoah River area,” he says.

Thompson now makes the area his home. The part-owner of Appalachian Outdoors Adventures, an outdoor gear shop in Luray, is the chairman of the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce.

Like Thompson, a growing number of tourists are drawn to Page’s outdoor activities, which include hiking, backpacking, cycling and fishing. Chamber President John Robbins says the county, which includes the towns of Luray, Stanley and Shenandoah, has seen increasing growth in outdoor tourism. This year, cyclers and their families were expected to spend as much as $100,000 on food, merchandise and lodging in Page. That’s up from $80,000 in 2012, $56,000 in 2010, and $40,000 in 2009. Page will hold eight cycling events this year, including Luray’s triathlon in August, which draws 750 participants. 

Recently, Luray and Page County were named an official Appalachian Trail Community by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve and manage the more-than-2,000-mile trail. The designation is important for two reasons, Robbins says: it adds to the area’s reputation as a hub for outdoor activity and it will help economic development.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy helps promote the Appalachian Trail Communities through its website and publications, signage and news releases. The organization also provides guidance and helps trail communities network with each other, says Mark Wenger, CEO of the Harpers Ferry, W.Va.-based group.  “We want to make sure this is a really functioning idea that will help them out,” Wenger says.

Luray-Page County joins 29 other Appalachian Trail Communities along the trail running from Georgia to Maine.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

250,000-square-foot cold-storage facility opens in Mount Crawford

Virginia Business logo

Lumos Networks names new CFO

Northam named Appalachian Regional Commission states’ co-chair

Governor to help oversee the program that brings funding to the Appalachian region

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Danville lacks housing options for workforce

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Danville lacks housing options for workforce

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk