The new Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center in Duffield recently opened . The new interpretive center overlooks Kane Gap – a visible representation that shows the path settlers once took on their journey west. The 10,000 sq. foot facility includes a large conference room, library and museum.
The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center highlights the story of the Wilderness Road from Sycamore Shoals to Cumberland Gap with the ultimate goal is to educate visitors on the importance of the Wilderness Road and the key role it played in westward expansion. The center also boasts an amphitheater intended for events and programs.
The Virginia State Park System, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, operates the center as a satellite of Natural Tunnel State Park.
The center serves as a regional tourism gateway, connecting visitors to other historical and cultural stops, such as Natural Tunnel State Park, Wilderness Road State Park and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and is also expected to impact other area attractions.
The project, a partnership between the Scott County Economic Development Authority, the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association and DCR, is the result of a broad spectrum of state and local support.
Construction funding grants came from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Scott County Economic Development Authority, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Grants totaling $1 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation Scenic Byways Program, Eastman Credit Union and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission funded the exhibits.
The new wilderness trail center is open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are no admission fees for the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center. For questions or additional information, call the interpretive center at 276-431-0104.
Thompson & Litton was proud to provide A/E services to a project that will inject tourism dollars into the region, and pays homage to Appalachia’s rich cultural heritage.