Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 25, 1993                   TAG: 9304250048
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPLORE STILL VIABLE, OFFICIALS SAY BUT ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON 2-YEAR-OLD DATA

But their revenue estimates come from a 2-year-old report based on obsolete development plans for Explore, the 1,300-acre state park adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Tim Gubala, the county's economic development director, acknowledged that Explore may never become the major tourist destination that once was envisioned.

But Gubala said the living-history state park will complement Roanoke Valley attractions, such as the Roanoke City Market.

"The goal is to get tourists to spend more time, particularly overnight, and to spend more money," he said.

Explore officials and county staff worked behind the scenes last week to shore up support for a Board of Supervisors meeting set for Tuesday.

County Administrator Elmer Hodge has recommended that the board invest another $100,000 in Explore, which is scheduled to open to the public next year. "We have an opportunity to help define the scope of a very important project," he said.

But supervisors' enthusiasm has waned in recent months as it has become apparent that Explore will create far fewer jobs and generate less tax revenue than once envisioned.

Catawba District Supervisor Edward Kohinke - who had been the project's swing supporter - may oppose further county appropriations for development of Explore.

Kohinke also has said he may recommend overturning the board's decision to spend $350,000 so Explore could open next year with temporary access from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Late Friday, Gubala issued a report that makes the case that Explore would be a worthwhile investment for county taxpayers.

The report estimates that Explore would generate about $76,000 in county tax revenue for every 100,000 visitors.

The estimate, however, is based a 2-year-old report by a county advisory panel that relied upon plans that are now outdated.

For instance, most of the revenue would come from a levy on admission fees of $5 for individuals and $50 for annual family passes. But current plans call for no admission fees and about 40,000 visitors a year.

The advisory panel based its estimates on a vision of Explore that included a flume ride and 15,000 square feet of shopping areas. The current plan is far less commercial, consisting of pioneer farm buildings and hiking trails.

Gubala acknowledged that the revenue estimates were a best-case scenario.

Explore is counting on Roanoke County to provide $100,000 of the $650,000 in capital and operational money it needs to open by May 1994.

Without that support, Explore could hurt its chances of attracting grants from private foundations and annual operating funds from the state, Gubala said.