ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: MONDAY, October 11, 1993                   TAG: 9310110005
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


THE EXPLORE PARK

The Explore Park A guide to what's happening What it is: A state-owned but privately managed park intended to re-create life on the Appalachian frontier and teach visitors about history and the environment.

Where it is: 1,300 acres along the Roanoke River, near the regional landfill east of Roanoke. Most of the park is in Roanoke County, the rest in Bedford County.

What's there now: A 19th century farmstead with a house, barn and some livestock. Hiking trails. An endangered-species breeding program that houses two red wolves.

Status: Open only by appointment to school groups and civic groups. Hopes to open full time to the general public in May.

What's in the works: Foundations connected with the estates of two Roanoke Valley business leaders have made donations toward two construction projects:

The Beirne Carter Foundation, set up by the late president of Carter Machinery, gave $250,000 to reassemble a barn.

The Horace Fralin Foundation, set up by the late Roanoke developer, gave $65,000 to reassemble a one-room schoolhouse.

Workers have started excavation on the barn site, and Explore hopes to have both buildings completed by spring.

For more information: Call Explore at 345-1295. - Staff report



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