Read Our Blogs

 

Held sacred by the Monacan Indians for thousands of years
Once owned by Thomas Jefferson 
Surveyed by a young George Washington 
Considered for hundreds of years to be one of the natural wonders of the new world
 
"the most sublime of Nature’s works" - Thomas Jefferson
  The Natural Bridge - photo by Stephen Kellum
The Natural Bridge - photo by Stephen Kellum
 Virginia Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark
         
After many months of a grass roots effort to secure a buyer for Virginia's Natural Bridge that would protect the beloved natural landmark, on Feb. 6 the sale of Virginia's Natural Bridge was completed in what was described as an extremely complicated transaction. Click here for the official press release. While it is exciting news that this landmark will one day become a Virginia State Park, today we want to celebrate the diverse people who came together to make this outcome a reality.
 
It all started last May when the owner, Angelo Puglisi hired Jim Woltz of Woltz and Associates to secure a buyer or auction off the properties that make up the Natural Bridge complex before the end of the year. From the outset, Mr. Puglisi hoped that he could find a buyer willing to preserve the bridge for generations to come. The outcome he wanted most was for the Natural Bridge to become a State or National Park. 
 
Angelo Puglisi
Angelo Puglisi
 
The announcement started local officials and conservation groups working to put together a package to protect the bridge. Local communities passed resolutions urging a positive outcome (Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista), land trusts across the state and nation urged a positive outcome.  The Valley Conservation Council and Rockbridge Area Conservation Council  assumed leadership roles and hosted tours, wrote articles, encouraged support and formed the Friends of Natural Bridge. General Assembly members from both sides of the aisle expressed their support.

The dream to ensure the protection of the bridge in perpetuity came together thanks to the non-profit Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund and its leader Tom Clarke.  Puglisi gifted the bridge and 188 acres of the property — valued at $21 million — to the fund. The nonprofit group will pay for the remaining 1,300 acres with a loan from the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Resources Authority.

There is a goal for the loan to be paid in 5 years or less and there will be a fundraising campaign to help retire the debt. Any inquiries on how to contribute to the fundraising campaign to pay off the loan should be directed to Tom Clarke, CEO of VCLF at Tom.Clarke@kissito.org. Repayment of the loan will be funded through donations and operations of the Bridge.  Upon repayment of the loan, the property and operations will be conveyed to the Department of Conservation and Recreation—managers of the Virginia State Park system. 

Joe Elton signs the Conservation Easement as Sarah Richardson and Suzan Bulbulkaya from DCR's Land Conservation Office look on
Joe Elton signs the Conservation Easement as
Sarah Richardson and Suzan Bulbulkaya from DCR's Land Conservation Office look on

Virginia State Parks staff, staff from DCR's Natural Heritage Division and staff from the National Parks performed Reconnaissance Studies to evaluate the natural and cultural assets of the property.  It is fair to say that both the state and federal government saw this iconic landscape having huge merit on both the natural and cultural side. Staff from the DCR Land Conservation Office, the office of the Attorney General, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of General Services, and the Virginia Resources Authority all worked tirelessly to help pull the final deal together.
 
The Natural Bridge and Hotel 
 
Your browser does not support Object tagvideo platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
 
The commitment to donate these 188 acres to the Commonwealth will contribute to Governor McAuliffe's 400,000 acre land conservation goal.
 
PARKS
CATEGORIES
SHARE THIS PAGE

If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

By Park