In 2018, Brad Moretz and Brenda Speckmann of Appalachian Ski Mountain initiated the Round-Up for the Middle Fork Greenway - a way to engage businesses in a month-long fundraiser for the up-and-coming Greenway project. That first year was a success, and since then, community businesses and individuals have rallied behind the Round-Up for the Middle Fork Greenway to raise nearly $700K.

This money has leveraged over $5.5 million in state grants and Tourism Development Authority funding for land acquisition, trail construction, trailhead development, design, engineering, permitting, and feasibility studies. The funding has also helped protect 47 acres of land along the greenway, including pocket parks, trailheads, river access, and trail. This year, state grants, including NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, NC Water Resources Development Grant, and NC Recreational Trails Program, will double all funds raised. This year's Round-Up for the Greenway proceeds will go toward constructing Boone Gorge Park.

“The July Round-Up for the Greenway event gives us a great opportunity to let our visitors from around the country help support this amazing trail that will soon make it easy for both local and visiting families to enjoy all the Middle Fork of the New River has to offer while preserving the delicate natural habitats that exist around the river,” says Wendy Patoprsty, Middle Fork Greenway Director.

Appalachian Ski Mtn kickstarted the 2023 fundraiser by contributing over $50,000 toward the $250K goal. Owner Brad Moretz says: "We added a $1 Middle Fork Greenway fee to our lift tickets receipts, and folks have been really happy to contribute to the greenway-in-progress.”

Businesses are encouraged to participate in a multitude of ways. Some businesses like Mast Store and Stick Boy ask their customers to “Round Up” to the nearest dollar at the register. Anna Banana's and Boone Bike & Touring ask their customers to donate $1, and then the businesses match what their customers give during July. The options are endless, as some hotels add a $1 fee to a night's stay, and restaurants have had special greenway cocktails or greenway beers with proceeds going toward the trail development. Other businesses give what they can to join in this community effort.

Participating businesses will be highlighted on the Middle Fork Greenway website, social media pages, and annual reports.

The Middle Fork Greenway team is looking for businesses to participate this July 2023. If you would like your business to be a part of this legacy community project, please get in touch with wendy@blueridgeconservancy.org.

Five segments of the Middle Fork Greenway are currently under design, engineering, and permitting, with three of these sections slated to begin construction in 2023. The Boone Gorge Park will be developed in 2024 if funding can be raised this year. The Boone Gorge Park will include over a mile of trail, river access, parking, floodplain and river enhancements, and amenities such as restrooms, benches, picnic areas, and interpretive signage.

The Middle Fork Greenway is a multi-use recreational trail that will connect Blowing Rock to Boone, providing residents and visitors of all ages safe and healthy access to the natural world while protecting the environment and strengthening our local economy. The Middle Fork Greenway is a project of Blue Ridge Conservancy in partnership with Watauga County, Town of Blowing Rock, the Town of Boone, local and state agencies, and many community organizations and individuals.