Natural Bridge State Park Manager James E. Jones is the recipient of the Garden Club of Virginia 2019 Conservation Educator Award. The NBSP hosted more than 162,000 visitors in 2018, and Jones has been instrumental in the success and popularity of this beautiful landmark, often listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Jones started his career with Virginia State Parks in the 1980s after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in forestry and wildlife. He has worked at Fairy Stone, Claytor Lake, York River, Smith Mountain Lake, Westmoreland and Douthat State Parks and, since 2016, Natural Bridge State Park. Jones oversees educational programs for all ages and offers guided tours, hikes and environmental programs that appeal to all. A recent partnership with the Valley Conservation Council and the Rockbridge Historical Society brings Rockbridge County students to the park every Friday.
The history of Natural Bridge is fascinating. The remains of a collapsed cavern, it was a sacred site for the Monacan Indian Tribe and has ties to George Washington, who surveyed it in 1750, and Thomas Jefferson, who purchased it in 1774 from King George III. Recently, the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund purchased it. In 2016, the commonwealth made it a Virginia State Park.
Jones’ dedication and genuine desire to share the beauty of Natural Bridge State Park ensure that the citizens of Virginia and beyond will benefit for years to come.
Pictured with Jim Jones are members of the Blue Ridge Garden Club, President Beth Coleman, Barbara Walsh, Margaret Samdahl, Catherine Harcus and Julie Grover
