Elkins, West Virginia – The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area is excited to host its annual Discovery Summit this week at the scenic Allegheny Springs Lodge at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, an opportunity to connect, learn, and explore with those invested in the past and future of the Appalachian Forest Highlands.
On September 18th, AFNHA welcomes you to join them for a full day of networking, discovery, and learning from some of the region’s top historians, conservationists, and community members. On September 19th, we’ll step out of the conference room and into the field for exciting tours of Green Bank Observatory, Fort Warwick, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
Speakers for Thursday will include representatives from the US Forest Service, Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative, Greenbrier Historical Society, Fort Warwick, Snowshoe Mountain, and Cacapon Preservation Solutions. The speakers will touch on topics such as the restoration of the Mower Tract, a 40,000 acre landscape acquired by the Monongahela National Forest in the mid-1980s, archaeology within heritage tourism, and the 80-plus year history of the tannery in Paw Paw, West Virginia.
Friday will include behind-the-scenes tours of prominent locations in Pocahontas County. The day will begin with a special high-tech tour of Green Bank Observatory before visiting Fort Warwick, a colonial frontier fort. Following lunch at Shays Restaurant, the group will go behind-the-scenes of the old machine shop at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Visitors can expect an exciting day experiencing a few of the most significant places in West Virginia.
Rooms are available at Snowshoe Mountain Resort and can be purchased at www.snowshoemtn.com or by calling 877-441-4386. Our final tickets for the summit are available for only $15, and tours on Friday are offered as a complimentary summit add-on option. Tickets can be purchased via the link at appalachianforestnha.org/conference. For questions, please contact afnha@afnha.org or call 304-636-6182.
We extend our sincere thanks to our partners and sponsors for the Discovery Summit: Pocahontas County CVB, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the National Park Service, Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, and Highlands Creative Economy.
Don’t miss out on the exploration and conversation at the 2025 Appalachian Forest Discovery Summit!
The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area conserves, interprets, and promotes forest heritage to enhance landscapes and communities in the highlands of West Virginia and Maryland. AFNHA works with partners to accomplish this through community development, conservation, celebrating cultural heritage, and creating opportunities for transformational experiences. AFNHA is a member of the National Heritage Area System. To learn more, see www.appalachianforestnha.org.
