Check presented for Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park

This week, Walhalla city leaders received a generous contribution from Upstate Forever Land Trust and affiliate Oconee Forever to help fund continued trail building in the new Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park. The land conservation organizations presented a $25,000 check to match project funding the city received from the S.C. National Heritage Corridor Grant Program. Construction will expand the state-of-the-art mountain biking and hiking trails in the park. The first four miles opened in May and included 1.5 miles of the mountains-to-sea Palmetto Trail, which anchors the park. “We are very fortunate to have the support of Upstate Forever and Oconee Forever as we work with Palmetto Conservation to build out a first-class trail system in our Stumphouse conservation easement,” Walhalla Mayor Danny Edwards said. “Stumphouse Tunnel Park is an incredible natural resource for the City of Walhalla and Oconee County, and these trails will allow our residents and visitors to enjoy this special place for generations to come.” “Upstate Forever is pleased to help support this wonderful community amenity that will add more recreational options for Upstate residents,” Executive Director Andrea Cooper said. Speaking for Oconee Forever, local attorney and conservationist Shea Airey said, “We believe the sustainable tourism represented in these new mountain biking and hiking trails is a catalyst for genuine economic growth and cultural enrichment in our community. It seems a fitting cause to donate these funds to provide new ways to access and enjoy the beauty and magic of Stumphouse.” The funds were raised from Oconee Forever’s annual “Rally in the Valley” event featuring bicycling, music and local food. When completed, the Bike Park will feature more than 20 miles of beginner through advanced mountain biking trails to delight riders of all levels. In future, the Palmetto Trail will provide hikers and mountain bikers a continuous connection from downtown Walhalla to the Bike Park, Oconee State Park and beyond. The Palmetto Trail is South Carolina’s largest trail construction project with 375 miles of the 500-mile public trail completed for nonmotorized recreation from Walhalla to Awendaw. Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park is a collaborative project of the City of Walhalla, Oconee County, Upstate Forever, Oconee Forever, Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) and other partners.