Who We Are

HISTORY

In 1983, members of the Valle Crucis Community joined forces to preserve a 12-acre tract of land along the Watauga River that was slated for development as a recreational vehicle campground. Their efforts were successful, and the Valle Crucis Community Park was born. The park’s founders held a clear vision for the land: That it should remain undeveloped, as a recreational and gathering space for the community, in perpetuity.

Today Valle Crucis Community Park has grown into a 28-acre destination for High Country residents as well as visitors to the area. The park is open to the public year-round and provides space for a variety of outdoor activities.

MISSION

To provide a safe and peaceful recreation resource and gathering space for our community, preserve open space, and educate our visitors about natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations.

PARK STAFF

Gardner Hoover

Executive Director

Gardner joined the Park staff in February 2022 as Executive Director. He holds a degree in Recreation Management from Appalachian State University and most recently served as manager of the Habitat Restore in Boone. A resident of the High Country for over 20 years, Gardner lives in Valle Crucis with his wife and son.

Langley Earnhardt

Office Manager

Langley Earnhardt, our Office Manager at Valle Crucis Community Park, holds a Magna Cum Laude degree in Recreation and Parks Management. Passionate about environmental education and conservation, Langley also enjoys searching for salamanders and expressing her creativity through crafts.

Anna Bigler

Park Naturalist

Anna Bigler is a herpetologist and an instructor at Lees McRae College with a passion for wetland ecology. Her research has emphasized the critical role of vernal pools in sustaining amphibian populations and broader ecosystem health.

Anna Bigler actively engages in citizen science initiatives, partnering with local communities to monitor and protect vernal pool habitats. Through the Lees McRae College FrogWatch USA initiative, she aims to foster public awareness and participation in amphibian conservation efforts.

As a faculty member at Lees McRae College, Anna teaches courses in biology, ecology, and environmental biology. She is committed to inspiring the next generation of young professionals, particularly non-biology majors, through experiential learning, field studies, and mentorship. When not in the lab or field, she enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors with her daughter, husband, and dog!