A Simple Gathering, A Bigger Signal: Burke County Welcomes the Train Back On a clear Saturday morning in Valdese, something simple—and meaningful—happened. On 65 people gathered along the railroad tracks to welcome the return of freight rail service through Western North Carolina following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. There were no tickets, no stage, and no formal...

Ashtyn Smith, Cessy Smith, Lindy Hudson Jr, Katie Purgason, Lexi Purgason, Julie Hudson From a 1917 General Store to a Trail Partner: Lindy’s Invests in Connelly Springs’ Future For more than a century, Lindy’s Furniture has been a cornerstone of Connelly Springs. Founded in 1917 as a general store, the business has grown and adapted through generations—always rooted in family...

Upcoming Events Sunday, April 19 - 3:00pm – Litter Gitter Hiker Event – Let’s hike and pick up trash at the same time!! Meet at Valdese Lakeside Park main parking lot. We will head over to the Burke River Trail Wildcat Way section. This will be 1 mile – when we turn and come back, we will gather trash that has collected on the shore line – not that much – but some. More hiking...

This week, Burke River Trail Association helped connect local leadership with federal resources in a meaningful way. Ted Budd’s office, represented by Kye Laughter, joined Beth Heile for a series of visits across five Burke River Trail Towns: Drexel, Glen Alpine, Hildebran, Rutherford College, and Rhodhiss. Local Voices, Shared Priorities At each stop, town leaders had the...

Leaders from across Burke County’s trail, tourism, and outdoor recreation community gathered on April 2 for the fourth Burke County Trails Summit, a collaborative meeting focused on advancing trail development, coordination, and long-term impact. Organized by the Burke River Trail Association, the Summit brought together representatives from local governments, state parks, nonprofits, and...

Donate Glen Alpine Veterans Memorial – Help Make It Accessible The Glen Alpine Veterans Memorial stands as a powerful tribute to the men and women who have served our country. It is a place of reflection, honor, and remembrance — marked by flags representing each branch of the military, a Battlefield Cross symbolizing sacrifice, and engraved bricks bearing the names of nearly...

This week, Burke River Trail kiosks and entrance signs were installed in four Trail Towns (one to go). Seeing them in place is exciting—not because they are signs, but because of what they represent. They represent momentum.They represent towns coming together around a shared vision.They represent places that are ready. When you see a Burke River Trail sign, you’ll know what to...

When asked, Rutherford College, Drexel and Hildebran each responded to BRTA that they would like a Storybook Trail in their town. Valdese and Morganton already have them. For each town, BRTA will put in $2000. Fundraising is happening for the remaining $3000. You can donate at Paypal - just choose the town you want to help with the drop down box. Current amounts: Rutherford College has $3850...

The Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) is excited to announce that BRTA Board Member Melinda Wallrichs has secured a Thrivent Action Team Grant to help bring a new children’s program to communities across the Burke River Trail corridor. Thrivent Action Team grants are designed to empower individuals to lead service projects that make a positive impact in their communities. Over the past...

The People Carrying the Story Forward In 1780, patriot militia known as the “Overmountain Men” marched across the mountains and through the foothills of North Carolina on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain — a decisive victory that helped turn the tide of the American Revolution. Today, that journey is commemorated by the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, a...

Why BRTA Supports House Bill 369 The Burke River Trail Association recently joined a discussion with Ryan Carter of the Catawba Riverkeeper about House Bill 369 – the Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act, currently being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly. At first glance, parking requirements might sound like a small zoning detail. In reality, parking rules shape how...

The Town of Valdese has voted to accept a 5.69-acre land donation from Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina — a major step forward for Children’s Park, a Burke River Trail Connector and the future of the Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST). This land, located at 101 Fat Avenue NE across US 70 from Children’s Park, was purchased by Foothills Conservancy using funding from the...