Communications
- Lynn Huffman, Chair[mtg]
- Nancy DePippo
- John Lanier
- Lissa Calloway, Volunteer
- Randy Miner, Volunteer
- Patty Steman, Volunteer
Friends of the
Ecusta Trail
Our Mission
To serve as the unified voice of the Ecusta Trail and to promote, support, and enhance it for all those who use and enjoy the Trail.
Our History
In 2009, the Friends of Ecusta Trail was formed to carry out a singular mission: to repurpose the abandoned 19+mile spur line that once serviced Brevard, North Carolina’s Ecusta Paper Mill and transform it into a multi-use greenway. Connecting Transylvania County to neighboring Henderson County, the 1894-era railroad had supported early tourism, the local timber industries, and the paper mill until rail service ceased entirely in 2002.
In 2019 we engaged Western North Carolina land trust Conserving Carolina for expertise and guidance in navigating the purchase of the rail line for the purpose of building a rail-trail. Ecusta Rails2Trail LLC, a subsidiary of Conserving Carolina, was formed to purchase the railbanked corridor with the support of local and state grants and private donors.
The completed Ecusta Trail will be a 19+ mile multi-use greenway along the unused railway corridor between Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina. As it connects these two communities, it will also establish a new cultural main street that promotes health, sustains cultural and natural heritage, enriches quality of life, creates a multimodal transportation corridor, and boosts local economies.
Board and Committees
Board
- Mark Tooley, President
- Lynn Huffman, Vice-President
- Nancy DePippo, Secretary
- Debbie Tellman, Treasurer
- George Banta
- John Ditillo
- Ken Shelton
- Dean St. Marie
- John Lanier
- Jeff Meadows
- Melinda Hendershot
- Tad Fogle
- Frank Porter
Committees
Development
- Ken Shelton, Chair
- John Ditillo
- Tad Fogel
- Steve Harbison
- Dean St. Marie
Finance
- Frank Porter, Chair
- George Banta
- Mark Tooley
- Dean St. Marie
- Debbie Tellman
Governance
- George Banta, Chair
- John Lanier
- Frank Porter
- Debbie Tellman
- Mark Tooley
Oversight
- John Ditillo, Chair
- Lynn Huffman
- Nancy DePippo
- Tad Fogel
- Ken Shelton
- Mark Tooley
Donors and Supporters
Below, we recognize major private individual and business donors who contributed gifts and/or pledges to help build and amenitize the Ecusta Trail! A special thanks to those who contributed to our kickoff “Making the Dream Real” campaign.
We are so grateful for everyone who donates—our vision is fueled by your generosity.
Making the Dream Real donors