Virginia > Natural Bridge is a 215-foot limestone arch in southwestern Virginia that was carved naturally by a creek running underneath it. The future of this natural wonder — and the public’s access to it — came into question in 2013 when 1,500 acres surrounding the landmark were put up for sale. Thanks to the hard work of Congressman Bob Goodlatte and others who care about this area, Natural Bridge will be conserved as a state park. The League’s Virginia Division recognized Congressman Goodlatte earlier this year with a Special Conservation Award.
According to legend, George Washington surveyed the Natural Bridge site for Lord Fairfax in 1750, and the initials “GW” are carved into the side of the bridge. The area around the bridge had been privately owned since Thomas Jefferson purchased it from England’s King George III in 1774. Jefferson’s heirs sold the site, and subsequent owners developed the area into a tourist destination that was once described as one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the New World.”
Through a complicated agreement that involved multiple state agencies, the most recent land owner, real estate investor Angelo Puglisi, sold the land in 2014 to the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund, which will deed the property to the state for a park.
Members of the League’s Suffolk- Nansemond Chapter nominated many of the people involved in conserving this historic landmark for League Honor Roll Awards in 2014. They also proposed that the Virginia Division recognize the effort’s supporters — including Congressman Bob Goodlatte (pictured here with division representatives) — through a state awards presentation. Chapter members coordinated with everyone involved (the seller, buyer, congressman, real estate broker, and others) for an awards ceremony at Natural Bridge earlier this year. “I would say it was a great day for the IWLA and everyone there was extremely impressed with the event,” says Ricky George, who was the Suffolk- Nansemond Chapter president at the time.
Congressman Goodlatte released the following statement after accepting his award: “As a supporter of conservation and recreation efforts around the Sixth District, I saw this as another opportunity to help protect a very special natural structure that serves as the namesake for the county in which it stands. It was my pleasure to see the sale of Natural Bridge come to fruition and to assist my constituents, Jim Woltz and Tom Clarke, in communicating with the Internal Revenue Service. In helping make this possible, I was simply doing what I do every day: responding to constituents who identified a problem, helping them try to solve the problem, and seeing it through. In this case, the results were very gratifying. I am honored to accept this Special Conservation Award and look forward to continuing to work with everyone associated with the work to protect Natural Bridge.”