ROANOKE CO., Va. – Roanoke County’s vision for growth is taking shape, with Explore Park at the center of ambitious development plans unveiled during Wednesday’s State of the County Address at Green Ridge Recreation Center, which drew more than 300 attendees.
Board Chair David Radford announced several major initiatives, headlined by the county’s recent acquisition of Explore Park. “It’s a historical year,” Radford said. “That’s a big deal because it was owned by the state, and we were able to get that on our balance sheet for the county residents.”
The 1,100-acre property has seen dramatic growth in recent years, with annual visitors increasing from 35,000 in 2013 to 300,000 in 2025. “The board of supervisors has already invested over 15 million dollars in the park… what ownership is going to allow us to do is to invest more in Explore Park,” said Deputy County Administrator Doug Blount…