Ken Springer
Contributing Writer
It would be easy to understand how the magnificence and size of Watoga State Park could easily overshadow Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park and nearby Beartown State Park. If Watoga wears the crown, and it does, then Droop and Beartown are the jewels in that crown.
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is West Virginia’s first state park, dedicated in 1928. Within its 228 acres, one finds a historic Civil War Battlefield, a log tower overlooking the Greenbrier River Valley and beyond, and many trails with scenic overlooks.
Beartown State Park is often described as a unique geological site. Beartown features deep crevices, overhanging cliffs, and a half-mile boardwalk that wends its way through a labyrinth of 300 million-year-old Droop Sandstone.
And now, these two heritage parks have a new superintendent, one who has a lot to offer in protecting and improving both sites.
In talking to 25-year-old Jorge Hanschu, the new superintendent of Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park and Beartown State Park, it becomes apparent early in the conversation that he is intelligent and articulate. By the end of my interview with Jorge, it was clear that the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources had picked the right person to oversee the oldest state park in West Virginia.
Jorge and his wife, Madison, are settling into their new home at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, leaving their previous home in Kansas far behind.
Jorge arrived first about a month ago and began working with the rest of the park crew. Madison suggested he “Fix up the house and I’ll come.” And, indeed, she drove all the way from Kansas, arriving in the wee hours of the morning to her new home – the rustic superintendent’s residence. Madison is a marketing director for a construction company, a job she can do from home.
Jorge describes his background in Kansas, saying, “In rural Kansas, the land is something you learn to respect. People earn their living directly from the land under their feet. Farming is hard work; you learn how to work outside in extreme heat and cold, and you get your hands dirty.”
He demonstrates his conviction to hard work by jumping right in and “getting his hands dirty.” I often walk my dogs at the park, and each time I’ve seen Jorge working right alongside his crew.
Jorge brings considerable education and experience in the field of parks and recreation to the job. “As for college, I knew that I wanted to work in the outdoors. I received a full ride on academics at Southern Utah Uni- versity, majoring in outdoor recreation, parks and tourism. And, to make my education more rounded, I minored in geography and biology,” says Jorge.
An outdoorsman by any standards, Jorge is an experienced rock climber, backpacker, golfer, fisherman, hunter and most recently, an archer set on bagging a deer this year.
By happenstance, I had the opportunity to witness an interaction between Jorge and a park visitor from Pittsburgh. Considering that Jorge has only been here a short time, he provided the visitor with an explanation to his question about where the battle casualties are buried. I was quite impressed and informed, and so was the visitor.
Our discussion finally led to the big question: what are your plans for improving the park?
“I am currently focusing on cleaning out the various buildings here at the park office headquarters. We also need newer equipment and tools to keep up with maintenance issues. Although I’ve only been here a month, I have noticed that we get a lot of traffic for a relatively small park. Additionally, many come here for family reunions, and some locals come here regularly to hike the trails – they consider this their park,” said Jorge.
“Also on my agenda is to repair and improve the Confederate cemetery and give these men who sacrificed their lives the respect they deserve. We need a security system as well to protect the buildings and equipment. Also planned are a new playground and vault toilets for the shelters,” Jorge added. “I welcome suggestions from the public and have hopes for the formation of a Foundation dedicated to Droop and Beartown parks.”
Founded in 1998, the West Virginia State Parks Foundation Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to “preserve, protect, and enhance West Virginia State Parks by providing leadership in communication, funding, and advocacy in partnership with individual Park Foundations.”
At this time, there are plans to develop a Foundation, and I can assure you there are several talented locals within a stone’s throw from the park that are enthusiastic about getting involved in helping to make Jorge’s plans for the park a reality.
By the way, Jorge is pronounced “George,” just in case you want to stop by and welcome him and Madison to their new home here in the endless mountains of West Virginia.
Ken Springer
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