Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 14, 2020
Contact: Starr Anderson, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 540-460-1540, starr.anderson@dcr.virginia.gov
James Jones, Park Manager, 540-291-1326, james.e.jones@dcr.virginia.gov
Newest LOVEwork to be unveiled at Natural Bridge State Park
You are invited to the unveiling and encouraged to take pictures and share on social media with #LOVEVA
(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: The spectacular Natural Bridge is the focus of the newest LOVEwork)
NATURAL BRIDGE – Natural Bridge State Park will unveil a life-sized LOVE artwork on Sept. 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the park visitor center.
Created as part of a state and local partnership to promote travel and tourism, the artwork is an extension of the 50-year-old "Virginia is for Lovers" brand, one of the most beloved and iconic slogans in the world.
The Natural Bridge State Park LOVEworks is one of more than 200 giant LOVE letters in towns and cities across the state.
"Virginia is for Lovers is about doing the things you love to do on vacation with the people you love most," said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "The new LOVEwork at Natural Bridge State Park captures that idea perfectly, and gives you an authentic sense of place as it showcases the Blue Ridge Mountains, James River and the southern Shenandoah Valley. We are excited that Natural Bridge State Park will help us share the LOVE with travelers, helping them to discover for themselves why Virginia is for Lovers.”
Each LOVE installation is a reflection of the community in which it stands, and the Natural Bridge LOVEwork is no exception.
The Natural Bridge LOVEwork showcases the beauty of nature and the awe-inspiring bridge that is the focus of southern Rockbridge County. The letters include water that was critical in the creation of the bridge and the rocks that make up the arch.
“Natural Bridge State Park is a global crossroads of diverse people collectively sharing the wonder of nature,” Park Manager Jim Jones said. “As we enter our fourth year as a state park, it's fitting that the graphical design of the four letters expresses what we LOVE about Virginia, our state parks and Rockbridge County.”
The Friends of Natural Bridge State Park applied for the grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to create the LOVEworks at the park and matched that grant money with funds of their own to cover the balance. Local artist Mark Cline designed and created the letters. The letters have been strategically placed at the park’s visitor center accented with a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a perfect location for that one-of-a-kind selfie before heading out to see Virginia’s natural wonder.
Visitors to the Natural Bridge LOVEwork are encouraged to take pictures with it and share them on Facebook at Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers and on Instagram and Twitter, using the hashtag #LOVEVA #vastateparks. A full list of LOVEworks can be found at Virginia.org/LOVE.
Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2018, tourism generated $26 billion in revenue, supported 234,000 jobs and provided $1.8 billion in state and local taxes for the commonwealth.
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