Rally History

In 1975 and 1976, the Wilderness Road Garden Club of Marion and the Mount Rogers Citizens Development Corporation conducted a wildflower walk at Grindstone campground. This was the humble beginnings of the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally. Jeff Coker, a Presbyterian minister, was the leader of this activity. In an effort to expand the event, Wallace Coffey became involved and offered a bird walk and a salamander search along with the wildflower walk the following year. Wallace was an editor at Bristol Herald Courier and wanted to see a big naturalist rally in southwest Virginia, especially on the Mount Rogers NRA. The group agreed to abandon the wildflower tour and begin the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally in May, 1978.

Wallace Coffey can be credited with the arranging of well-known speakers , starting with Dr. Fred Alsop III of ETSU (birds), and Dr. Aaron Sharp-UT (plant expert)the next year. Wallace arranged all details for the rally for many years. The Citizen Development Corporation dissolved in 1994 and since then the rally has been organized by a Naturalist Rally Committee.

The first year, registration was $1 and the dinner was $3. The dinner is a fundraiser for the Konnarock Community Center. Thirty five years later, registration is still only $5 and the meal has increased to $10. The committee continues to offer a great program on Friday evening and a variety of field trips on Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Some of our past speakers include: