State parks have a lot of work employees must put into them, and sometimes, those employees go above and beyond what their visitors expect from them, working day and night to provide a sense of outdoor adventure and fun they cannot find anywhere else.

On January 16, 2019, Roan Mountain State Park received the 2018 Excellence in Facilities Management during the annual Park Management Conference in Dickson County, Tenn.

Park Manager Meg Guy said she and the rest of her park staff are proud of their accomplishments.

“I am proud of the important work accomplished this year by Roan Mountain State Park staff to improve our park, and I am thrilled that we received statewide recognition for that hard work,” Guy said.

She said the award was a recognition of the culmination of many different projects the park took on throughout 2018, including the preservation of the Miller Farmstead Barn, a nationally registered Historic Site, and the creation of two new aluminum footbridges to replace the previous lost to the flooding during the fall of 2017.

“For all of us here in Carter County, Roan Mountain State Park is our Tennessee State Park,” she said. “I would invite folks to come visit and take pride in our achievements and just enjoy a day in the park.”

The celebration did not end at the conference, however. Guy presented the award to the park’s staff during a staff meeting Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 11:30 a.m., in order to recognize what Guy said was an instrumental part of the park’s success over the years.

“I truly believe that Roan Mountain State Park has some of the best and the most hardworking employees in the entire state park system,” she said. “This award is well-deserved acknowledgement of our efforts.”

Guy said she is proud to work alongside her co-workers, who she said share her dream for the park and its place in the community.

The park has made a number of smaller improvements over the past year as well, including the improvement of cabin pathway lighting and the replacement of the cabin door lock systems.

Guy said she also appreciated the day-to-day activities and maintenance of the park.

“The park should also be recognized for the day-to-day efforts undertaken to keep the facilities and grounds well-maintained,” Guy said. “The park receives many compliments from visitors about upkeep and cleanliness, and that is again due to the pride that the park staff takes in their jobs every day.”