Legacy Point Park opens in Holmes County, new outdoor destination
Legacy Point Park opened to the public in 2025, offering scenic overlooks, a prominent viewing station known as the top of the "Stairway to Heaven", wide trails for hiking and horseback riding, and a slate of nature education programs. The new county park is being positioned as a long term community asset that will affect local recreation, volunteerism, and the rural economy.
Legacy Point Park, developed by the Holmes County Park District and opened in 2025, is now accepting visitors and programming community activities designed to blend conservation with outdoor recreation. The site features multiple scenic overlooks, including a prominent viewing station known locally as the top of the "Stairway to Heaven", broad trails for both hiking and horseback riding, and an events calendar that includes guided hikes, Trailblazing Saturdays, volunteer trail workdays, and educational outings.
Park administrators have emphasized the park as a long term asset for residents and visitors, focusing on nature education and habitat conservation alongside recreational use. Early programming is aimed at building sustained community engagement. Volunteer trail workdays are a core element of the park model, reducing maintenance costs for the county while creating regular opportunities for local stewardship and skills development.
For Holmes County, the park carries several local implications. Increased access to trails and outdoor programs can boost public health through expanded opportunities for exercise and time outdoors. The facility also has the potential to draw day visitors from nearby areas, supporting local retail, dining, and lodging without large scale commercial development. Equestrian access and multiuse trails broaden the park s appeal to riders as well as hikers, which can diversify visitation patterns across weekdays and weekends.
From a fiscal and policy perspective, the park will require ongoing operational funding for trail upkeep, signage, parking management, and program coordination. Reliance on volunteer labor helps contain costs, but sustained quality and safety will depend on predictable county support and potential partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and local businesses for educational outings and special events. Measuring visitor numbers and local spending impacts over the next two to three years will be important for planning and budget priorities.
Legacy Point is positioned as a signature outdoor destination for Holmes County, linking conservation goals with tangible community benefits. The Holmes County Park District operates the site and is responsible for scheduling and program information as the park transitions from opening season to regular operation.
