Virginia State Parks Announces Drew Gruber As the new Culpeper Battlefields State Park manager

ECW welcomes Kim Wells

CULPEPER, Va. — Drew Gruber has been named as the first park manager for Culpeper Battlefields State Park.

Gruber joins the state parks team as he comes to this position with much experience and knowledge of the property and community. For the last ten years he’s been the executive director of Civil War Trails, which offers over 1,500 sites across six states, including several Virginia State Parks.

Gruber holds an M.A. in urban and regional planning from Virginia Commonwealth University, a B.A. in historic preservation from Mary Washington College, is recognized by the Citizens Planning Education Association of Virginia, and most recently completed his certification as a travel marketing professional from Southeast Tourism Society. Drew has an impressive list of publications. He served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Board of Historic Resources from 2014 to 2017 and was president of the Williamsburg Battlefield Association from 2013 to 2022.

“I am most excited to join the Culpeper community and to be able to work with and learn from the park’s Friends group,” Gruber said. “Where else can you stand in the footsteps of soldiers, follow cavalry charges on horseback, or paddle the battle? This park already offers a unique set of experiences for visitors of all ages and interests, and I am excited to share these gifts with our guests.”

The park was dedicated as the 43rd Virginia State Park with a ceremony last June and has been overseen by the American Battlefield Trust and Brandy Station Foundation, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Four major battles were fought in Culpeper County. The battles of Brandy Station, Cedar Mountain, Kelly’s Ford, and Rappahannock Station occurred on properties that are part of Culpeper Battlefields State Park or were fought nearby on land being transferred to the Commonwealth.

Visitors to the park and nearby American Battlefield Trust properties can explore this history through interpretive walking trails, along with guided tours available through local tour organizations and convenient mobile apps.

“Culpeper Battlefields stands to become not only a key resource for regional residents but a destination for travelers from around the world,” said Gruber. “The park is for everyone, not just those interested in history, but for recreation and environmental enthusiasts too. I look forward to seeing how these audiences help create the park master plan.”

Gruber is an avid gardener and a native plant enthusiast, and he enjoys tinkering on his old British car. He is curious about fly fishing and is excited that there are programs available at Virginia State Parks to help him learn more about this. Gruber is a surfer from the New Jersey pine barrens and currently lives in Williamsburg with his two cats.

For more details about Culpeper Battlefields, visit the park’s information page.

Kim Wells is a public relations and marketing specialist with Virginia State Parks Eastern Region