Eight Miles of Revolutionary War Trails Rebuilt Under the Great American Outdoors Act

Ninety Six National Historic Site in South Carolina — the scene of a Revolutionary War siege — got a major infrastructure overhaul just as the country prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026. A National Park Service Maintenance Action Team (MAT) repaired storm damage, rebuilt trail infrastructure, and improved access to one of the park's most visited features, all funded through the Great American Outdoors Act's Legacy Restoration Fund.

A Team Drawn from Across the Country

The crew that did the work was assembled from three NPS units: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Historic Preservation Training Center. That mix of skilled tradespeople, park staff, and Youth and Service Corps members is exactly what the MAT program is designed to field. The teams were created specifically to tackle deferred maintenance at small and medium-sized parks that lack the in-house staff or expertise to handle major rehabilitation projects on their own.

"Small parks like this often don't have the staff or expertise to complete major rehabilitation projects," said Joshua D. Manley, superintendent of Ninety Six National Historic Site. "The MAT program addresses critical facility needs and provides invaluable training and skill development opportunities for youth program participants and current park staff."

What Got Fixed

The scope of work at Ninety Six was substantial:

• Over eight miles of trails were revitalized.
• Multiple bridges, boardwalks, and tributary crossings were refurbished or replaced.
• The Fishermen's Trail was transformed to offer improved accessibility along the eastern shoreline of Star Fort Pond, the site's 27-acre fishing lake and official South Carolina state fishery.
• Two accessible fishing bump-outs were added along that shoreline.
• Significant damage from a major storm in June 2023 was repaired.

The storm repair work was especially important for visitor safety, restoring infrastructure that had been left compromised for more than a year before the MAT arrived.

Why the MAT Model Matters

The benefits of a MAT project don't stop when the crew packs up. According to the NPS, these projects generate operational savings, strengthen preventative maintenance capabilities, and improve future planning through accurate scoping and cost estimating. They also serve as hands-on training grounds, helping develop the next generation of trades, preservation, and facility specialists who will care for park infrastructure over the long term.

With the nation's 250th anniversary approaching, sites like Ninety Six — where history is embedded in the landscape itself — are expected to draw significantly more visitors. The trail and access improvements completed here mean that more of those visitors will be able to experience the site safely and fully.

Sources

This article is based on "National Park Service Maintenance Action Teams, A Revolutionary Approach to Trail Rehabilitation," published by the National Park Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.