Robbins Couple Honored with Inaugural State Trails Award

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (August 11, 2026) – William and Lynne McDuffie of Robbins have been honored with the Great Trails State Everyday Trail Maker Award. The inaugural presentation of the award recognizes exceptional volunteers, professionals, or organizations dedicated to the planning, construction, and maintenance of the state's greenways and natural pathways. The presentation was made at the annual Great Trails State NC Conference in Winston-Salem. Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen nominated the McDuffies for the award. The tourism organization is a charter member of the Great Trails State Coalition.

“We are tremendously honored to receive this recognition,” said William McDuffie. “Creating the Bear Creek Trail system and Foothills Outdoors has been a labor of love for me and my family. We just hope we can be good representatives of this award.”

The McDuffies are both veterinarians at Carthage Animal Hospital and created the Foothills Outdoors nonprofit organization in 2007. Since then, along with fellow outdoors enthusiasts, they have raised funds to create what is now the Bear Creek Trail system in the town of Robbins in northern Moore County. The trails and waterways are open for hiking, mountain biking and paddling by canoe or kayak. There are currently about 14 miles of trails for people to enjoy, along with a disc golf course. Bear Creek also hosts annual events such as 5K races and ultramarathons.

“When we saw that this award was being created the first people we thought of were William and Lynne,” said Phil Werz, President and CEO of Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen. “Bear Creek is a true treasure in Moore County and with all the great trails in the state of North Carolina, we are thrilled that the McDuffies are being recognized for their hard work, love of the outdoors and the amazing natural beauty their trails provide.”

"The Great Trails State Coalition is thrilled to honor the McDuffies with this special award for working quietly and passionately behind the scenes to create meaningful trail opportunities for anyone and everyone,” said Palmer McIntyre, director of the Great Trails State Coalition.

The Great Trails State Coalition is a broad-based group of diverse organizations, agencies and supporters advocating for increased state investment in all types of trails statewide – hiking, paddling, mountain biking, equestrian and paved trails. Recently, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a $15 million state budget allocation for trails, featuring nearly $10 million designated specifically for the Great Trails State Program, alongside funds for state trail construction and partner capacity building.

About Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen

Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The organization devises strategies to enhance the county’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2024, Moore County ranked as the 10th-largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $860 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second-largest employment sector in the county and saves county residents approximately $546 a year in state and local taxes.