NOVA Parks News

It seems like such a simple idea - offer food for people who visit regional parks. Today, NOVA Parks does a great job of this. But it has been an evolutionary process to get to the wide-ranging food service currently offered at NOVA Parks.

Today, we throwback to a time when an old war veteran was called back into duty. And because of this, the park authority would be reminded of just how much people enjoyed their land and events. The situation also helped NOVA Parks think towards the future of food service throughout our holdings.

In the early 1980s, during the first special concert event held at Bull Run Regional Park, a funny thing happened. We were expecting a good turnout but were met with what was ultimately an excellent turnout. The number of people that showed up for the event ended up requiring a little creative thinking from those in charge. The need for more food than was being offered quickly became an obvious requirement, so a call to bring in an old Korean War veteran was made. This was not a person. It was, in fact, an old ambulance that had found its way into NOVA Parks’ hands and had been fitted with a tiny grill and cooler. 

This truck was now tasked with making its way to Bull Run Regional Park, filled with burgers and hotdogs, and supplying the ever-growing number of hungry concert-goers with much-needed sustenance. A team of dedicated park employees took control of the effort and worked tirelessly in the cramped space for hour after hour feeding the appreciative crowd. And, in the end, they proved that with a little ingenuity and hard work any task can be met with success.

Since then NOVA Parks has never stopped thinking of ways to feed the people of the region when they visit a regional park. From offering places as simple as picnic tables for self-dining throughout most of our parkland to places producing quality quick-serve foods at our multiple water parks and golf courses, to places offering full-service dining, such as Brickmakers Cafe, NOVA Parks is now well-equipped to deal with hungry park visitors. 

As for the ambulance, it has long since retired. It was replaced by a purpose-built, dedicated NOVA Parks food truck that can show up to any location and professionally prepare and serve great food. 

NOVA Parks is proud to have learned from our past. The park authority is always happy to share a great story of how our entrepreneurial spirit was both tested and how we grew because of such times. Just like the people of the region can attest--all it takes to keep going is a little can-do attitude.