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DENTON – “Denton, you are making history.”
So declared Peter Schoettle, Maryland State Coordinator of the American Discovery Trail Society. He was one of several dignitaries to celebrate Denton, Maryland, as the first U.S. town to be designated an American Discovery Trail Town.
The April 2 announcement was met with cheering and applause from a festive crowd of about 75 at the Wharves of Choptank Visitor and Heritage Center in Denton.
The ceremony included a sign unveiling outside and a reception inside. Attendees all posed for a celebratory photo to cap the celebration.
Local elected leaders and staff attended the 3 p.m. outdoor ceremony under partly sunny skies with gusty winds.
“This is an exciting day,” Denton Mayor Abigail McNinch said. “Many of us here know how special the town of Denton is, and it's so exciting that we can share and convey that on a national level.”
The American Discovery Trail ® (ADT) comprises about 6,800 miles from Delaware to California across the mid-section of the United States.
ADT Society Executive Director Eric Howard said part of the ADT follows an Indian trail from Cape Henlopen to a shallow section of the Choptank River.
“It also follows the trails of horsemen and cattle drivers and railroads and walkers, as well as bikers,” Howard said.
“It's used not only by those who do the whole distance, but by lots of locals,” Howard said. “And we feel it's very important to promote economic development of small-town businesses, as well as the quality of life for people who live in places like Denton.”
The yearlong effort to achieve the title was a team effort, Town Administrator Scott Getchell said. “It's been a lot of work.”
On April 4, 2024, the Denton Town Council recognized “the importance of outdoor recreation, connecting communities, promoting health and wellness, and preserving America’s natural beauty” by passing a resolution to “support and promote the American Discovery Trail (ADT) as a national treasure.”
Getchell credited Schoettle, with gently prodding the half-dozen stakeholders to “keep up the momentum.”
“Peter is a super, super nice guy,” Getchell said. Others who helped shepherd the project were Downtown Denton Main Street Executive Director Jessica Willoughby, DDMS Board Member David Renshaw, Denton Town Administrator’s Aide Lisa Orendorf and Denton Tourism Coordinator Kim Crispino.
ADT Delaware Coordinator Terry Shuchart of Ocean View, Delaware, said Denton is “perfect” for through hikers who need supplies, a bite to eat and a welcoming atmosphere. “Walmart is a big stop,” she said.
“Knowing that a town on the trail is an officially designated ADT Trail Town encourages hikers and bikers to plan their visit, knowing that they will be welcome and have opportunities to rest, resupply, and recharge,” the ADT website states.
An ADT Town designation also provides an opportunity for “trail angels” to become a point of contact and provide services, snacks and beverages or simply a friendly welcome to hikers and cyclers.
The ADT “is generally split into four regions, Eastern, Central-Northern Route, Central-Southern Route, Western. Coast-to-coast, the northern route is about 4,834 miles and the southern route is about 5,057 miles,” the ADT website states.
The Eastern American Discovery Trail runs from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, to the western side of Ohio. According to discoverytrail.org, the Maryland ADT “begins on Hobbs Road in an area known as Ringgolds Green, a former community rich with folklore and ghost stories,” where Hobbs Road intersects with Bates and Hickman roads. It then enters Market Street in Denton to the Wharves of Choptank, and continues onto State Route 404.
Prior to the ceremony, Denton businesses had already added an ADT sticker to their front doors.
Dana Paterra, Eastern Regional Manager for the Maryland Park Service, oversees all the parks on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. She said she likes the idea of hikers having “another tool in the toolbox,” including contributing to the economic vitality of the area.
Denton boasts Martinak State Park on the Choptank River. Nearby is Tuckahoe State Park with its trails, lake and shelter for hikers.
“As a Caroline County resident who moved to this area and fell in love with it more than 15 years ago, I'm so happy that this trail is going to be coming through Denton,” said Bob Zimberoff, director of the Caroline County Department of Economic Development & Tourism.
“(The trail) is prehistoric and was used by the first colonists who arrived here as well,” he said. “It's going to be great for the economy…. I hope (people who use the trail) tell their friends what a great little town we have here and what a great little county we have here.”
