The board that oversees the 1,100-acre Explore Park property "will have to make your most crucial decision ever" concerning the future of the park in the next year, its executive director said Tuesday.

Debbie Pitts urged the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority board to move quickly to approve the creation of an advisory economic development consortium to begin looking at alternatives for using the park.

It is essential to be ready to begin action by next summer should Larry Vander Maten's plans to develop the property through his Virginia Living Histories company not come to fruition, she said.

The board authorized Pitts and board co-Chairman K.C. Bratton to begin meeting with stakeholders -- including the counties of Roanoke and Bedford, Vander Maten, and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation -- to talk about options.

The property, which straddles the two counties, is slated to revert to state control in June 2010 if Vander Maten doesn't begin his project.

The board formally received Vander Maten's notification extending his "inspection period" until June 13, 2010, at Tuesday's meeting. Under the terms of his lease, he needed only to notify the board that he was taking advantage of the extension before being compelled to begin construction or dissolve the agreement.

If he activates it, the lease will extend for 99 years.

The original legislation creating Explore Park required that the authority operate an educational, historical and environmental attraction at the site or lose control of it.

Even though the park has been closed for a year and a half, the General Assembly has extended the authority's oversight as Vander Maten has struggled to come up with financing for what he says will be a $200 million overnight family vacation destination.

He revealed some details of his plans in April, with a video showing lodging, dining and recreation options, such as boating, golfing and "the world's longest zip line."

The continuing national financial crisis, however, has led the Explore board to begin looking for one or more "Plan B's" in case Vander Maten's proposals don't materialize.

Options presented by Pitts on Tuesday included exploring the feasibility of reopening as a "living history museum and recreational venue in collaboration with other area nonprofits and cultural organizations," leasing the park to Roanoke County and Bedford County, seeking private investors to develop portions of the park, or extending its lease agreement with Vander Maten until he can "proceed with the project."

A final option is to allow the state, which bought the property in the late 1980s, to simply take it back into the commonwealth's park system.

The economic development consortium would include representatives of local governments, chambers of commerce, the state, the Blue Ridge Parkway and adjacent property owners, Bratton said.

The idea is for that body "to discuss long-term strategies and opportunities for the development and use of the park and to make recommendations" to the facilities authority board, according to Pitts' report.

If Vander Maten does not proceed, the group would review the marketing studies he has completed, as well as surveys of the property and all other nonproprietary development plans, which he is obligated to turn over to the authority if the development is abandoned.

The board voted to go ahead with the planning even though there are likely to be wholesale changes in state department leadership after this fall's gubernatorial election.

"I feel a real sense of urgency to get folks together for formalized plans and thoughts on how to make this a wonderful resource for the community," Pitts said.