Gov. Youngkin leads Virginia Creeper Trail groundbreaking

With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin leading the ceremonial groundbreaking, the rebuilding of the eastern half of the Virginia Creeper is underway. "This is going to be the heart of every tourism brochure from now going forward and I can tell you, people are going to come and come and come," Youngkin told the crowd during a ceremony Thursday, Dec. 18, in Damascus. The $240.5 million project to rebuild 18.1 miles of the eastern half of the Virginia Creeper Trail, from Damascus to Whitetop Station, will tackle 17 slope failures and 33 bridge repairs caused by Helene in September 2024. The project is supposed to be done by fall 2026. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail stretching across southwestern Virginia between the towns of Abingdon, Damascus and Whitetop Station. The trail is a popular destination for hiking, cycling, horseback riding and other recreation activities. According to state officials, 250,000 people utilize the trail each year. The western half of the trail, from Damascus to Abingdon, is open. Youngkin was one of several dignitaries on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking, including Chief Tom Schultz of the USDA Forest Service, Virginia Tourism Corporation President and CEO Rita McClenny, Virginia state Sen. Todd Pillion, Virginia State Rep. Israel O'Quinn and Damascus Mayor Katie Lamb, among many others. "This is one of these moments that I'm as proud as I've ever been," Youngkin said while standing next to Lamb. "I'm as humbled as I've ever been to see what's been accomplished, and I can't wait to be back here in one year's time with hopefully some scissors as we cut a ribbon opening up these last 18 miles." "Oh, my goodness, man, this is a remarkable day," Lamb said, standing next to Youngkin. "I mean, who knew that it would take a year to get this going and moving forward, and largely due to our governor and those other elected officials that have taken such great care of us." Lamb called the trail a way of life for Damascus and its people, as it's one of the top economic drivers in the region. "It has provided for almost four decades and continues to bestow unforgettable and magical experiences to hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents," Lamb said of the trail. David Matlock, Washington County Board of Supervisors' Taylor District representative, spoke on the history of the area, including how the Virginia Western Coal and Iron Railroad built the line to carry the coal mined in the region over 100 years ago. Then, in 1977, when the rail line closed, locals came together to form a coalition that turned the rail line into a nature trail. Abingdon Town Council members and former mayor Amanda Pillion said since Helene hit the region, the Virginia Creeper Trail had been a passion project. "I have to say that I am completely amazed and astonished at how quickly this has come together and that we are already beginning all of this great work, and that hopefully it will be finished two years after such a disaster," Pillion said. O'Quinn talked about driving into Damascus right after the storm and seeing the high water levels, but also how the realization and action of people coming together to work replaced the despondency and dejection. "There was no squabbling, there was no territorialism, there was no one trying to leapfrog to take credit for anything, but there was a realization that there was a big job that stood in front of us and it was going to take every single person in the community and every level of government to accomplish it," O'Quinn said, noting that it was an effort on all sides and that Virginia helped out more than North Carolina or Tennessee did. Va. Sen. Todd Pillian was commended for his continual updates given to Youngkin and spoke on how the day was about rebuilding. Virginia Tourism Corporation President and CEO Rita McClenny spoke on the trail's economic impact on the region and how it saves citizens in taxes that are offset by visitor spending. Schultz said much of the 17 miles closed for repairs was "scoured to bedrock" and spoke on the journey to get the trail ready to rebuild. "We wanted a trail that was resilient, just like the people here, and able to withstand future storms, yet harken back to the trail's historical roots," Schultz said. Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. Project Director Luke Silvus implored the public to stay off the closed sections of the trail, noting they will have heavy machinery in those areas. "You may see activity in several areas at once," Silvus said. "That's expected and part of how we're moving the project forward." Youngkin recalled a member of the public telling him that rebuilding the trail would take 17 years and cost a billion dollars. But with work from both sides of the aisle, the trail will be done in a fraction of that timeline. Youngkin said he was excited when Kiewit won the bid for the trail project, talking about the good work they have done. "One year from now, we will be standing here opening up the Creeper Trail," Youngkin said. "Not two years, not 17 years, but one year." "We are Appalachian strong," Lamb said. "And people asked me in the beginning, 'Katie, are we going to be okay?' and I'm like, you're 'dam' right we are, 'Katie, are we going to be able to rebuild?' and I'm like, you're 'dam' straight we are because we are D-A-M strong." Trail reconstruction updates will be posted at creepertrailrebuild.com. {{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="ad206f1d-296b-4fff-b282-797e376c6316"}} {{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="8d008768-0db6-4747-b8ad-edae0d748ac2"}} {{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="6670edec-b4b4-4b08-9bb0-a78c86b7b586"}}