By A.J. Kaufman, Managing Editor
Migration statistics and anecdotal evidence prove that the Appalachian Highlands are desirable places to live and work; one likely reason is the plentiful outdoor activities residents can enjoy.
With spring finally here and summer not far behind, the significant impact of outdoor recreation on local economies is worth showcasing, as the region’s natural assets have become a driving force behind a burgeoning tourism industry.
One of the oldest rail-trail conversions in the United States, the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail meanders from Whitetop, Va., through Damascus and into historic Abingdon, crossing 47 trestle bridges along the way.
However, the inland remnants of Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and high winds that devastated Damascus and the scenic region. The first half of the popular trail between Abingdon and Damascus sustained minor damage and reopened days after the storm. But much of the trail between Damascus and Whitetop was washed away and will remain closed as extensive repairs are made. Of the 31 trestles once located in this 118-mile section, all but a few were either destroyed or washed away.
The significant damage to Damascus and the Creeper Trail has not gone unnoticed in recent months. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has visited “Trail Town USA” several times, as has U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, numerous state legislators, and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.
Just a week after being inaugurated, Vice President JD Vance visited Damascus to meet with local officials and survey recovery efforts in Helene’s aftermath. Vance said there had been a slow federal response to the disaster and noted that just a fraction of the $4 billion in federal disaster aid earmarked for Virginia had been made available to date.
The vice president specifically pointed to the Creeper Trail’s economic importance to Damascus.
Indeed, the trail is the town’s “crown jewel” with most local residents earning their living in connection to the trail, from shuttle services and outfitting to lodging and restaurants.
“One of the most gratifying experiences was witnessing how the entire trail community united—businesses, local governments, nonprofits, legislators from across the political spectrum, state representatives, the Governor’s Office, congressional leaders, and trail users—towards one goal: rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail,” Lisa Quigley, executive director of the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy, explained to the Business Journal. “This unity is a testament to the trail’s significance, serving not just as a recreational asset but also as a vital economic engine for Southwest Virginia and continues to be a critical element in the forward progress in meeting that goal.”
The official population of Damascus is fewer than 800 people, but throughout the season, on peak weekends, the population often grows to 3,000, and for one weekend every spring during the last several decades, the town limits massively increase with hiking enthusiasts for the annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival. Most estimate close to 20,000 people from across the country and world gathered to celebrate the trail and its culture.
A local business owner told the Business Journal that the Appalachian Trail portion was rapidly repaired, and he expects the annual trail days May 16-18 to be as busy or busier than usual, especially with non-hikers coming to visit. New events are also being planned to draw tourists, including a trout tournament in mid-April.
