RAINELLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The weather did not deter Friday’s gathering in Rainelle to kick off the start of Phase III construction of the Meadow River Rail Trail.
Construction on Phase III of the Meadow River Rail Trail project is set to begin which will extend the trail by an additional nine miles to connect with the town of Rainelle.
Once complete, this latest phase will not only expand recreational opportunities for the region but also bring the trail closer to a potential future link with the Gauley River National Recreation Area, which could ultimately connect the Meadow River Recreational Corridor to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
The Meadow River Valley has a rich history of timber production, with lumber from the area once used by the Meadow River Lumber Company to create various building materials.
Both the Meadow River and a railroad were essential for transporting lumber to market, fueling the company’s success.
Today, visitors to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park can still see the coal-powered locomotives that once carried lumber to the mill.
The railroad was abandoned by CSX in 2008, after which the Fayette and Greenbrier County Commissions purchased the land to repurpose it for the Meadow River Rail Trail project.
Construction on Phase I of the trail began in 2014. Progress was delayed by the severe 2016 flood, which washed out sections of the bridge and trail.
However, the bridge has since been rebuilt, trail surfaces have been restored, and Phase II of the trail is now complete.
The first segment of the Meadow River Rail Trail officially opened to the public on October 13, 2023.
Matt Ford, director of the project, says that the trail is the future of western Greenbrier County.
“When my great grandfather moved here 100 years ago, he got to hear that whistle when it was at the lumber mill, and he moved here to mine coal, and I never got to see that mill in operation,” Ford said emotionally.
“My dad, born right on the tail end of that, my kids, these kids, have only seen the bottom.” “I can’t tell you how important it is that this is the future.”
Ford stated that the trail wouldn’t be a save all for the western half of the county, but that it would provide much opportunity for the area.
Key partnerships have been essential to the progress of the project, with Greenbrier West High School playing a significant role in each phase.
Students from the school are actively involved, contributing to the trail’s development through tasks like collecting drone imagery for GIS mapping, assisting in environmental review, aiding in design engineering, marketing, and recreational planning.
This hands-on experience has provided students with a unique learning opportunity and a sense of accomplishment as the project advances.
The Fayette and Greenbrier County Commissions have also been instrumental in the project’s success.
Phase III is expected to be completed and open to the public in 2025.
